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. Its pre-boarding tests requirements have also been scaled back. And you may have to be vaccinated or not. 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. Last week, the CDC announced new guidelines that won't require cruise lines to ask for proof of a COVID-19 vaccination from passengers. Unvaccinated guests are welcome to sail on all voyages except for those in Australia or some that are 16 nights or longer. 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. Viking will continue to do onboard testings for any passengers who report symptoms. Despite the law, two of the biggest cruise lines, Carnival and Norwegian have decided to impose proof-of-vaccination requirements, according to information published on their websites.. It's also important to consider who's coming with you. Precruise testing is required for unvaccinated passengers. (Note: This information is accurate as of February 7, 2023. Sarah has been writing about the cruise industry since 2015. Check with the cruise line for protocols on pre-board testing and vaccination. Are there any restrictions on pre-existing health conditions or limitations for guests due to COVID-19? 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. CDC lifts some mask rules for vaccinated cruise passengers, This is it, Bayley said in the statement. The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. A tidal wave has followed, with other cruise lines announcing similar changes. A guest is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the required number of doses in their vaccine series have been fully administered (e.g. Masks are no longer required. Boosters are required for those age 18 and up who completed tests more than nine months prior to the cruise. Temperature checks occur daily. Yes, we welcome all guests to sail with us, regardless of vaccination status and age, and with no testing or masking requirements. While some cruise lines operating in Europe have been requiring all passengers to be vaccinated, the C.D.C. Royal Caribbean Reported a COVID-19 Outbreak on the World's Biggest Cruise Ship, A US Cruise Ship Had a COVID Outbreak Even Though Full Vaccination Was RequiredHere's What You Should Know, CDC Stops Reporting COVID-19 Cases on Cruise ShipsHere's How You Can Still Stay Safe. And the CDC also recommends testing before boarding a cruise ship. The change allowed more unvaccinated children who didnt yet qualify for a vaccine (currently those under the age of five) or had not obtained a vaccine to come onboard during the summer. Precruise testing is required for all guests. The requirement was initially going to last until Oct. 31. Here are some of the latest cruise lines that are pulling back on pandemic measures. Want CNET to notify you of price drops and the latest stories? While some cruise lines state they'll accept medical exemptions, others do not, and it also might depend on the port. If you are allowed onboard, you will need to be tested precruise, which is required for unvaccinated children as well. All guests must be vaccinated to sail with Viking. Which Cruise Lines Require COVID-19 Vaccinations? Viking CruisesAll passengers and crew are required to be vaccinated on Vikings river and ocean shipswithout exception. Vaccines heavily reduce the chances that you'll become infected in the first place. 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. Booster shots are not required. Other cruise lines are singing the same tune. See the full list of vaccines approved by the WHO here. This news is very exciting for us and our industry.. Lets get cruising! 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. The company also recently relaxed its mask-wearing policies, making them optional, even in indoor and crowded settings. Those eligible for boosters are also required to have received them. All guests should assess their individual risk level and consult with their doctor if needed prior to sailing. Cruise ship travel during COVID-19. However, as the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve, it's possible that some data have changed since publication. 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. (The only"mix and match" approach to COVID-19 vaccinesin the US applies to boosters.). And the rules are constantly changing. However, we encourage all guests to follow the vaccination and testing guidance outlined above. The Crystal Symphony. Masks are optional in all areas. Overall, it's just better to get vaccinated against COVID-19 before going on a cruise, said Dr. Russo. In order to keep our guests as safe as possible, we highly recommend taking our company organized shore excursions as a more controlled environment for you to enjoy your time in each of the destinations. But now cruise lines are starting to drop those vaccine and testing requirements, making it easier for cruise-goers to sail the seas. It depends. 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. 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. Vaccinations are optional. People can also pick up pathogens from port visits and bring them back onto the ship, infecting others. This doesnt apply to select destinations where local regulations vary, including Australia. As of today, 90 percent of all vacationers booking with Royal Caribbean are either vaccinated or planning to get vaccinated in time for their cruise.. RELATED: NCLH Drops COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements, Welcomes Everyone to Sail. Atlas Ocean Voyages Vaccine required? Please note: Anti-viral COVID-19 therapeutics are readily available onboard and will be charged to the guests' account. 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. 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. Here's what to know about setting sail without a COVID-19 vaccination. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. FDA proposes switching to annual coronavirus vaccine, mimicking flu model. As of June 10, Viking highly recommends, but no longer requires, a pre-departure COVID-19 testunless one is required by the destination, Viking said in an updated statement about health and safety protocols. 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. Norovirus. Vacationers can finally plan to take their precious time off this summer and truly get away after what has been a challenging time for everyone.. Health and safety is our top priority, and we will continue to modify our robust SailSafe program as the public health environment evolves. You can keep up with her on Instagram at @IAmSarahJaneB. In order to facilitate pre-cruise testing requirements, Norwegian has partnered with Inspired Diagnostics lab to ensure that guests have access to a quick, efficient and easy way to access the required FDA-approved proctored in-home antigen test prior to embarkation from the comfort of their own home. Retesting three to five days after returning, and in particular, if symptoms have developed, is also advised, says Dr. Jasmin Valentin of Sameday Health. Paul Gauguin CruisesVaccinations are required for all passengers over age 5. All guests are advised to monitor and comply with applicable travel restrictions. 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. Please refer to. Sign Up for Our Monthly Cruise Newsletter. 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. 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. Unvaccinated guests are welcome with a medically supervised or self-test within three days of sailing. 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. And other cruise brands, such as Carnival Cruise Line, currently make way for select exemptions, but they have yet to permit them across the board. Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. 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. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 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. Cruise lines can skip that step if they will have 95 percent of crew and passengers vaccinated. This includes vaccines such as AstraZeneca and Sinovac. 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. Will I be required to take a COVID test to disembark the vessel? One Cruise Planners franchise owner in San Diego, Calif. has yet to record an immediate boost in bookings. Delivered on weekdays. A cruise can be a fun way to visit certain areas of the world at a slower pace. Its hard to say how this will affect me, advisor Adam Martindale said. Lets leave the covid origin mystery to scientists, Covid, flu, RSV declining in hospitals as tripledemic threat fades. Many major cruise lines require anyone who is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine to be fully inoculated . Are children allowed to sail on your ships if they are not vaccinated? Should you need to locate a testing provider prior to beginning travel or while traveling prior to your cruise, please visit TestForTravel.com, an easy-to-use online tool for locating COVID-19 testing providers around the world. On most sailings, kids and teens ages 17 and under do not have a vaccine requirement. As of December 2022, if it has been at least2 monthssince their last dose, children as young as 6 months who completed the Modernaprimary series can receive one updated bivalent booster dose. 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. Also called a "bivalent" booster, the updated booster became available for people aged 511 on October 12, 2022. Guests on cruises longer than 16 nights will have to test if stopping in destinations that require tests locally (like Canada, Bermuda, Greece and Australia; these destinations require the tests to be supervised).