General zombie trailblazer. Note: Some destinations still require it and cruises that visit these countries will still have the COVID-19 vaccination requirement due to local laws. On Alaska voyages between Whittier and Vancouver, they are required on the ship when indoors. Gov. Get Expert Tips. Still, there are exceptions. There are, of course, also some passengers who have not sailed because they are not vaccinated or dont care to share their vaccination status with a cruise line. Costa Cruises, Azamara, and Silversea Cruises have also dropped their vaccination policies with some exceptions. Olsen passengers are required to wear a mask onboard when not in their staterooms, eating or drinking, or seated in a deck . While some cruise lines state theyll accept medical exemptions, others do not, and it also might depend on the port. There is no definitive answer as to when a vaccine requirement to go on a cruise ship may go away, but at the very least it stands to reason not until the public health emergency ends. For now, none of the cruise lines that have a vaccine requirement have announced any plans to rescind that rule in the future. Testing and vaccination requirements will differ for guests traveling on voyages departing from destinations with specific local health regulations, including the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, and Greece. The revenue generated will help us to support the content of this website and to continue to invest in our award-winning journalism. Therefore, people who are vaccinated should not be worried about getting infected from those who arent. All guests aged 4 and older are required to have a negative COVID-19 test before boarding. The policy now reads, out of an abundance of caution, for the time being, masks are required in public indoor spaces.. Unvaccinated travelers must present a negative COVID-19 antigen or PCR test taken within three days prior to embarkation. The cruise industry has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, but there is some good news on the horizon. Will Lines Still Require a Pre-Cruise COVID-19 Test Before a Cruise? Masks will now be required in all indoor public spaces or in any crowded venue, indoors or outdoors, regardless of vaccination status. For passengers who are 5 and older and fully vaccinated, a COVID test is not required, but proof of vaccination is needed. All other sailings require proof of vaccination and booster until further notice. Where they sail: Grand Circle Cruise Line sails small ships and river cruises all over the world, including an extensive list of European itineraries. If you have received one of these shots, then you should be good to go. So, will you need a vaccine to cruise? 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. Bahamas and Caribbean cruises that leave from Florida ports still have vaccine rules in place. 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. Vaccinated travelers will not need to test before embarkation. Otherwise, vaccines are required for passengers age 12 and up. 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. All passengers age 4 and up must take a prearrival test and show a negative result to board. Policy: In general, masks are not required onboard. Virgin Voyages, a fledgling cruise line sailing one of its two ships, the Scarlet Lady, out of Miami, dropped the pre-cruise testing requirement after the CDC stopped monitoring covid on cruise ships. Will masks be required on cruise ships in 2022? However, your cruise line will have more details about which specific shots they accept. View Best Prices on Carnival, Celebrity Cruises Starting on Monday, September 5, 2022, all guests will be able to sail on Celebrity cruise ships, even if not vaccinated. Carnival Cruise Line is now requiring all guests and crew to wear masks aboard two vessels, and other cruise lines are doing the same. : Yes American Queen is even vaccinating its shoreside employees. The cruise line currently requires unvaccinated guests to have a vaccine exemption before they sail. Unvaccinated guests are required to be tested. This article contains links which are ads and if you click on a link and buy a product we will earn revenue. This isn't an easy decision, because it's partially about people's health and partially about keeping your business healthy. 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. According to Royal Caribbeans website, the cruise line is working with local governments in the Eastern Caribbean to align on vaccination requirements for more itineraries.. For Australians, anyone currently looking to sail internationally will need to be fully vaccinated. MSC is a popular choice for passengers looking for relatively affordable fares. "Effective with sailings departing March 1 . All passengers age 4 and up must take a prearrival test and show a negative result to board. Currently, booster shots are not required for any passengers. The company shared that information in an email that was sent to people booked on upcoming sailings. You May Like: How Big Are The Disney Cruise Ships. Norwegian Cruise Line , the innovator in global cruise travel, today announced that it has updated its global health and safety protocols by removing all COVID-19 testing, masking and vaccination requirements effective Oct. 4, 2022. We'll send you a weekly newsletter to your inbox. Disney Cruise Lines joins Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, and Holland America Line, which no longer require vaccinations on most sailings. Those requirements would not be necessary on the same cruise without a stop in Colombia. In late July, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) withdrew its COVID-19 Program for cruise ships, allowing individual cruise lines to set their own standards. Be Safe protocols for Australia sailings on November 17, 2022, reintroducing mandatory mask wearing. All guests, regardless of vaccination status, should expect to be tested for COVID-19 prior to boarding a cruise ship. Alaska Disney River Viking Norwegian Caribbean Carnival Hawaii Viking Search CRUISEINFO CLUB CRUISEINFO CLUB Alaska Disney River Viking Norwegian Caribbean Carnival Hawaii Viking CRUISEINFO CLUB The company requires vaccinated passengers to take a test only on sailings six nights or longer, but testing is still required for unvaccinated passengers on all sailings. There are a few exceptions. The CDC says cruise lines can't allow "self-guided or independent exploration" at ports, and tour companies must still follow COVID-19 protocols like mask-wearing and social distancing. 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. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends updating people on their COVID-19 vaccines before going on a cruise. That creates a peace of mind you dont get on other types of vacations. 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.. This isnt an easy decision, because its partially about peoples health and partially about keeping your business healthy. No. Depending on the cruise line, fully vaccinated can mean having received the original series at least 14 days prior to your cruise, or the original series plus a booster shot. 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. All passengers will undergo a complimentary COVID-19 test during the pre-cruise hotel stay prior to embarkation. Disney Cruise Line, which recently welcomed a new ship to its fleet, requires unvaccinated children to wear their masks when using the shared youth centers on board, and also asks all travelers to wear a mask at all times when at the cruise terminal. 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. Cruise vacations are a great way to explore the world and have a fun and relaxing time. Traveler Alert: Dont Forget Travel Insurance For Your Next Trip! There are, of course, also some passengers who have not sailed because they are not vaccinated or dont care to share their vaccination status with a cruise line. Cruise Industry Recovery: Is It Time to Set Sail Again? Cruise lines have their own rules countries have their own rules. 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. Norwegian Cruise Line*, Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International, for example, are all headquartered in the US, which means they must follow the guidelines set out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention even when theyre sailing outside of the country. The Travel Off Path Community FB group has all the latest reopening news, conversations, and Q& As happening daily! 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. While cruising restarted in other regions in mid-2021, Australia only reopened for cruises in mid-2022. 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. MIAMI, Oct. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ Norwegian Cruise Line , the innovator in global cruise travel, today announced that it has updated its global health and safety protocols by removing all COVID-19 testing, masking and vaccination requirements effective Oct. 4, 2022. Despite Floridas law, Norwegian Cruise Line is also insisting it will require everyone on board its ships to be fully inoculated against Covid-19. As the United States has opened up again following the worst of the pandemic, many people have returned to a normal way of life. Youll find expert advice for experienced and first-time cruisers, as well as port and destination guides. This article contains links which are ads and if you click on a link and buy a product we will earn revenue. All guests and crew will be required to wear a mask onboard. The changes are also subject to local requirements, and full vaccination requirements apply to passengers 12 and up while testing rules apply to those 5 and older. Masks are also now required in outdoors for any large crowded events where guests cannot appropriately distance, such as during deck parties, as well as while on shore tour buses or tenders, or while indoors on any shore excursion. I do not want to take a cruise where I am required to wear a mask the entire time I am indoors because that would not be a happy place for me.