Our award-winning onboard medical centers are fully equipped with testing and treatment capabilities if needed. Some cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, accept vaccines recommended or approved by the World Health Organization as well as the CDC. Shes been on 10 cruises and counting, and her favorite onboard activities include trying out the water slides, spending time in the spas thermal suite, eating lots of food, and attending the love & marriage show. Carnival, for example, says it'll accept some vaccine exemptions from those ages 12 and younger, as well as adults who have "written confirmation from their medical provider" that they can't be vaccinated -- but only at their Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Maryland, South Carolina and Alabama ports until the end of March 2022. Lets get cruising! Travel is making its grand comeback, and were looking forward to the continued momentum from consumers around the world, Celebrity President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo said last month. For other agents, the business benefits remain to be seen. Guests can rest assured that their health and safety are our top priority and measures will be communicated in a timely manner ahead of our return to sailing., Latest on the cruise comeback: Rogue wave incident | Overboard passenger saved | Covid hits Sydney cruise | Carnival fining unruly passengers | Unvaccinated passengers welcomed | Cheap cruises | No more CDC stats | Record bookings | Rape lawsuit | Carnival fire | Passenger bill of rights | CDC drops cruise warnings | Passenger overboard | Crystal ships seized. People can also pick up pathogens from port visits and bring them back onto the ship, infecting others. All passengers must also present a negative PCR test result at the pier. The protocols do not apply to itineraries for countries where local regulations may vary, including Canada, Australia, and Greece. Since late July, cruise lines have been further relaxing rules. Trips that are 16 days or longer will still require a medically supervised COVID test with written results within three days of travel.Our guests have been excited to return to cruising, and these changes will make it easier for more guests to explore the world in a safe and enjoyable environment, the companys president Gus Antorcha said in a statement last month. In addition to a broad set of coverage benefits, our plans cover medical expenses for illnesses, including COVID-19. So, if you're planning your next vacation to include traveling by cruise ship, consider staying up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccines. Travel tips you can trust. Some cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, accept vaccines recommended or approved by the World Health Organization as well as the CDC. The reasons for the changes are clear: 1) the CDC is no longer requiring specific COVID protocols for cruising; 2) cruise lines want more business. For an easy-to-use online tool for locating COVID-19 testing providers around the world, please visitwww.TestForTravel.com. Holland America LineAs of September 6, on most voyages of 15 nights or less, vaccinated guests age 5 and up do not need to be tested prior to cruising. Viking strongly recommends passengers receive a booster dose before departing. In you are an unvaccinated adult, some cruise lines will now let you sail, others will not. Carnival Cruise Line Unvaccinated guests are welcome to sail on all voyages except. While . Now many brand loyalists are chatting about jumping ship, so to speak, to a Norwegian company if their otherwise preferred cruise line does not also do away with vaccine requirements in the near future. What happens if I get sick whilst onboard? The US doesn't issue certificates of recovery at this time, so telling the cruise line you already had COVID-19 won't get you a vaccine exemption. Vacationers can finally plan to take their precious time off this summer and truly get away after what has been a challenging time for everyone.. When people are in a small space, keeping distance from one another is more difficult. And the CDC also recommends testing before boarding a cruise ship. Starting in September, a larger number of unvaccinated travelers will be allowed onboard cruise ships both big and small on select routes but will be required to be tested for COVID first. Regent Seven Seas CruisesAs with sister lines Norwegian and Oceania, vaccinated guests age 12 are not required to have any precruise COVID-19 testing or other protocols. Vaccines are still required for cruises in the Bahamas and Caribbean; precruise testing is not required for vaccinated guests on cruises of less than six nights. For full Panama Canal transits, trans-ocean, and select remote voyages, testing and vaccines are still required. This does not supersede country specific requirements - Travel Requirements by Country. While Health is trying to keep our stories as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations for their own communities by using the CDC, WHO, and their local public health department as resources. Are there any restrictions on pre-existing health conditions or limitations for guests due to COVID-19? Some countries issue "certificates of recovery" if someone has been infected with COVID-19 and recovered, issuing a certificate that proves a positive COVID-19 test and recovery, instead of vaccination as someone's proof of immunity. Drug-sniffing dogs and $500 fines: Carnival tries to tame cruises, Battery fire on Spirit flight to Florida sends 10 to hospital, In a crowded place, a face mask or respirator keeps the virus away, The investigation into covids origins must continue, Your questions about covid-19, answered by Dr. Leana Wen, Lab leak report energizes Republicans covid probes, We are asking the wrong question about the origins of covid, Doctors who touted ivermectin as covid fix now pushing it for flu, RSV, First combination home test for flu and covid cleared by the FDA. You can keep up with her on Instagram at @IAmSarahJaneB. The cruise industries have seen a slower return to normal since the pandemic, but are definitely making a comeback, says Dr. Jan Jones of the University of New Havens hospitality and tourism department. But ever since theCOVID-19 pandemicbegan, it's understandable to wonder whether you can go on a cruise if you're not vaccinated. Disney Cruise Line. Before Norwegians announcement, both Princess Cruises and Virgin Voyages indicated that they would accept unvaccinated passengers, but limited that population to up to 10% of their guest capacity. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Medical centers will be equipped to test for COVID-19 onboard and if a positive case is identified, contact tracing for that individual will begin immediately and occur at the same time as treatment. You also might need to purchase travel insurance with emergency evacuation coverage if you have an unvaccinated guest in your party and you're departing from a Florida or Texas port. Medical news, pregnancy topics and health hacks that don't cost money. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) is officially the first company to welcome unvaccinated travelers onboard its cruise brands Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises without any capacity limits, and the industry response is one largely of praise. Cond Nast Traveler may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. It also varies based on different rules for cruise ships or territories, and evolving guidance from the CDC. Its hard to say how this will affect me, advisor Adam Martindale said. No precruise testing is required for vaccinated guests on sailings of five nights or less. Health and safety is our top priority, and we will continue to modify our robust SailSafe program as the public health environment evolves. Apparently, Dolven is referring to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently signing into law a ban on Covid-19 "vaccine passports." That means, as of July 1, the Florida state government could. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. There are a few reasons why viruses and diseases can spread quickly on cruise ships. Since then, cruise lines around the world have been cautiously dropping their pre-embarkation requirements. The Miami-based operator will not require passengers to be vaccinated. Unvaccinated guests are welcome on most voyages. However, since cruise operations have resumed, a large portion of social media comments and discussions among cruise travelers have centered around vaccinations, and COVID-19 restrictions more broadly. Guests aged three and older may embark without testing or vaccination, if providing documentation that he/she has recovered from COVID-19 between ten to 90 days prior to the departure date. All rights reserved. The requirement was initially going to last until Oct. 31. Unvaccinated guests are welcome to sail on most voyages, except for itineraries that feature destinations with local regulations that may continue to require vaccination including Australia. Testing is required on sailings of six nights or more. All passengers age 4 and up must take a prearrival test and show a negative result to board. In the event you or any member of your traveling party tests positive for COVID-19 in the 10 days before your cruise departs, or at the boarding terminal, you and your traveling p. Windstar will also administer for each passenger a complimentary COVID-19 test prior to sailing. Will I be required to take a COVID-19 test in order to embark on the second leg of a back-to-back sailing? Getting a COVID-19 vaccine before your cruise is not only cost effective, but it could save your life. This website uses cookies. Are children allowed to sail on your ships if they are not vaccinated? Before boarding, you may need to present a vaccine waiver, wear a mask, or provide a negative test. The line doesn't allow kids younger than 8 years old to sail, so young-child exemptions aren't a . As is true for most travel restrictions these days, your ability to book a cruise may depend on your vaccination status. 2023 Cond Nast. They included vaccination requirements for anyone age 12 and up (some companies such as Disney Cruise Line later went with a 5 and up requirement as vaccinations became available for younger children), precruise testing requirements, mandatory masking in public areas, social distancing, and other measures the CDC said would help contain the spread of COVID-19 on cruise ships. Royal Caribbean did not answer a question about whether its decision not to require vaccinations for passengers was a result of the states bans. Once booked and on board, passengers should take the appropriate precautions, but they should also remember to have funit is a vacation!. Outbreak updates for international cruise ships. Guests requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 test to return to their home country are directed to visit a clinic near the disembarkation terminal or airport. Vaccine and pretrip testing requirements can be confusing, especially if you are cruising internationally. These requirements will vary by country and is the responsibility of the guest and supersede our policy. As of this month, the majority of cruise passengers are required to be both fully vaccinated and tested for COVID-19 before getting on a ship; some exceptions to the vaccination rules applied only for kids under age 12 and a very small number of adults seeking exemptions. If you're an adult in the US, the answer is probably not, unless you're one of the few people with a medical or religious exemption (and whether you'll be offered an exemption depends on the cruise line). COVID-19 requirements may differ in destinations that have specific mandates, such as Canada, Greece and Bermuda. Previously, the number was 95 percent for passengers. Starting Sept. 6, vaccinated guests sailing on voyages of less than 16 days will no longer have to test . All onboard venues and activities will be available unless staffing or other challenges onboard prevent normal operations. We encourage all guests to file a claim with their travel insurance carrier for reimbursement inquiries. How Long Does It Take for the COVID-19 Booster To Be Effective? The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads easily between people in close quarters on board ships. As of today, 90 percent of all vacationers booking with Royal Caribbean are either vaccinated or planning to get vaccinated in time for their cruise.. Here are some of the latest cruise lines that are pulling back on pandemic measures. Otherwise, you will need a booster. Check with Cunard for information on your specific sailing. Onboard medical centres are also abundantly stocked with common prescription medications and remedies. Vaccines must be approved for use by the country they are sailing from. It's also possible that cruise lines could ease up on their pandemic measures in the near future and stop requiring proof of vaccination for passengers.