American Queen VoyagesOn this lines river, ocean, Great Lakes and expedition ships, all passengers are required to be vaccinated. When people are in a small space, keeping distance from one another is more difficult. Since then, cruise lines around the world have been cautiously dropping their pre-embarkation requirements. It wasnt clear Friday how many people would be able to sail on each of the just-announced cruises, which will visit the Caribbean and the Bahamas. For additional information, please visit Cruise Travel Requirements by Country. Do You Need To Be Vaccinated To Go on a Cruise? Norwegian Cruise Line, which has not been approved to restart, has said it will initially require everyone on board to be vaccinated. Norwegian still strongly recommends that all guests be up to date on their vaccination status and test at their convenience before travel. 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. While the Cruise Line will assist with arranging land-based quarantine accommodations if required, payment for all expenses incurred during any mandatory isolation period, including hotel stay, is the responsibility of the guest. Latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Schedule an on-line proctoring consultation, Any documentation required from the country where the guest is embarking. However, we encourage all guests to follow the vaccination and testing guidance outlined above. Starting Sept. 3, 2022, unvaccinated passengers ages 12 and older (or guests who cannot or decline to present proof of vaccination), need to provide a medically administrated negative PCR or antigen COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of boarding. Medical news, pregnancy topics and health hacks that don't cost money. Additional travel restrictions for certain nationalities or countries may arise based on the quickly evolving public health environment. While some cruise lines operating in Europe have been requiring all passengers to be vaccinated, the C.D.C. Spice up your small talk with the latest tech news, products and reviews. Royal Caribbean said it still needs to complete simulation cruises before getting approval for the sailings it announced Friday. Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. And the rules are constantly changing. These requirements will vary by country and is the responsibility of the guest and supersede our policy. Some may also require pre-board testing for unvaccinated people. According to the CDC, "cruise ship travel presents a unique combination of health concerns.". One Cruise Planners franchise owner in San Diego, Calif. has yet to record an immediate boost in bookings. 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. The Miami-based operator will not require passengers to be vaccinated. - All other cruises still require proof of initial vaccination and a booster until further notice. Windstar will also administer for each passenger a complimentary COVID-19 test prior to sailing. This is the news weve been waiting for, said Michelle Fee, CEO and co-founder of Cruise Planners. Still, there are exceptions. Norwegian Cruise Line will review reimbursement submissions in the event your insurance carrier denies the claim or you do not have travel insurance. Once booked and on board, passengers should take the appropriate precautions, but they should also remember to have funit is a vacation!. Children age 12 to 15 must have received two initial doses of the vaccination. 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. Otherwise, you will need a booster. NOTE: Carnival Spirit - April 16, 2023, & September 19, 2023: These sailings do not require proof of vaccination, vaccine exemption or testing. FDA, CDC expand Pfizer & Moderna bivalent vaccines to kids 6 months and up with Sandra Fryhofer, MD. Added coconut oil to cheap coffee before keto made it cool. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. The changes began shortly. It turns out that you can usually board a cruise ship without being vaccinated for COVID-19. Royal Caribbean will require vaccinations for some cruises: ships leaving Seattle for Alaska this summer, those sailing from the Bahamas and ships leaving from other international ports. 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. Detours with locals. If your cruise line does not have a specific testing requirement, get tested as close to time of cruise departure as possible (no more than 3 days before you travel). If you're not comfortable vaccinating your child under 12, hold off on buying them a ticket or get confirmation on a timeline for requirements from your desired cruise line. 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. 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. Vaccines must be approved for use by the country they are sailing from. Guests may also provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test by an accredited third-party with results from within two days of embarkation, if they choose. Youll find expert advice for experienced and first-time cruisers, as well as port and destination guides. 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. 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. Our CareTeam will assist with daily wellbeing check-ins . Oceania CruisesVaccinated guests age 12 are not required to procure a precruise COVID-19 test, and unvaccinated guests may embark with a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to departure, subject to local regulations, beginning on September 3, 2022. Dont Delay, Wait Times Have Climbed, American Is Cutting 50,000 Summer Flights From These U.S. We will comply with all local regulations at all destinations we visit. Sarah has been writing about the cruise industry since 2015. So, if you're planning your next vacation to include traveling by cruise ship, consider staying up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccines. Get tested for COVID-19 one to three days before your trip and three to five days after your trip, regardless of your vaccination status. A tidal wave has followed, with other cruise lines announcing similar changes. Be sure to review the latest requirements prior to boarding. 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. 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. Before you book, contact the cruise line to see if it'll accept an exemption and also look into the local laws of where you'll be visiting if and when you get off the ship for an excursion. Should there be an annual coronavirus booster? All guests are strongly advised to monitor current travel requirements and advisories for their home countries. Kashif J. Piracha, MD, FACP, FASN, FNKF, is a practicing physician at Methodist Willowbrook Hospital. Please refer to. 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. 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Presidents gain too much power when emergencies like covid hit, The Checkup With Dr. Wen: Three important studies shed light on long covid, We are not overcounting covid deaths in the United States, China, speeding through phases of covid, gets on with living with virus, FDA advisers favor retiring original covid shot and using newer version. Disney also highly recommends vaccines for younger kids. All passengers age 12 and up, who completed their primary vaccine series more than five months ago, are required to be boosted. 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. Get your annual flu shot and get up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines. Cruises that are 16 nights or longer may have additional requirements based on the itinerary. Paul Gauguin CruisesVaccinations are required for all passengers over age 5. Additional terms and conditions may apply, see our COVID- 19 Policies and Procedures and your Cruise Ticket Contract for details. All guests will continue to receive a COVID-19 test just prior to embarkation, arranged by Lindblad, and all guests must test negative to board. 2023 Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. 11-Reasons to Cruise to Alaska this Summer | NCL Travel Blog, 14-Day Authentic Alaska - Northbound Cruise Tour | Norwegian Cruise Line, 14-Day Authentic Alaska - Southbound Cruise Tour | Deck Plans | Norwegian Cruise Line, 20-Day Transpacific from Tokyo (Yokohama) & Alaska | Norwegian Cruise Line, 11 Reasons to Cruise to Alaska this Summer | NCL Travel Blog. They're also easing rules for pre-boarding testing, making it easier for cruise-goers to sail the seas. If you feel ill in the days before your cruise, you should not travel. "Currently, COVID-19 vaccination is required for all guests for all sailings departing on March 13, 2021, through April 10, 2021, at this time," American Cruise Lines said in a statement. Unvaccinated guests are permitted to sail on most MSC voyages. The requirements depend on the cruise line. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Masks are optional in all areas. Guest may also be required to present the negative results of a COVID-19 test taken prior to embarkation day. NAAT test (i.e., PCR) within 48 hours of embarkation date. Starting March 11, 2023, proof of vaccination for sailings to or from Europe will no longer be required. If you have a weakened immune system, talk with your healthcare provider about your cruise travel plans. When Will the Brightline to Orlando Open? 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. With the relaxation of travel requirements around the world, were thrilled to welcome all guests back on our ships to cruise freely to the places theyve been dreaming of regardless of vaccination status and with no testing requirements. (Unvaccinated guests will have to undergo special testing onboard to visit Spain or Greece.) Do I need another booster? AzamaraPrecruise testing is no longer required for vaccinated guests, except in ports where testing is required. Amazing buffets, cool amenities, and plenty of travelwhat's not to love? Destination specific requirements will still need to be met. The health and safety of our guests, crew and the communities we serve is our top priority and we continue to monitor and adjust to the evolving global situation, Celestyals Chief Commercial Officer Leslie Peden said in a statement. 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). 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). FDA proposes switching to annual coronavirus vaccine, mimicking flu model. 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. Crystal Cruises. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. Here's what we know about cruising unvaccinated for now. Unvaccinated guests are welcome on most voyages. The company also recently relaxed its mask-wearing policies, making them optional, even in indoor and crowded settings. SeabournAs of September 6, fully vaccinated passengers will no longer be required to submit a precruise COVID-19 test. Check your airline's protocols around testing, mask-wearing, vaccination, or quarantining if you're flying before or after the cruise. 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. 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. More than 14 months after cruising restarted following a long pandemic pause, and with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) having last month ended the intense monitoring of the cruise industry that began in March 2020, major cruise lines are dropping both vaccine requirements and precruise testing of vaccinated passengers. For other agents, the business benefits remain to be seen. But specific policies vary, and sometimes unvaccinated people have extra requirements. The cruise line may also require a test at the pier, paid for by the cruise line.) If you're not in the US and have a certificate of recovery, contact your desired cruise line before purchasing the cruise. It's possible a cruise line may accept one shot of a viral vector vaccine, such as AstraZeneca, and one shot of an mRNA vaccine, but this practice of mixing for a COVID-19 vaccine primary series isn't authorized yet in the US. Check out our variety of itineraries. 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). Our award-winning onboard medical centers are fully equipped with testing and treatment capabilities if needed. Many major cruise lines require anyone who is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine to be fully inoculated . Viking Cruises has decided to eliminate pre-voyage testing. Want CNET to notify you of price drops and the latest stories? 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. Related: What happens if someone tests positive for COVID-19 on your cruise. Vaccines heavily reduce the chances that you'll become infected in the first place. Unvaccinated guests are welcome on most voyages, except for those that visit destinations where local regulations vary, including Australia. What You Need to Know About Norwegian Cruise Lines Premium+ Drink Package, 12 Things to Know Before Sailing Royal Caribbean, Carnival Drops Pre-Cruise Testing & Vaccination Requirements, NCLH Drops COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements, Welcomes Everyone to Sail, Cruise News Recap | Week of February 5, 2023, Philippines Welcomes First International Cruise Ship in Three Years, Pre-Cruise Entertainment Reservations Now Available on Norwegian Cruise Line. I will have a better idea at the end of this week.. Also, crew members may work multiple voyages, passing on germs transmitted from previous passengers. The CDC has said vaccinated cruise passengers can remove their masks outdoors unless theyre in a crowd. Some ships can hold more than 5,400 passengers at two to a room. A precruise test is no longer required on the river ships. Purchasing in-home testing kits is simple. Our crew will continue to maintain our stringent hygiene protocols based upon the most up-to-date guidelines from the European Healthy Gateways, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), and Greek health authorities.. Lets leave the covid origin mystery to scientists, Covid, flu, RSV declining in hospitals as tripledemic threat fades. 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. 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. Cruise lines have their own rules; countries have their own rules. Under pandemic-era rules for restarting cruising, ships need to take volunteers on a test cruise to show they can mitigate the risks of covid-19. 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. Do bivalent boosters work against XBB.1.5? If you chose not to get a COVID-19 vaccine, can you still go on your favorite cruise vacation? Midway COVID tests and daily temperature checks have also been eliminatedhowever, there are exceptions for itineraries that include Spain, Barbados, St. Maarten, St. Vincent, and Morocco. 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. Are there any onboard activities that will not be available? 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. Present one of the following: Negative COVID-19 antigen test within 24 hours of the embarkation date. The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads easily between people in close quarters on board ships. Previously, the number was 95 percent for passengers. Unable to cruise. 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. The family-focused cruise line has been rolling out new regulations this month. For departures through 2022, proof of vaccination or certificate of recent recovery is no longer required, though testing protocols will still be in place. The Coronavirus Outbreak Has Affected 4 Different Cruise ShipsHere's Why Illness Can Spread so Fast at Sea. In a statement, the cruise lines president and CEO, Michael Bayley, thanked elected officials including Gov. "You really should get vaccinated," added Dr. Russo. As Disney Cruise Line (we, us) returns to sailing following the public health threat of COVID-19, we are changing some of our usual practices. Hubs, The Best Time to View D.C.s Cherry Blossoms This Year Is Sooner Than You Might Think, Low-Cost Carrier Norse Atlantic Adds London Routes From 4 U.S. Cities, Damon Dominique Believes Youre Already a Global Citizen, Stay Here Next: The Muir Hotel in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Stay Here Next: The Alpina Gstaad in Switzerland. Boosters are required for those age 18 and up who completed tests more than nine months prior to the cruise. Related: Do I need a COVID-19 vaccine to cruise?