Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Destination specific requirements will still need to be met. Should You Test for COVID Before Your Omicron Booster? Precruise testing is required for all guests. 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. At long last, cruise lines are finally starting to drop their vaccine mandates and allow all passengers inoculated or not to sail on their ships. All Rights Reserved. Will all guests be required to be vaccinated prior to the cruise? Here are some of the latest cruise lines that are pulling back on pandemic measures. We will comply with all local regulations at all destinations we visit. FDA Panel Endorses Updated COVID Shots for All, Regardless of Vaccination Status, When To Get Boosted After Having a COVID-19 Breakthrough Infection, How Effective Are the Bivalent Boosters? Effective for sailings 10/4/22 and beyond, all guests regardless of vaccination status are able to sail and with no testing requirements. 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. Masks are optional in all areas. Cruises that are 16 nights or longer may have additional requirements based on the itinerary. 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. Depending on the cruise line, fully vaccinated can mean having received the original series at least 14 days prior to your cruise, or the original series plus a booster shot. Or will NCL offer testing onboard to meet travel requirements for guests flying back to countries that require negative COVID-19 test results to re-enter the country post cruise? NOTE: Carnival Spirit - April 16, 2023, & September 19, 2023: These sailings do not require proof of vaccination, vaccine exemption or testing. But this past July, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) dropped its COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships, letting individual cruise lines set their own standards. In addition to requiring our crew to be up-to-date with all their vaccinations, we will continue to evolve our already robust science-backed program to broaden our cleaning, sanitation and air filtration technologies across our fleet. Royal Caribbean did not answer a question about whether its decision not to require vaccinations for passengers was a result of the states bans. Requirements may differ for guests traveling on voyages departing from or visiting destinations with specific local regulations, such as Canada, Greece, and Bermuda. Since late July, cruise lines have been further relaxing rules. Guests will no longer need to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result prior to departing home. Every ship has a team of experienced doctors and nurses trained to manage a broad range of medical conditions, including COVID-19. Fee is also hopeful that the remainder of cruise lines will follow suit soon. NAAT test (i.e., PCR) within 48 hours of embarkation date. 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. 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. Before CNET, she worked in local journalism covering public health issues, business and music. Guests under the age of 12 dont have any vaccination or testing requirements. Check with Cunard for information on your specific sailing. Any information published by Cond Nast Traveler is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. This website uses cookies. Remember: Vaccine exemptions and refunds are not guaranteed. 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). Norovirus. Note: There may be additional requirements if you are traveling internationally, and the rules can changesometimes overnight. But the CDC still maintained a close watch, publishing a color-coded chart of ship outbreaks that it updated regularly. For specific country requirements, please visit Cruise Travel Requirements by Country. 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. Vessels are equipped with an onboard laboratory, which can administer Complete Blood Counts (CBC), Blood Chemistry, Coagulation tests, and Influenza tests. Norwegian Cruise Lines Also enacted earlier this month on September 3, the Miami-based company will now allow guests over the age of 12 who are not vaccinated to board if they have a negative. 2 shots of Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, etc., or 1 shot of Johnson & Johnson). Health and safety is our top priority, and we will continue to modify our robust SailSafe program as the public health environment evolves. While guests over the age of five previously had to be vaccinated, starting in early September, unvaccinated passengers under the age of 12 are now allowed to board. 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. CDC Shares New Real-World Data on Updated Shots. Purchasing in-home testing kits is simple. All departures from the U.S. that are nine nights or less dont require any testing, unless they stop in Canada or Bermuda. On ocean, lakes, and expedition ships that visit Canada, there is a free COVID-19 test (antigen) at the precruise hotel check-in on the day prior to embarkation until further notice. Unvaccinated guests will only need to submit a self-administered test taken within three days of sailing. Completed health questionnaire (prior to embarkation); Standard travel documents, including passport or any visas as required. Unable to cruise. Windstar will also administer for each passenger a complimentary COVID-19 test prior to sailing. Should there be an annual coronavirus booster? In the specific event that you have a child turning 5 during the voyage, check in with your cruise line before buying a ticket. To find out more, please. How Long Does It Take for the COVID-19 Booster To Be Effective? Before your trip, you will need to review your cruise lines health and safety protocols. Unvaccinated guests are permitted to sail on most MSC voyages. For an easy-to-use online tool for locating COVID-19 testing providers around the world, please visitwww.TestForTravel.com. Please note: Anti-viral COVID-19 therapeutics are readily available onboard and will be charged to the guests' account. 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. Vaccination for sailings starting and ending in the U.S. is not required. Also enacted earlier this month on September 3, the Miami-based company will now allow guests over the age of 12 who are not vaccinated to board if they have a negative PCR or antigen test taken within 72 hours of embarkation. 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. However, as the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve, it's possible that some data have changed since publication. 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. Bottom line: If you've been vaccinated against COVID-19 outside of the US, check with your cruise line to make sure they accept your vaccine before putting any money down. The just-announced cruises will depart from Florida, which has passed a law prohibiting companies from requiring proof of vaccination, and Texas, where lawmakers just passed a similar bill, according to the Texas Tribune. What testing and treatment capabilities are there onboard? Check the U.S. State Departments detailed COVID-19 travel information and country-specific advisories, which are updated regularly. Onboard medical centres are also abundantly stocked with common prescription medications and remedies. The reality is even if you booked a cruise with the assumption you were going to be on a ship where everyone is vaccinated and tested, that may no longer be the case. Masks and social distancing are now also optional, but surgical masks are still required for the first seven days of trans-oceanic and World Tour itineraries. 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. This article was originally published in May 2022; it was most recently updated on August 17, 2022, with current information. 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). A cruise can be a fun way to visit certain areas of the world at a slower pace. If you are allowed onboard, you will need to be tested precruise, which is required for unvaccinated children as well. River cruise line Avalon Waterways is requiring that prior to sailing, passengers show proof of COVID-19 vaccination completed at least 14 days before travel, proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR or antigen test taken no more than 72 hours before travel, or proof of recovery from a COVID-19 diagnosis within three months of travel. We have increased intensive care units (ICU) capacity onboard and ICUs are equipped with infusion pumps, IV treatments, cardiac monitors, defibrillators, cardiac pacemakers and ventilators. For those departing Europe or for longer U.S. itineraries, self-administered tests will be accepted (with the exception of those that stop in Australia, Bermuda, Canada, Greece or New Zealand). We have also enhanced our onboard medical capabilities with additional staffing and enhanced facilities. AFAR participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means we may earn a commission if you purchase an item featured on our site. 2023 AFAR Media, ended the intense monitoring of the cruise industry, U.S. Citizens Will Need to Register to Travel to Europe in 2024, Lufthansa Unveils New Cabins With Over-the-Top First and Business SuitesHeres a First Look, Need a New U.S. Passport? did not go that far. I need help securing a pre-cruise COVID-19 test, does NCL offer any testing services? cruise lines have started setting sail again, "mix and match" approach to COVID-19 vaccines, written confirmation from their medical provider, over 10 times more likely to die from the disease, doesn't allow children under the age of 5 to cruise, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Precruise testing is required for unvaccinated passengers. Guests over the age of six will need to show a negative rapid antigen test within 48 hours, or a negative PCR test within 72 hours. Outbreak updates for international cruise ships. Still, there are exceptions. 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. Royal Caribbean just announced a flood of summer cruises. Norwegian Cruise Line doesn't allow children under the age of 5 to cruise, for example, because they can't get vaccinated yet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Disney Cruise LineBeginning 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. 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. Sign Up for Our Monthly Cruise Newsletter. In addition, guests will be required to agree to abide by all of the cruise line's health and safety protocols and acknowledge the risks associated with COVID-19 during their voyage and shoreside experiences. Putting it all together: If your cruise line is even accepting medical exemptions around a COVID-19 vaccine, presenting valid proof of the exemption is critical. Can I buy travel insurance through Norwegian Cruise Line? In many cases, yes. Lindblad ExpeditionsAll passengers age 5 and older must be vaccinated. Testing at home is safe, simple, and convenient. This article was published more than1 year ago. If you feel ill in the days before your cruise, you should not travel. 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). "Traveling Party" means (1) your family members living with you in the same household and (2) traveling companions assigned to your stateroom on the ship. On February 18, Crystal Cruises said it would require guests to receive both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days before a cruise. Children under 5 leaving the U.S. or under 12 leaving Europe also dont need to test. Travel tips you can trust. This is the news weve been waiting for, said Michelle Fee, CEO and co-founder of Cruise Planners. We know from our advisors that their unvaccinated clients have been waiting for this announcement, and I have no doubt that we will see a spike in cruise bookings. (Unvaccinated guests will have to undergo special testing onboard to visit Spain or Greece.) The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads easily between people in close quarters on board ships. As Guidelines Change, Heres What Its Like to Cruise Right Now, The 2023 Cruise Itineraries to Book Before They Sell Out, The Best New Cruises in the World: 2022 Hot List, These Airlines Are Finally Letting Families Sit Together, Free of Charge, A Proposed Federal Law Could Give Bumped Airline Passengers At Least $1,350 in Compensation, dropped its COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships, guests who are vaccinated will no longer have to take a pre-boarding antigen test.

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