Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rules may be different depending on requirements of locales visited. Our CareTeam will assist with daily wellbeing check-ins . (Unvaccinated guests will have to undergo special testing onboard to visit Spain or Greece.) For cruises longer than 15 nights, a medically supervised COVID-19 test is required for all guests, and most passengers are required to be vaccinated. That means receiving a final primary dose and an updated booster shot, which became available for people older than 12 on September 2, 2022. Self-tests are accepted in some cases, but it's best to check the specifics on the site. No, guests will not be required to take a COVID-19 antigen test before continuing on the second leg of a back-to-back sailing unless symptomatic, unvaccinated or if a specific country requires it. Want CNET to notify you of price drops and the latest stories? With eased restrictions that went into effect September 6 for most trips up to 15 nights, vaccinated passengers over the age of five no longer have to test, and unvaccinated guests can use a self-administered test within three days of departureexcept in areas where local restrictions deem otherwise (like Canada, Greece, and Australia) and on certain itineraries (like Panama Canal crossings, trans-ocean trips, and certain remote locales). The agency said that after working closely with the cruise industry for two years, it believed cruise lines had access to the necessary tools to prevent and mitigate COVID-19 onboard., While cruising poses some risk of COVID-19 transmission, consumers can make their own decisions as they would in any other setting, the agency said in a statement. That's hard to say because it depends on the state of the pandemic at any given time. Please keep in mind that this is largely dependent on the local health authorities and the evolving regulations, which are subject to change. And you may have to be vaccinated or not. If a guest follows health and safety protocols and tests positive during their cruise, the Cruise Line will help coordinate necessary onboard COVID-19-related medical consultation, standard/common prescription drugs, and required land-based quarantine. Should there be an annual coronavirus booster? Fee is also hopeful that the remainder of cruise lines will follow suit soon. 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. Additional travel restrictions for certain nationalities or countries may arise based on the quickly evolving public health environment. Celebritys Healthy at Sea page makes it easy to track the specific requirements based on your cruises itinerary. Can I buy travel insurance through Norwegian Cruise Line? Guests can expect to provide the following: We are closely monitoring the evolving global public health environment and to the extent any itineraries are affected, we will notify impacted guests in a timely fashion and update our booking requirements. We have improved our onboard medical capabilities with additional staffing directly related to sailing capacity, new and upgraded equipment and enhanced facilities. For additional information, please visit Cruise Travel Requirements by Country. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Here's a quick breakdown of vaccination and testing policies as of December 2022 at several major cruise lines: At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020,cruise ships experienced major outbreaksof the SARS-CoV-2 virus as it spread across the globe. The cruise line . Vaccinated guests are required to provide proof of negative COVID-19 test in addition to vaccination documentation, as listed above, only when embarking in Australia. Starting March 11, 2023, proof of vaccination for sailings to or from Europe will no longer be required. If you're not in the US and have a certificate of recovery, contact your desired cruise line before purchasing the cruise. While some cruise lines operating in Europe have been requiring all passengers to be vaccinated, the C.D.C. To board Carnival ships, unvaccinated guests need to show a negative PCR or an antigen test within three days of boarding (self-tests are now accepted by Carnival for boarding purposes). Vaccine questions, answered. 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Requirements may differ for guests traveling on voyages departing from or visiting destinations with specific local regulations, such as Canada, Greece, and Bermuda. These guidelines will make it a simpler process, and make cruising accessible for those who were not able to meet the protocols that we were required to follow for much of the past 14 months, Carnivals president Christine Duffy said in a statement last month. Lets leave the covid origin mystery to scientists, Covid, flu, RSV declining in hospitals as tripledemic threat fades. Lets get cruising! Inspired Diagnostics is a subsidiary of Inspire Health Alliance, a leader in best-in-class health services. Disney Cruise Line became the first cruise line to requirepassengers as young as 5 to be vaccinated for sailings starting Jan. 13. Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters, FDA, CDC expand Pfizer & Moderna bivalent vaccines to kids 6 months and up with Sandra Fryhofer, MD, Outbreak updates for international cruise ships. Precruise testing is required for all guests. There are still some cruise lines that have not yet indicated they will relax their COVID protocols, though their numbers are dwindling. A couple of the factors in that unique combination are crowded spaces and tight quarters. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It wasn't uncommon to see reports of outbreaks ofnorovirus, a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. While other cruise lines may not officially require vaccinations for kids that young yet, they may in the future. These requirements will vary by country and is the responsibility of the guest and supersede our policy. Cruisers have been patiently waiting and there is pent-up demand. Yes, we offer guests the option to purchase travel protection plans. Even if your particular cruise line does not have a pre-travel testing requirement, test one to three days before your trip anyway to minimize the risk to others. The agency provided the cruise lines with greater leeway to set and monitor their own policies. We have also enhanced our onboard medical capabilities with additional staffing and enhanced facilities. Cruise ships often have food buffets, which can be easily contaminated and lead to the rapid spread of illnesses like norovirus. Copyright 2023 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. In addition to staying up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines, the CDC recommends that people who plan to cruise do the following: Most major cruise lines do not require guests to be vaccinated unless they're traveling from or to a destination that requires it. Please refer to. These regulations are continuously evolving and if an additional test is required at a port of call we will provide advanced notice to all guests. CDC also continues to recommend mask wearing in indoor travel settings.. Beginning September 2, for sailings departing U.S. and Canadian ports, guests ages 12 and older are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time of sailing. How Safe Is It to Travel With Unvaccinated Children? Cruise lines can skip that step if they will have 95 percent of crew and passengers vaccinated. Unable to cruise. Check out our variety of itineraries. We will comply with all local regulations at all destinations we visit. Consequently, most cruise lines opted to make masks optional. Do I need another booster? When Will the Brightline to Orlando Open? On most sailings, kids and teens ages 17 and under do not have a vaccine requirement. To find out more, please. The family-focused cruise line has been rolling out new regulations this month. The information in this story is accurate as of press time. The slow return was impacted by low consumer confidence, continued health and safety concerns, and issues with air travel to and from ports., After all, the entire industry was paused in the early days of the pandemic. It can be confusing to keep track of which lines require what, and in which regions unvaccinated guests can sail if there are still destination limitations. Norovirus. Viking will continue to do onboard testings for any passengers who report symptoms. The Greece-based company announced this week it will remove all COVID protocols for sailings starting on or after March 2, 2023, with the exception being if the local regulations of a destination deem otherwise. RELATED: Carnival Drops Pre-Cruise Testing & Vaccination Requirements. The new protocols do not apply to itineraries for countries where local regulations may vary, such as Canada, Australia, and Greece. Since then, cruise lines around the world have been cautiously dropping their pre-embarkation requirements. The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Before your trip, you will need to review your cruise lines health and safety protocols. *Terms & Conditions Package not available on sailings less than 5 days or charter sailings. Overall, it's just better to get vaccinated against COVID-19 before going on a cruise, said Dr. Russo. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends updating people on their COVID-19 vaccines before going on a cruise. But as noted above, some lines make exceptions to vaccination rules for young children. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 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. While much of the travel industry has returned to a pre-pandemic state, cruising has been slower to rebound from some of the tightest restrictions over the last two and a half years. This doesnt apply to select destinations where local regulations vary, including Australia. Mask Policy Masks on board are recommended but not required indoors or outdoors. Political buffoonery: Cruise lines head for showdown with DeSantis over vaccine requirement ban, Thanks in large part to the successful rollout of vaccines, the world of adventure is beginning to open up, and we are all excited to start delivering great vacations to our guests, who have increasingly told us they are getting vaccinated, Bayley said in the statement. If you chose not to get a COVID-19 vaccine, can you still go on your favorite cruise vacation? The CDC director answered your questions. 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. Temperature checks occur daily. The Coronavirus Outbreak Has Affected 4 Different Cruise ShipsHere's Why Illness Can Spread so Fast at Sea. Most major cruise lines require proof of vaccination for all passengers age 12 and up, and some require them for kids as young as 5 years old (Pfizer's vaccine was authorized for kids ages 5 to 11 at the beginning of November). By continuing to browse the site you agree to our use of cookies. How long will the vaccine requirement be in place for cruise passengers? If a guest follows health and safety protocols and tests positive during their cruise, the Cruise Line will help coordinate necessary onboard COVID-19-related medical consultation, standard/common prescription drugs, and required land-based quarantine. Norwegian Cruise Line will require all passengers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before boarding at least through the end of the . Vaccines heavily reduce the chances that you'll become infected in the first place. Guests under the age of 12 dont have any vaccination or testing requirements. Windstar will also administer for each passenger a complimentary COVID-19 test prior to sailing. 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. No documentation is required to board, but disclosure is required in advance, and those who are not vaccinated do still need to show a negative result on an antigen or PCR test within three days of departure. Unvaccinated guests are permitted to sail on most MSC voyages. Viking Cruises has decided to eliminate pre-voyage testing. (Note: This information is accurate as of February 7, 2023. Get your annual flu shot and get up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines. Do bivalent boosters work against XBB.1.5? But now cruise lines are starting to drop those vaccine and testing requirements, making it easier for cruise-goers to sail the seas. SeabournAs of September 6, fully vaccinated passengers will no longer be required to submit a precruise COVID-19 test. 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. Many say this move has to do with the CDC not wanting to get into a legal battle with Florida, the largest cruise hub in America. Vaccine and pretrip testing requirements can be confusing, especially if you are cruising internationally. *Please note, in the event a port included as part of an itinerary requires additional COVID-19 testing in order for guests to disembark, Norwegian Cruise line will facilitate the testing onboard. The CDC has said vaccinated cruise passengers can remove their masks outdoors unless theyre in a crowd. Masks are optional in all areas. I need help securing a pre-cruise COVID-19 test, does NCL offer any testing services? - As of Dec. 1, 2022, guests traveling with Azamara no longer need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 on sailings starting and ending in the U.S. or Europe. Present one of the following: Negative COVID-19 antigen test within 24 hours of the embarkation date. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 guidance for cruise ships will become optional this . Completed health questionnaire (prior to embarkation); Standard travel documents, including passport or any visas as required. Not only will being fully vaccinated help protect you from getting seriously ill with COVID-19, but it can also help protect those around you,Thomas Russo, MD,professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo, toldHealth.