Until recently, Virgin Voyages had a simple policy. In addition, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian sail to a lot more ports than Virgin Voyages does, and cruise ships must also comply with local rules (and some destinations require vaccinations for anyone ages 12 and over even if they dont get off the ship. Free expert cruise tips and news from Cruise Hive! When asked how Carnival intends to handle Floridas new law, a spokesperson did not comment on the decision to break from the law and instead referred NBC News to its frequently-asked-questions page, which states that guests will be asked to confirm their status as fully vaccinated for Covid-19 and provide proof of vaccination in advance of boarding, unless a vaccination exemption is given in advance. Do I need a vaccine to cruise? Virgin does not allow children on its ships, so it was sailing with 100% vaccination rates. Azamara. Disney Cruise Line joins the majority of cruise operators that have done away with COVID-19 vaccination requirements on some ships. Olsen Cruise Lines. Others have eliminated both Covid vaccination requirements and testing requirements for some, but not all, passengers based on itineraries or cruise lengths. No. Most major cruise lines require proof of vaccination for all passengers age 12 and up, and some require them for kids as young as 5 years old . Cruises from Australia or those 16 nights or longer do still require a passenger be vaccinated to sail. Around the same time, Celebrity Cruises went the opposite direction, lowering the age at which passengers must be vaccinated to sail on its ships. Effective September 3, 2022, Regent Seven Seas will welcome guests of all ages back regardless of vaccination status. In you are an unvaccinated adult, some cruise lines will now let you sail, others will not. Children age 12 to 15 must have received two initial doses of the vaccination. For instance, a Panama Canal cruise making a stop in Colombia triggers vaccine requirements for ports later in the itinerary. Note: There may be additional requirements if you are traveling internationally, and the rules can changesometimes overnight. Main photo: a cruise ship docked near Grand Turk Island. The company plans to start sailing again in August, including to Greece, Turkey, and Italy. As with any rapidly changing scenario like this one, laws, and regulations change at a rapid pace, and this often affects your cruise vaccination requirements as well. Furthermore, all cruise travelers should be aware that any cruise line has the authority to update protocols in any region, for any sailing, at any time, should it be deemed necessary for public health and safety and the health and safety of those aboard a ship. In addition to the protection COVID-19 vaccines provide to individual travelers in preventing severe illness or death from COVID-19, having a high proportion of travelers on board who are up to date with COVID-19 vaccines reduces the likelihood that cruise ships medical centers are overwhelmed by cases of COVID-19.. In the fall of 2022, many popular cruise lines dropped the requirement for passengers to be up-to-date on Covid-19 vaccinations. Amateur web practitioner. The cruise line currently requires unvaccinated guests to have a vaccine exemption before they sail. The Splendor-class Carnival Splendor, with a guest capacity of 3,012, is offering both short and long cruises from Sydney, including ports of call such as Tasmania, New Zealand, and Queensland, as well as short getaways to nowhere. Are Any Unvaccinated Passengers Able to Sail? Disney Cruise Line, which recently welcomed a new ship to its fleet, requires unvaccinated children to wear their masks when using shared onboard youth centers, and also asks all travelers to wear a mask at all times when at the cruise terminal. Note: In order to be considered fully vaccinated, passengers must have received their final shot at least 15 days prior to embarkation. Additionally, many cruise lines are still enforcing social distancing measures onboard and in public areas.When planning a cruise vacation, it's important to research the safety protocols of each cruise line before booking. We had somewhere in the neighborhood of 4000 passengers on board and I would venture to guess that less than 2% wore masks. : Yes American Queen is even vaccinating its shoreside employees. Its 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 isnt authorized yet in the US. Princess Cruises will remove vaccination requirements on Sept. 6 for most voyages that are less than 16 days. Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, : For Freedom, Odyssey, Allure, Symphony and sailing out of Florida ports in July and August we are strongly recommending all guests eligible for vaccines are fully vaccinated. Bimini Cruise Port: Everything You Need To Know, 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. Unvaccinated cruises passengers must wear masks, while vaccinated passengers dont. As the threat of Covid-19 begins to diminish, there is a possibility cruise lines may relax health protocols, including allowing unvaccinated people to go on a cruise ship. You May Like: Where To Find The Best Cruise Deals. Before your trip, you will need to review your cruise lines health and safety protocols. 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In other health protocol-related news, last week Norwegian Cruise Line announced that as of today, it will be allowing unvaccinated kids under 12 to sail on its ships. As always, your safety is our first priority, so we will continue with our other protocols to keep you well while enjoying your relaxing vacation, the cruise line shared in the email. Enjoy your cruise. Currently, more than 120 countries have dropped all restrictions, including many popular cruise destinations in the Caribbean and Europe. See the full list of vaccines approved by the WHO here. One of the trickier questions to tackle is do cruises require vaccinations? No precruise testing is required for vaccinated guests on sailings of five nights or less. Also Check: 7 Night Western Mediterranean Cruise. 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 cruise line said COVID vaccines will no longer be required for passengers 12 and older on the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, Disney Wish, and Disney Wonder cruise ships starting on Oct. 14. Our Crew will remain fully vaccinated as they are now. As the threat of Covid-19 begins to diminish, there is a possibility cruise lines may relax health protocols, including allowing unvaccinated people to go on a cruise ship. As well, no vaccine will be required if sailing from Europe. The question for Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian becomes which changes will lead to the most passengers on their ships? On Alaska voyages between Whittier and Vancouver, they are required on the ship when indoors. While each cruise line might accept different ones, the major vaccines Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and AstraZeneca all seem to have wide acceptance. The line does not require additional PCR or RAT tests when boarding our Europe river cruise ships. Those indoor spaces include all lounges, corridors, elevators, theaters, casinos, and other spaces, unless guests are eating or drinking. If you know a bit about which brands belong to which company, youll recognize that these are all cruise lines under the Carnival Corporation and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings umbrellas. For more information about the Companys award-winning 18-ship fleet and worldwide itineraries, or to book a cruise, please call +1-888-NCL-CRUISE , contact a travel professional or visit www.ncl.com. No precruise testing is required for vaccinated guests on sailings of five nights or less. But most major cruise lines dropped mask mandates earlier this year as COVID-19 cases worldwide dropped significantly. Now that policy has changed to 90% of passengers, allowing 10% of those onboard to sail unvaccinated with an exemption. MSC is a popular choice for passengers looking for relatively affordable fares. This article contains links which are ads and if you click on a link and buy a product we will earn revenue. Testing is not required of vaccinated guests. The cruise line states some itineraries will require proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to travel, and that instructors will be sent out 30 days prior to travel. This isnt an easy decision, because its partially about peoples health and partially about keeping your business healthy. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. Still, there are exceptions. Oceania CruisesFully vaccinated passengers aged 12 and older dont need a test to embark. To avoid the chance of you missing your next cruise, whether domestic or international, we suggest being fully vaccinated. COVID-19 vaccine exemptions at Carnivals Long Beach, California port will only be accepted for kids under age 12 and when required by US federal law due to religious beliefs or medical reasons. Prior to the pandemic, the industry directly and indirectly supported nearly 160,000 jobs in Florida. Is A Pierside, Pre-Embarkation COVID-19 Test Required? Carnival Cruise LineOnly passengers on sailings to Canada, Bermuda, Greece and Australia, plus cruises of 16 nights or more, need to be fully vaccinated. Other sources include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Travelers Health site that maintains up-to-date information on current health situations around the world, general healthy travel tips and help in finding a travel health clinic. However, before they cruise, those without the shot will need to have a negative test taken within three days of cruising . If you are allowed onboard, you will need to be tested precruise, which is required for unvaccinated children as well. Heres a rundown of the basic rules for some leading cruise lines. In an abundance of caution in response to recent cases reported onboard cruise ships, Carnival Cruise Line has reintroduced mandatory mask wearing policies for the cruise line's. Now, the cruise brand owned by billionaire Richard Branson has quietly decided to allow some unvaccinated sailors, as it calls its passengers, on its upcoming voyages. Those passengers or those who are partially vaccinated will need to provide results of a negative antigen or molecular PCR test taken within 48 hours of embarkation, according to a news release. Fully vaccinated passengers do not have to test prior to sailing. Cruise lines have begun to get rid of their COVID-19 vaccine requirement that they have mandated over the past 15 months since cruises have restarted. Who Needs to Be Vaccinated: All passengers, no exceptions, need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Royal Caribbean made headlines a week ago when it announced that it would begin sailing from Florida in early July with ships where vaccinations would be recommended but not required. Royal Caribbean Group, which includes Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises, will welcome all travelers regardless of vaccination status beginning Sept. 5 as long as testing requirements are met, a spokesperson told USA Today. Carnival Cruise Line will no longer require pre-cruise testing for vaccinated guests on voyages that are five nights or fewer beginning Aug. 4, the cruise line said Friday. The cruise line has a limited but growing presence in the U.S., with cruises from Florida and New York. Disney rolled back its COVID vaccine requirement for passengers aged 5 to 11 in early September. If Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian allow for unvaccinated adults but keep the 90% vaccinated number that could limit how many families can book cruises on those lines, which are marketed as family cruise lines. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. Be sure to review the latest requirements prior to boarding. Also, fully vaccinated passengers now no longer need to provide a negative COVID-19 test prior to setting sail on many voyages. A single shot of the Johnson & Johnson dose is ok, but still requires receiving it well in advance of sailing. Proud musicaholic. For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPGs new cruise newsletter. Massport, the organization behind Logan Airport and Flynn Cruise Port in Boston, said masks are no longer mandatory in their terminals: " Masks are optional. Top 5 Travel Insurance Plans For 2023 Starting At $10 Per Week. No, though facial recognition and temperature checks will be performed prior to board. Are Any Unvaccinated Passengers Able to Sail? In fact, apart from vaccines and testing, the onboard experience has returned to exactly what it was before the pandemic. Be Safe protocols for Australia sailings on November 17, 2022, reintroducing mandatory mask wearing. Read Also: Cruises In April 2022 From Florida. Cruise ship operators, at their discretion, may designate areas as only accessible to fully vaccinated passengers and crew where masks and physical distancing are not required (e.g., casinos . Disney said that changes to the policies are subject to local rules. If youre flying to Caribbean islands like Barbados or the Bahamas, or Canadian homeports, such as Vancouver and Montreal, you will need to carry a passport. That meant they required just about everyone on board to have their shots, with few exceptions allowed for young children and people who cant be vaccinated due to medical conditions or religious beliefs. Which Cruise Lines Require That Kids Be Vaccinated? You can view Carnivals latest policies here. The governor is dictatorially imposing his will on Florida businesses trying to protect their customers, including cruise lines on whom our agriculture industry depends for millions in food sales, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said in a statement to NBC News. Passengers can call the cruise line at 954-488-2955 to ask about sailing without having the shot. As of the fall of 2022, many cruise line have dropped vaccination, testing and masking requirements. View Best Prices on Celebrity, Read Also: Last Minute Cruise Deals Tampa. We feature properties from a specially selected list of trusted operators who are of a standard that we believe our readers expect. The cruise line has a limited but growing presence in the U.S., with cruises from Florida and New York. Its understandable why many voyagers can get muddled on what they need to do in relation to COVID-19 vaccination requirements for their next cruise. We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports. Recommended Reading: When Are Cruise Ships Sailing Again. Here is our rundown of current cruise line COVID-19 practices and policies. For now, none of the cruise lines that have a vaccine requirement have announced any plans to rescind that rule in the future. A number of cruise lines have reviewed their policies following the change. Carnival, for example, says itll accept some vaccine exemptions from those ages 12 and younger, as well as adults who have that they cant be vaccinated but only at their Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Maryland, South Carolina and Alabama ports until the end of March 2022. Norwegian, which mandates 100% of guests and crew be vaccinated to sail and did not previously require masks be worn, will now mandate face coverings for sailings through Dec. 19, according to the . Yes. The change comes as major cruise lines, including Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, and Holland America Line, have dropped vaccine requirements for many sailings in recent weeks. With more and more cruise lines dropping all COVID-related travel requirements, its back to cruising as usual. Therefore, people who are vaccinated should not be worried about getting infected from those who arent. While most cruise lines require adults to be vaccinated right now, unvaccinated readers want to know when the vaccine mandate may go away. For example, approximately 100 cases were reported onboard Coral Princess in early July during one of the first restart cruises, while more recently, local news services have reported more than 800 cases aboard Majestic Princess. Masks and Physical Distancing Requirements: Masks are not required. On ocean, lakes, and expedition ships that visit Canada, there is a free COVID-19 test at the precruise hotel check-in on the day prior to embarkation until further notice. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends updating people on their COVID-19 vaccines before going on a cruise. Additionally, it's important to check the latest travel advisories and restrictions for your destination before booking a cruise. With the update, Disney will require passengers aged 5 and older who are unvaccinated to provide a negative COVID test taken one to two days prior to embarkment. The cruise line states some itineraries will require proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to travel, and that instructors will be sent out 30 days prior to travel. Details: Royal Caribbeans latest mask policy. There are a few exceptions. Mask-wearing requirements were common on cruise ships through much of 2021 and into early 2022 as COVID-19 spread across the globe in several major waves. "There may, however, be certain venues and events where masks will be required," said the brand. A. Carnival Cruise Line Carnival has joined the CDC programme so, effective with cruises departing March 1, masks on board will be recommended but not required on US sailings. In most cases, no. Most major cruise lines still require passengers to be fully vaccinated, including having the relevant booster jabs. Its also important to know that while all adults in the US are now eligible for boosters, the definition of fully vaccinated hasnt changed and you dont need an extra shot to be considered fully vaccinated. For passengers who are 5 and older and fully vaccinated, a COVID test is not required, but proof of vaccination is needed. Guests who choose not to be vaccinated or not willing to verify vaccination will be subject to testing and additional health protocols which will be at their expense. We feature properties from a specially selected list of trusted operators who are of a standard that we believe our readers expect. Dont Miss: What Cruise Lines Go To Tahiti. Enter your email address to subscribe to Travel Off Paths latest breaking travel news, straight to your inbox, You May Like: Luxury River Cruise Lines Europe. As the cruise industry has made its way back from its covid-related March 2020 through July 2021 closure, a lot of people have put off cruising until it returned to normal. Thats a relative word, however, as your normal and my normal may not be the same. Guests must also wear masks during the entire embarkation and debarkation processes. It must be noted, however, that there have been no reports of cases reported from cruise ships having severe symptoms or requiring hospitalization, with most individuals who return positive test results reporting no symptoms or only mild discomfort. Carnival has also removed the mask mandate from its ships. In other words, this is not something you want to put off until the last minute. It seems most cruise lines are following the CDCs definition of fully vaccinated, which means two weeks have passed since your second shot of Pfizer or Moderna, or since your one-dose Johnson & Johnson shot. All guests on all sailings through the end of 2022 with Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection are required to be fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated travelers may embark with a negative COVID-19 antigen or PCR test taken within three days prior to embarkation. But with the pandemic still ongoing, many cruise lines have implemented safety protocols, including the requirement to wear masks. Dont Miss: Do Any Cruise Lines Allow Dogs. Heres what you need to know. Do Non-US Citizens Need to Be Vaccinated to Enter the US During the COVID-19 Pandemic. That creates a peace of mind you dont get on other types of vacations. Can I still have sex during the coronavirus pandemic? Passengers are encouraged to wear them . What other safety measures are in place: All ships have been equipped with High Efficiency Particular Air filters and buffets have been eliminated. MSC is a popular choice for passengers looking for relatively affordable fares. Also Check: Best Hotels Near Miami Cruise Port. For domestic sailings, this will be entirely dependent on your chosen cruise line and their cruise vaccination requirements and the current laws of the state or territories you plan on travelling from/to. Because this policy only impacts sailings in Australia, only two Carnival ships are currently affected: Carnival Splendor and Carnival Luminosa. Starting in late February, Virgin Voyages adjusted its policies from requiring masks when indoors to going completely mask-free. These links are signposted with an asterisk. Unvaccinated guests are required to be tested. Vaccine requirements are starting to change, however. For now, none of the cruise lines that have a vaccine requirement have announced any plans to rescind that rule in the future. MORE: 8 Tips For Preparing to Cruise in 2022. Aida Cruises, Ama Waterways, American Queen Steamboat Company, Azamara, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, Carnival Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Viking are all open or planning to open soon. And, some cruise stops may then trigger requirements for ports of call later in the trip. In fact, the cruise line requires all passengers to have the shot to sail. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control stopped tracking the presence of covid on ships and issued a new set of guidelines for the cruise industry. All passengers age 4 and up must take a prearrival test and show a negative result to board. And you may have to be vaccinated or not. Carnival Cruise Line only restarted Australia guest operations in the past several weeks, first with Carnival Splendor setting sail on October 1, followed by Carnival Luminosas first sailing on November 6. The new-to-the-fleet Spirit-class Carnival Luminosa can welcome 2,260 guests, and is offering a range of South Pacific, New Zealand, and Great Barrier Reef itineraries from Brisbane. Some cruise lines encourage vaccination even though they dont require it. The cruise line said it will accept an antigen, PCR, or Nucleic Acid Amplification Test test. Details: Holland Americas latest mask policy. However, before they cruise, those without the shot will need to have a negative test taken within three days of cruising . 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. That creates a peace of mind you dont get on other types of vacations. Other cruise lines have also slowly restarted operations in Australia, including Princess Cruises, P&O Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International. However, as is the case with Cunard, these cruise lines stop . DeSantis To Appeal Preliminary Injunction Allowing Norwegian Cruises To Require Vaccines. Guests can also visit www.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise/cruise-travel-documents for more information about the required travel documentation they will need for their NCL voyage. fred o. Fred. However, from December 1, Azamara will no longer require proof of vaccination for sailings starting and ending in the US or sailings starting and ending in Europe. For all country specific travel requirements, travelers should visit www.ncl.com/travel-requirements-by-country. All products and brands mentioned in this article are selected by our writers and editors based on first-hand experience or customer feedback. Policy: In general, masks are not required onboard except in the medical center. First and foremost, unvaccinated passengers of any age are allowed to sail the cruise line without having to first apply for an exemption as was previously required. All guests, regardless of vaccination status, should expect to be tested for COVID-19 prior to boarding a cruise ship. Costa Cruises will also allow unvaccinated travelers to board sailings 14 nights or shorter in the Caribbean and Mediterranean beginning Oct. 8. Will masks be required on cruise ships in 2022? As long as Covid-19 remains a pandemic, it seems unlikely cruise lines will change protocols. And the rules are constantly changing. In an abundance of caution in response to recent cases reported onboard cruise ships, Carnival Cruise Line has reintroduced mandatory mask wearing policies for the cruise lines sailings in Australia. Booster shots might also be required for entry into the specific country of embarkation as well as the destinations along the itinerary. Heres a quick breakdown of vaccination and testing policies as of December 2022 at several major cruise lines: These cruise lines allow unvaccinated guests but still have some form of testing requirement in place for those who elected to pass on the vaccine.