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. (Note: This information is accurate as of February 7, 2023. SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (August 12, 2022) - Princess Cruises today announced updated COVID-19 protocols and guidelines, removing the vaccine requirement for most voyages of less than 16 days so that anyone can cruise, and adjusting pre-travel testing requirements to make it less complicated. A tidal wave has followed, with other cruise lines announcing similar changes. Vaccine and pretrip testing requirements can be confusing, especially if you are cruising internationally. Also called a "bivalent" booster, the updated booster became available for people aged 511 on October 12, 2022. Guests are strongly recommended to set sail fully vaccinated, if they are eligible, the cruise line said in a news release. Last week, the CDC announced new guidelines that won't require cruise lines to ask for proof of a COVID-19 vaccination from passengers. And you may have to be vaccinated or not. Present one of the following: Negative COVID-19 antigen test within 24 hours of the embarkation date. did not go that far. There are a few reasons why viruses and diseases can spread quickly on cruise ships. On March 19, 2021, Celebrity Cruises announced that Celebrity Millennium would begin cruises out of St. Maarten on June 5, 2021. FDA proposes switching to annual coronavirus vaccine, mimicking flu model. No precruise testing is required for vaccinated guests on sailings of five nights or less. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you're not in the US and have a certificate of recovery, contact your desired cruise line before purchasing the cruise. Like many businesses attempting to regain shape as we close out year two of a global pandemic, cruise lines have started setting sail again -- with some strict health measures in place. 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. 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. Before CNET, she worked in local journalism covering public health issues, business and music. Masks are optional in all areas. Simply enter your zip code, or city and country, and the website will display locations, contact information, and testing hours. This includes an increase in intensive care unit capacity, new and upgraded equipment, onshore medical institution partnerships, telemedicine capabilities and additional robust consultation and treatment options. 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. Yes, we offer guests the option to purchase travel protection plans. Will any countries visited during the cruise require additional testing to enter the country? 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. In addition to a broad set of coverage benefits, our plans cover medical expenses for illnesses, including COVID-19. In mid-June, Viking announced that 'travelers cruising with Viking are no longer required to take a pre-cruise test. Here's what we know about cruising unvaccinated for now. Booked guests will be provided full details specific to their port of departure before sailing, Royal Caribbean spokeswoman Lyan Sierra-Caro said in an email. 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. No documentation is required to board, but disclosure is required in advance, and those who are not vaccinated do still need to show a negative result on an antigen or PCR test within three days of departure. Royal Caribbean will require vaccinations for some. The requirements depend on the cruise line. Children as young as age 5 are now able to get vaccinated, so your ability to cruise may depend on whether you've chosen to get your child vaccinated. People . Disney Cruise Line became the first cruise line to requirepassengers as young as 5 to be vaccinated for sailings starting Jan. 13. For other agents, the business benefits remain to be seen. When Will the Brightline to Orlando Open? Since 2009, Cruise Radio has provided the latest cruise news and industry analysis through informative articles, videos, and weekly podcasts. New Details Released, What to Know About Riding on the Alaska Railroad, 14 of the Best New Cruise Ships Launching in 2023, Katmandu Park Punta Cana Is Opening March 15, The Top Hotels in Mexico for a Romantic Getaway. Check with the cruise line for protocols on pre-board testing and vaccination. Retesting three to five days after returning, and in particular, if symptoms have developed, is also advised, says Dr. Jasmin Valentin of Sameday Health. Will I be required to take a COVID-19 test in order to embark on the second leg of a back-to-back sailing? 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. 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. How long will the vaccine requirement be in place for cruise passengers? Medical news, pregnancy topics and health hacks that don't cost money. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine before your cruise is not only cost effective, but it could save your life. Sarah has been writing about the cruise industry since 2015. 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. All departures from the U.S. that are nine nights or less dont require any testing, unless they stop in Canada or Bermuda. Carnival Cruise Line Only passengers on sailings to Canada, Bermuda, Greece and Australia, plus cruises of 16 nights or more, need to be fully vaccinated. But ever since theCOVID-19 pandemicbegan, it's understandable to wonder whether you can go on a cruise if you're not vaccinated. Royal Caribbean said it still needs to complete simulation cruises before getting approval for the sailings it announced Friday. This does not supersede country specific requirements - Travel Requirements by Country. And the rules are constantly changing. Otherwise, you will need a booster. 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. 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. 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. 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. Destination specific requirements will still need to be met. Check the U.S. State Departments detailed COVID-19 travel information and country-specific advisories, which are updated regularly. Unvaccinated guests are required to be tested. That enables a virus to spread more easily from person to person. 2023 Cond Nast. 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. Vaccines are still required for cruises in the Bahamas and Caribbean; precruise testing is not required for vaccinated guests on cruises of less than six nights. Disney Cruise Line. Chances are if you're unvaccinated, you'll need to book a specific tour with the cruise line, such as Carnival's "bubble tour" for unvaccinated guests, which is mostly families with children who are too young to be vaccinated. Want CNET to notify you of price drops and the latest stories? If you chose not to get a COVID-19 vaccine, can you still go on your favorite cruise vacation? 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. 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. COVID-19 requirements may differ in destinations that have specific mandates, such as Canada, Greece and Bermuda. What testing and treatment capabilities are there onboard? The company announced the requirement as it plans. 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. Fee is also hopeful that the remainder of cruise lines will follow suit soon. For additional information, please visit Cruise Travel Requirements by Country. FDA Panel Endorses Updated COVID Shots for All, Regardless of Vaccination Status, When To Get Boosted After Having a COVID-19 Breakthrough Infection, How Effective Are the Bivalent Boosters? How Long Does It Take for the COVID-19 Booster To Be Effective? Vaccines must be approved for use by the country they are sailing from. 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. "Traveling Party" means (1) your family members living with you in the same household and (2) traveling companions assigned to your stateroom on the ship. The changes began shortly. 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. 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. One Cruise Planners franchise owner in San Diego, Calif. has yet to record an immediate boost in bookings. The European Union's Digital COVID Certificate, for example, includes certification of recovery from COVID-19. Copyright 2023 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. Windstar will also administer for each passenger a complimentary COVID-19 test prior to sailing. The Greece-based company announced this week it will remove all COVID protocols for sailings starting on or after March 2, 2023, with the exception being if the local regulations of a destination deem otherwise.
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