CDC's COVID-19 Guidance to Become Optional for Cruise Lines What to Know 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. Royal Caribbean said it still needs to complete simulation cruises before getting approval for the sailings it announced Friday. Precruise testing is required for all guests. Yes. Unvaccinated guests are welcome with a medically supervised or self-test within three days of sailing. CDC, FDA Investigating PotentialBut 'Unlikely'Link Between Pfizer Booster and Stroke Risk, This Year's Flu Shot Is a 'Good Match,' CDC SaysBut Cases and Hospitalizations Continue to Rise, Omicron vs. Delta: How the 2 COVID-19 Variants Compare, Omicron Boosters Could Save 90,000 Lives This WinterBut Only if People Get Them. Lindblad ExpeditionsAll passengers age 5 and older must be vaccinated. Viking Cruises has decided to eliminate pre-voyage testing. The Miami-based operator will not require passengers to be vaccinated. Will I be required to take a COVID test to disembark the vessel? And documented guests ages 12 and older who are fully vaccinated (according to the destination they are embarking and/or traveling to) no longer need to be tested for the coronavirus prior to sailing. All guests 18 and older must be vaccinated to sail, plus one booster shot if eligible. The new protocols do not apply to itineraries for countries where local regulations may vary, such as Canada, Australia, and Greece. Requirements may differ for guests traveling on voyages departing from or visiting destinations with specific local regulations, such as Canada, Greece, and Bermuda. Starting Sept. 6, vaccinated guests sailing on voyages of less than 16 days will no longer have to test . 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. Spice up your small talk with the latest tech news, products and reviews. 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. Travel Requirements by Port & Country - Norwegian Cruise Line Also, crew members may work multiple voyages, passing on germs transmitted from previous passengers. 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. We have also enhanced our onboard medical capabilities with additional staffing and enhanced facilities. Check with Cunard for information on your specific sailing. In May, the CDC scaled back slightly on its tough restrictions for cruise lines by allowing ships to declare themselves as highly vaccinated if 90 percent of passengers and at least 95 percent of crew were vaccinated. Cruise ship travel. Masks are no longer required. What if I test positive for COVID-19 before my cruise? Related: What happens if someone tests positive for COVID-19 on your cruise. If you have a weakened immune system, talk to a healthcare provider about the risks of traveling. For specific country requirements, please visit Cruise Travel Requirements by Country. Want CNET to notify you of price drops and the latest stories? 301 Route 17 N, Suite 1150, Rutherford, NJ 07070 USA | Telephone:(201) 902-2000. Celebritys Healthy at Sea page makes it easy to track the specific requirements based on your cruises itinerary. Those eligible for boosters are also required to have received them. All passengers must also present a negative PCR test result at the pier. Check with the cruise line for protocols on pre-board testing and vaccination. If you chose not to get a COVID-19 vaccine, can you still go on your favorite cruise vacation? This could include but is not limited to proof of a specific negative COVID-19 test result or Booster. 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. If you have a cruise booked, you should keep checking the cruise lines website or contact the line for the latest rules. 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. CDC continues to recommend that cruise travelers remain up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines and get tested for COVID-19 before and after they travel, and after any known exposure to a person with COVID-19. COVID-19 Protocols, Listed by Cruise Line | TravelAge West Inspired Diagnostics is a subsidiary of Inspire Health Alliance, a leader in best-in-class health services. For additional information, please visit Cruise Travel Requirements by Country. Passengers age 4 and under do not require a vaccination. Since September 6, passengers on itineraries that are 16 nights or less, and who show proof of vaccination, no longer have to test before boarding. We have improved our onboard medical capabilities with additional staffing directly related to sailing capacity, new and upgraded equipment and enhanced facilities. 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. 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. 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. But now cruise lines are starting to drop those vaccine and testing requirements, making it easier for cruise-goers to sail the seas. Travel news, guides and tips for anyone looking to get away. 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. As is true for most travel restrictions these days, your ability to book a cruise may depend on your vaccination status. Children age 12 to 15 must have received two initial doses of the vaccination. So, if you're planning your next vacation to include traveling by cruise ship, consider staying up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccines. In addition to a broad set of coverage benefits, our plans cover medical expenses for illnesses, including COVID-19. Note: There may be additional requirements if you are traveling internationally, and the rules can changesometimes overnight. 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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. The cruise line continues to strongly recommend all guests be up to date on vaccination protocols and test at their convenience prior to travel. 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. 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. Vaccine and pretrip testing requirements can be confusing, especially if you are cruising internationally. 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. 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? The CDC has said vaccinated cruise passengers can remove their masks outdoors unless theyre in a crowd. Unvaccinated passengers will need to test via a rapid or lab-based PCR or nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT). Ron DeSantis whose staff has said cruise lines could be fined $5,000 per violation for requiring proof of vaccination for their support and for helping crew get vaccinated. Cruise lines can skip that step if they will have 95 percent of crew and passengers vaccinated. The CDC director answered your questions. Cruises that are 16 nights or longer may have additional requirements based on the itinerary. These requirements will vary by country and is the responsibility of the guest and supersede our policy. Respiratory illnesses like the flu, and COVID-19 and the common cold. The world's second-largest cruise line late Friday said that effective Sept. 6 it no longer would require passengers to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccine for all voyages except those . Guests are strongly recommended to set sail fully vaccinated, if they are eligible, the cruise line said in a news release. Check with Seabourn for protocols on your specific sailing. Please refer to. Here's what you need to know about going on a cruise if you're notvaccinatedfor COVID-19. The line doesn't allow kids younger than 8 years old to sail, so young-child exemptions aren't a . Most cruise lines kept requirements for vaccinations and precruise testing in place, but that changed in late July, after the CDC backed off even further from its monitoring of the cruise industry. 2 shots of Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, etc., or 1 shot of Johnson & Johnson). 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. This news is very exciting for us and our industry.. 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. Health and safety is our top priority, and we will continue to modify our robust SailSafe program as the public health environment evolves. Do You Need To Be Vaccinated To Go on a Cruise? Paul Gauguin CruisesVaccinations are required for all passengers over age 5. Our ships have been sailing very full all summer, but there is still room for more of our loyal guests and these guidelines will make it a simpler process and make cruising accessible to those who were not able to meet the protocols we were required to follow for much of the past 14 months, said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival. All Contents Copyright 2022 Cruise Radio, Inc. | Website Designed by Insider Perks, Inc. Get the real facts delivered straight to your inbox, with trustworthy cruise related news. Cruise Ship Travel During COVID-19 | CDC 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? Starting with departures from October 8, 2022, guests who are vaccinated will no longer have to take a pre-boarding antigen test 48 hours before departure, if the itinerary starts in South America, the Caribbean, the United Arab Emirates, and the Mediterranean (with the exception of Greece).