Our award-winning onboard medical centers are fully equipped with testing and treatment capabilities if needed. In addition to a broad set of coverage benefits, our plans cover medical expenses for illnesses, including COVID-19. All guests must be vaccinated to sail with Viking. But even before the COVID-19 pandemic, cruise ships didn't have the best reputation for being disease-free. The Coronavirus Outbreak Has Affected 4 Different Cruise ShipsHere's Why Illness Can Spread so Fast at Sea. The protocols do not apply to itineraries for countries where local regulations may vary, including Canada, Australia, and Greece. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. This could include but is not limited to proof of a specific negative COVID-19 test result or Booster. Can You Get Omicron and Delta COVID-19 Variants at the Same Time? You can keep up with her on Instagram at @IAmSarahJaneB. Unvaccinated guests are welcome to sail on all voyages, except for those to or from Australia and on transatlantic and transpacific cruises. Onboard medical centres are also abundantly stocked with common prescription medications and remedies. "You really should get vaccinated," added Dr. Russo. A line-by-line guide. Before your trip, you will need to review your cruise lines health and safety protocols. Many US-based cruise lines say they're currently following the regulations put forth by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and those are subject to change as the coronavirus pandemic does. The pandemic after the pandemic: Long covid haunts millions of people. Also, crew members may work multiple voyages, passing on germs transmitted from previous passengers. (If testing is required it can typically be either a PCR test or tele-health-monitored antigen test, paid for by the passenger. Will I be required to take a COVID-19 test in order to embark on the second leg of a back-to-back sailing? The cruise line continues to strongly recommend all guests be up to date on vaccination protocols and test at their convenience prior to travel. All departures from the U.S. that are nine nights or less dont require any testing, unless they stop in Canada or Bermuda. 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. CDC also continues to recommend mask wearing in indoor travel settings.. 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. 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). The line doesn't allow kids younger than 8 years old to sail, so young-child exemptions aren't a . Lets get cruising! Viking CruisesAll passengers and crew are required to be vaccinated on Vikings river and ocean shipswithout exception. All vessels will have COVID-19 testing capabilities on board and results onsite. A guest is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the required number of doses in their vaccine series have been fully administered (e.g. Unvaccinated guests are welcome on most voyages. Once booked and on board, passengers should take the appropriate precautions, but they should also remember to have funit is a vacation!. Precruise testing is required for all guests. "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. FDA, CDC expand Pfizer & Moderna bivalent vaccines to kids 6 months and up with Sandra Fryhofer, MD. Check the cruise lines websites for the most up-to-date information.). 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. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Royal Caribbean did not answer a question about whether its decision not to require vaccinations for passengers was a result of the states bans. Cruisers have been patiently waiting and there is pent-up demand. Some may also require pre-board testing for unvaccinated people. If a guest tests positive for COVID-19 while on board, what costs are covered? 2023 CNET, a Red Ventures company. This includes vaccines. 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. 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 rights reserved. 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. Cond Nast Traveler does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 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. Check with Carnival for specific cruise requirements. First Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and MSC Cruises all announced they would eliminate precruise testing requirements for vaccinated guests on cruises of six nights or less, while hinting that there would be additional loosening of requirements once they got the necessary approvals from the governments of countries the ships visit. 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 to what percentage of his clients he thinks are unvaccinated and will be affected by this announcement, he estimates no higher than around 10%. Additional terms and conditions may apply, see our COVID- 19 Policies and Procedures and your Cruise Ticket Contract for details. Carnival Cruise Line is joining Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line in dropping its COVID-19 vaccine requirement.. Windstar CruisesAll passengers must be fully vaccinated. Heres a rundown of the basic rules for some leading cruise lines. Spice up your small talk with the latest tech news, products and reviews. Children may or may not be able to cruise, depending on the ship. As with so many cruises around the world, requirements will vary by itinerary, but new policies that went into effect earlier this month eliminated vaccination requirements for trips departing the U.S., as long as they dont stop in Bermuda or Canada. Paul Gauguin CruisesVaccinations are required for all passengers over age 5. Sign Up for Our Monthly Cruise Newsletter. 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. 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. Some ships can hold more than 5,400 passengers at two to a room. Were thrilled that NCLH has updated their sailing guidelines to welcome unvaccinated guests and adjust testing requirements.. 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. For an easy to use online tool for locating COVID-19 testing providers around the world, please visit www.testfortravel.com. Be sure to review the latest requirements prior to boarding. Cruise lines can skip that step if they will have 95 percent of crew and passengers vaccinated. These rules apply to cruises of under 16 nights. Will I be required to take a COVID test to disembark the vessel? For Europe and Tahiti, your last COVID-19 shot is now required within the last 270 days. Effective for sailings 10/4/22 and beyond, all guests regardless of vaccination status are able to sail and with no testing requirements. Simply enter your zip code, or city and country, and the website will display locations, contact information, and testing hours. The company announced the requirement as it plans. Get tested again after cruise travel. 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. *Terms & Conditions Package not available on sailings less than 5 days or charter sailings. The testing and masking requirement specifics may differ by cruise or length of sail, but everyone age 2 and older should be prepared to be tested for COVID-19 before boarding, or during the journey when applicable, regardless of vaccination status. Cruises that are 16 nights or longer may have additional requirements based on the itinerary. Yes. Overall, it's just better to get vaccinated against COVID-19 before going on a cruise, said Dr. Russo. CunardAll guests age 16 and up must be vaccinated, including with booster shots. Here's what you need to know about going on a cruise if you're notvaccinatedfor COVID-19. *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. Check out our variety of itineraries. The relaxation of protocols, coupled with continued easing of travel restrictions and the reopening to cruise in more ports around the globe are meaningfully positive for our business as it reduces friction, expands the addressable cruise market, brings variety to itineraries and provides additional catalysts on the road to recovery.. While . Related: Do I need a COVID-19 vaccine to cruise? 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. Since then, cruise lines around the world have been cautiously dropping their pre-embarkation requirements. 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. 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. Should the need arise, we also have partnerships with onshore medical institutions in place to provide clinical advice and assistance as needed. And the rules are constantly changing. (Rapid antigen tests are not accepted.) Ad Choices. Celestyal also recommends all passengers over 60and guests of any age with an underlying conditionto check with their doctors first to ensure theyre fit to travel. 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. Every ship has a team of experienced doctors and nurses trained to manage a broad range of medical conditions, including COVID-19. The cruise line may also require a test at the pier, paid for by the cruise line.) On most sailings, kids and teens ages 17 and under do not have a vaccine requirement. Please keep in mind that this is largely dependent on the local health authorities and the evolving regulations, which are subject to change. When Will the Brightline to Orlando Open? They are dependent, however, on the requirements of the places they are stopping at., This means that two different itineraries on the same cruise line may not have the same rulesso its more essential than ever to check testing, vaccination, and booster requirements specifically for each departure. 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. 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? 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, Fee said. did not go that far. Children under 5 leaving the U.S. or under 12 leaving Europe also dont need to test. With Sail Safe, our industry leading Health & Safety Program, we will continue to put our guests and our crew members first by keeping everyone safe and healthy on board our ships and in the communities we visit. 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. For guests departing outside of the US who are cruising with Royal Caribbean, they may present a certificate of recovery. Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters. Please note: Anti-viral COVID-19 therapeutics are readily available onboard and will be charged to the guests' account. 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. Vaccines must be approved for use by the country they are sailing from. Self-tests are accepted in some cases, but it's best to check the specifics on the site. Carnival Cruise Line was very upfront about its motivations in announcing its decision to let anyone, vaccinated or not, to come onboard most of its sailings. Added coconut oil to cheap coffee before keto made it cool. Viking Cruises has decided to eliminate pre-voyage testing. So far, the CDC has approved nine ships for test cruises, operated by Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line and MSC Cruises. Earlier this month, Oceania dropped testing requirements for vaccinated passengers; unvaccinated guests need to show proof of a negative antigen or PCR test taken within 72 hours. 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. Cruise giant Royal Caribbean International on Friday announced plans to bring back six more ships including some of its largest for U.S. sailings starting July 2. However, we encourage all guests to follow the vaccination and testing guidance outlined above. Results need to be uploaded before boarding. Fee is also hopeful that the remainder of cruise lines will follow suit soon. As delivering the best experience for our guests is always a top priority, after working closely with our destination partners, we anticipate that guests will be free to explore certain ports of call on their own. Norovirus. Should there be an annual coronavirus booster? Last week, Disney Cruise Line became the first cruise line to require passengers as young as 5 to be vaccinated for sailings starting Jan. 13. Cruise lines have their own rules; countries have their own rules. 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? 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. Its pre-boarding tests requirements have also been scaled back. Our long-awaited revisions to our testing and vaccination requirements bring us closer in line with the rest of society, which has learned to adapt and live with COVID-19, and makes it simpler and easier for our loyal guests to cruise on our three best-in-class brands, said Frank Del Rio, president and CEO of NCLH. 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. 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. 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. Travelers ages 11 and under will not be subject to any vaccination requirements or testing protocols. Crystal Cruises. Can I buy travel insurance through Norwegian Cruise Line? 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. I will have a better idea at the end of this week.. It wasn't uncommon to see reports of outbreaks ofnorovirus, a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. Our CareTeam will assist with daily wellbeing check-ins . Even so, Celestyal suggests all guests test prior to travel, regardless of vaccination status, but test results will no longer be checked next year. The exception are trips on the Disney Magic that depart New York City from September 30 through October 31 that may have different requirements. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends updating people on their COVID-19 vaccines before going on a cruise. Vaccination for sailings starting and ending in the U.S. is not required. Medical news, pregnancy topics and health hacks that don't cost money. Disney also highly recommends vaccines for younger kids. Here's what to know about setting sail without a COVID-19 vaccination. 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 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 cruises longer than 15 nights, a medically supervised COVID-19 test is required for all guests, and most passengers are required to be vaccinated. All guests are strongly advised to monitor current travel requirements and advisories for their home countries. Unvaccinated guests are welcome with a medically supervised or self-test within three days of sailing.