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. The requirement was initially going to last until Oct. 31. Check the U.S. State Departments detailed COVID-19 travel information and country-specific advisories, which are updated regularly. All guests must be vaccinated to sail with Viking. 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. These guidelines will make it a simpler process, and make cruising accessible for those who were not able to meet the protocols that we were required to follow for much of the past 14 months, Carnivals president Christine Duffy said in a statement last month. Lindblad ExpeditionsAll passengers age 5 and older must be vaccinated. Yes, we offer guests the option to purchase travel protection plans. There are a few reasons why viruses and diseases can spread quickly on cruise ships. 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. All onboard venues and activities will be available unless staffing or other challenges onboard prevent normal operations. People can also pick up pathogens from port visits and bring them back onto the ship, infecting others. Are children allowed to sail on your ships if they are not vaccinated? Destination specific requirements will still need to be met. Vaccines must be approved for use by the country they are sailing from. READ NEXT: 18 Most Unique Cruise Ship Bars in 2022. 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? Here's a quick breakdown of vaccination and testing policies as of December 2022 at several major cruise lines: At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020,cruise ships experienced major outbreaksof the SARS-CoV-2 virus as it spread across the globe. The big question is, what cruise lines allow unvaccinated guests to sail? Inspired Diagnostics is a subsidiary of Inspire Health Alliance, a leader in best-in-class health services. 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. *Terms & Conditions Package not available on sailings less than 5 days or charter sailings. In the specific event that you have a child turning 5 during the voyage, check in with your cruise line before buying a ticket. How do I know if there are any travel restrictions that could impact my cruise? Spice up your small talk with the latest tech news, products and reviews. The line doesn't allow kids younger than 8 years old to sail, so young-child exemptions aren't a . 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. Check with Seabourn for protocols on your specific sailing. 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. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. To make sure the experience remains safe only vaccinated adults will. Starting March 11, 2023, proof of vaccination for sailings to or from Europe will no longer be required. We will comply with all local regulations at all destinations we visit. These requirements will vary by country and is the responsibility of the guest and supersede our policy. 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. Unvaccinated guests are welcome but required to have a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to departure, subject to local regulations. For other agents, the business benefits remain to be seen. Onboard medical centres are also abundantly stocked with common prescription medications, remedies, and virus-testing equipment as available. Midway COVID tests and daily temperature checks have also been eliminatedhowever, there are exceptions for itineraries that include Spain, Barbados, St. Maarten, St. Vincent, and Morocco. But specific policies vary, and sometimes unvaccinated people have extra requirements. 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. It depends. 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. "You really should get vaccinated," added Dr. Russo. 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 passengers are welcome to sail on all cruises departing from Europe and the U.S. Vaccination continues to be required on voyages to or from Australia, New Zealand, and the Galapagos Islands. 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. On ocean, lakes, and expedition ships that visit Canada, there is a free COVID-19 test (antigen) at the precruise hotel check-in on the day prior to embarkation until further notice. Medical news, pregnancy topics and health hacks that don't cost money. 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. Will any countries visited during the cruise require additional testing to enter the country? All Rights Reserved. This is the news weve been waiting for, said Michelle Fee, CEO and co-founder of Cruise Planners. Are children required to have a COVID-19 vaccine to cruise? Every ship has a team of experienced doctors and nurses trained to manage a broad range of medical conditions, including COVID-19. It seems most cruise lines are following the CDC's 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. 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. Even so, Celestyal suggests all guests test prior to travel, regardless of vaccination status, but test results will no longer be checked next year. Norwegian still strongly recommends that all guests be up to date on their vaccination status and test at their convenience before travel. Unvaccinated guests are welcome with a medically supervised or self-test within three days of sailing. 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. Lindblad Expeditions is among the shrinking number of cruise lines that continue to require vaccination and testing. Related: What happens if someone tests positive for COVID-19 on your cruise. Booster shots are not required. All guests are advised to monitor and comply with applicable travel restrictions. Onboard medical consultations and standard treatments are provided for COVID-19-related illness at a charge. What if I test positive for COVID-19 before my cruise? To find out more, please. Disney Cruise LineBeginning September 2, for sailings departing U.S. and Canadian ports, guests ages 12 and older are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time of sailing. Do bivalent boosters work against XBB.1.5? 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. Lets leave the covid origin mystery to scientists, Covid, flu, RSV declining in hospitals as tripledemic threat fades. All guests will continue to receive a COVID-19 test just prior to embarkation, arranged by Lindblad, and all guests must test negative to board. 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. "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. In a statement, the cruise lines president and CEO, Michael Bayley, thanked elected officials including Gov. All guests 18 and older must be vaccinated to sail, plus one booster shot if eligible. But ever since theCOVID-19 pandemicbegan, it's understandable to wonder whether you can go on a cruise if you're not vaccinated. 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. Onboard medical centres are also abundantly stocked with common prescription medications and remedies. The Crystal Symphony. NOTE: Carnival Spirit - April 16, 2023, & September 19, 2023: These sailings do not require proof of vaccination, vaccine exemption or testing. Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters, FDA, CDC expand Pfizer & Moderna bivalent vaccines to kids 6 months and up with Sandra Fryhofer, MD, Outbreak updates for international cruise ships. We strongly recommend that fully vaccinated guests . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Norovirus. As of this month, the majority of cruise passengers are required to be both fully vaccinated and tested for COVID-19 before getting on a ship; some exceptions to the vaccination rules applied only for kids under age 12 and a very small number of adults seeking exemptions. In you are an unvaccinated adult, some cruise lines will now let you sail, others will not. Precruise testing is required for all guests. 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.. 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. The protocols do not apply to itineraries for countries where local regulations may vary, including Canada, Australia, and Greece. Vaccinated and unvaccinated. Want CNET to notify you of price drops and the latest stories? Travelers ages 11 and under will not be subject to any vaccination requirements or testing protocols. Travel is making its grand comeback, and were looking forward to the continued momentum from consumers around the world, Celebrity President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo said last month. That enables a virus to spread more easily from person to person. All guests, regardless of vaccination status, should expect to be tested for COVID-19 prior to boarding a cruise ship. 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?