You can also work with a local travel medicine clinic to determine what vaccinations or preventative measures are recommended based on your itinerary. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. Disney rolled back its COVID vaccine requirement for passengers aged 5 to 11 in early September. Cruise lines have continued to modify their vaccination and testing policies surrounding COVID-19. 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 want to ensure you have a worry-free voyage, we strongly suggest reading these cruise health policies carefully. The restrictions requiring vaccines are dropping quickly. For passengers who are 5 and older and fully vaccinated, a COVID test is not required, but proof of vaccination is needed. : Yes American Queen is even vaccinating its shoreside employees. Disney Cruise Lines joins Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, and Holland America Line, which no longer require vaccinations on most sailings. Cruising is slowly returning to the seas, and many cruise lines are now open or planning to reopen soon. Typical bacon geek. The cruise line currently requires unvaccinated guests to have a vaccine exemption before they sail. Until recently, Virgin Voyages had a simple policy. That means receiving a final primary dose and an updated booster shot, which became available for people older than 12 on September 2, 2022. Children who are not old enough to be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine must present a negative antigen or PCR test result taken within 72 hours of embarkation. Be sure to review the latest requirements prior to boarding. There are a few exceptions. Cruise like a pro with expert tips from our editors. Around the same time, Celebrity Cruises went the opposite direction, lowering the age at which passengers must be vaccinated to sail on its ships. Have no fear, we provide all the relevant links and information you need for all of the major cruise lines below. Is an Alaska Cruise Worth the Investment? Virgin does not allow children on its ships, so it was sailing with 100% vaccination rates. And, some cruise stops may then trigger requirements for ports of call later in the trip. 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. View Best Prices on Celebrity, Read Also: Last Minute Cruise Deals Tampa. The three major cruise lines sailing from U.S. ports Royal Caribbean International , Carnival Cruise Lines CCL, and Norwegian Cruise Line NCLH still require pre-cruise covid tests taken no more than two days before your cruise and that all guests ages 12-and-over provide proof of vaccination. Main photo: a cruise ship docked near Grand Turk Island. A number of cruise lines have reviewed their policies following the change. You can view Carnivals latest policies here. Carnival Cruise LineOnly passengers on sailings to Canada, Bermuda, Greece and Australia, plus cruises of 16 nights or more, need to be fully vaccinated. Costa Cruises, Azamara, and Silversea Cruises have also dropped their vaccination policies with some exceptions. The revenue generated will help us to support the content of this website and to continue to invest in our award-winning journalism. Princess Cruises will remove vaccination requirements on Sept. 6 for most voyages that are less than 16 days. These links are signposted with an asterisk. 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. Those indoor spaces include all lounges, corridors, elevators, theaters, casinos, and other spaces, unless guests are eating or drinking. Masks and Physical Distancing Requirements: Masks may be required in public areas on the ship . Passengers are encouraged to wear them . MSC is a popular choice for passengers looking for relatively affordable fares. All guests will be required to complete a health questionnaire prior to boarding. A single shot of the Johnson & Johnson dose is ok, but still requires receiving it well in advance of sailing. To be considered vaccinated guests must have been vaccinated at least two weeks prior to boarding. 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. Cruising is a popular way to explore the world, and many travelers are eager to get back on the open seas. Costa Cruises will also allow unvaccinated travelers to board sailings 14 nights or shorter in the Caribbean and Mediterranean beginning Oct. 8. Guests may also provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test by an accredited third-party with results from within two days of embarkation, if they choose. Unvaccinated travelers must present a negative COVID-19 antigen or PCR test taken within three days prior to embarkation. For Celebrity, that means cruises leaving from Los Angeles, the U.K. and Europe but not Ireland. 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. Bahamas and Caribbean cruises that leave from Florida ports still have vaccine rules in place. Vaccine and pretrip testing requirements can be confusing, especially if you are cruising internationally. The agency currently recommends cruise passengers be up to date with their vaccinations including their most recent recommended booster dose and take a test a maximum of three days before embarkation no matter their vaccination status, according to its website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ended its COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships on July 18, after which many cruise lines that had opted in eased their protocols. Younger passengers are not subject to any vaccination requirements or testing protocols. As long as Covid-19 remains a pandemic, it seems unlikely cruise lines will change protocols. MSC also requires unvaccinated children between 2 and 5 to wear a mask when indoors. 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. There are exceptions, however, such as dining venues, where guests can eat and drink without face . We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports. Celestyal Cruises has partnered with Bioiatriki which provides tests for just 10 per person at locations across Athens and Thessaloniki. 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. On sailings that visit Greece, they are required on the ship when indoors. Yes. The company shared that information in an email that was sent to people booked on upcoming sailings. Can I still have sex during the coronavirus pandemic? Celebrity is not requiring booster shots for any passengers at this time. The question for Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian becomes which changes will lead to the most passengers on their ships? 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. First-time cruisers:3 things to know before stepping foot on the ship, Recommended Reading: Cruise Capital Of The World. Also, most longer cruises will still require a vaccination. 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. Policy: In general, masks are not required onboard. 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. Major cruise lines that continue to have a masking policy in place for indoor public areas of their ships include Azamara, Cunard, Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, and Viking. Sarah has been writing about the cruise industry since 2015. For now, none of the cruise lines that have a vaccine requirement have announced any plans to rescind that rule in the future. 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. Many travelers have been patiently waiting to take their long-awaited vacation at sea and we cannot wait to celebrate their return. These Cruise Lines Will Still Require Face Masks This Summer - Travel Off Path, Mask mandate: Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean set to drop masks, Cruise Lines Mandating Vaccines: What You Need to Know, Cruise Lines Reopening: What You Need to Know. How long will the vaccine requirement be in place for cruise passengers? 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. We feature properties from a specially selected list of trusted operators who are of a standard that we believe our readers expect. All products and brands mentioned in this article are selected by our writers and editors based on first-hand experience or customer feedback. Carnival Splendor setting sail on October 1, Carnival Luminosas first sailing on November 6, approximately 100 cases were reported onboard, Worlds Largest Cruise Ship Oversold for Spring Break, Carnival Cruise Ship Will Offer Transatlantic Voyage After Dry Dock, Photos Reveal Progress at Carnival Cruise Lines New Port. Details: Holland Americas latest mask policy. Note: In order to be considered fully vaccinated, passengers must have received their final shot at least 15 days prior to embarkation. Crew Vaccinated? While some cruise lines have relaxed their mask policies, others may still require them. 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. The good news is that given the vaccines, a milder variant, and prior cases, the amount of serious illness seems lower. Now that policy has changed to 90% of passengers, allowing 10% of those onboard to sail unvaccinated with an exemption. For Royal Caribbean, the changes include sailings from Los Angeles, New Orleans, Galveston and Europe. 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. No precruise testing is required for vaccinated guests on sailings of five nights or less. Check with your specific cruise line for the latest information, keeping in mind that the rules can and do shift. Heres what you need to know. Carnival Cruise Line. Traveler Alert: Dont Forget Travel Insurance For Your Next Trip! Judge sides with Norwegian in bid to require COVID-19 vaccination, What Is Included In Concierge Class On Celebrity Cruises, What Cruise Lines Sail From Jacksonville Florida, You can view Carnivals latest policies here, You can view Virgin Voyages latest policies here, ropped the pre-cruise testing requirement.