- As of Dec. 1, 2022, guests traveling with Azamara no longer need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 on sailings starting and ending in the U.S. or Europe. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Testing requirements for sailings in Europe are unchanged. When it comes to the select European cruises, unvaccinated guests will have to take a test onboard to be allowed ashore in Greece or Spain. Passengers who are not fully vaccinated will need to bring a negative COVID-19 test result taken withinthree days before embarking. Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. When will vaccination no longer be required to cruise? "We would object to it," DeSantis said in response to a question from a reporter about such mandates. Paragliders record never-before-seen footage of world's second-tallest mountain, Elizabeth Holmes has 2nd child as prison sentence looms, Dozens of sharks swarm fishing boat in feeding frenzy off Louisiana coast, video shows, Death of man found near stores on Ladys Island Tuesday ruled suicide, Oneil Cruz hits first homer but Pirates walked off by Tigers, Why coyote confrontations are up in Hudson Valley, and what to do if you're approached, Bryan Kohberger's Pennsylvania warrants unsealed. Given this realization, and how vocal some potential customers and cruise lines have been about such remaining restrictions, cruise lines were already starting to lift testing requirements even before the aforementioned CDC news. But there's a catch: Unvaccinated passengers - or those unwilling to show proof of the vaccine - will face onboard restrictions, extra COVID-19 tests, and additional costs, according to the cruise line. That's a surprising move but it's one that outgoing Carnival Cruise Lines CEO Arnold Donald thinks rights a wrong. We know you like itthats why youre here. Some cruise lines already let children and a select few customers travel unvaccinated. And, even when that ban was lifted, the cruise lines had to operate under a strict set of rules that no other industry had to follow. This easing applies to certain departures out of Los Angeles in California, Galveston in Texas, New Orleans in Louisiana, and cruises in Europe. 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. Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. Subscribe to the Long Beach Post's daily eALERT and get the best local news in the city delivered to your inbox. Check the cruise lines websites for the most up-to-date information.). Unvaccinated guests are welcome to sail on all voyages. With that in mind, weve put together this list of cruise lines allowing unvaccinated guests to sail, as well as what the other lines currently require regarding vaccinations. Youll find expert advice for experienced and first-time cruisers, as well as port and destination guides. This . Disney Magic will be the last ship to make changes on November 7, sailing from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Travel insurance. Fortunately, the CDC has also indicated that it is evaluating the situation, which may lead to welcome changes for cruise travelers. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. We will always have to be in compliance with the destinations. The policy is true on most sailings on a first-come, first-served basis without the need for exemptions or vaccine status justifications. Disney Cruise Line has announced a significant change to its COVID-19 protocols, introducing relaxed measures that will allow guests who have not been fully vaccinated to step onboard the Disney cruise ships once again. ), This announcement is the most significant to date, and is another step to greater consumer confidence in travel, Tolkin said. READ NEXT: 18 Most Unique Cruise Ship Bars in 2022. Noting that NCLH passengers are a highly vaccinated population, President and CEO Frank Del Rio said they're not so concerned about catching COVID because they're protected against serious illness but they worry about having to isolate if they test positive or to quarantine if a close contact does. The cruise industry has been bending over backward to show the public that cruises are a safe vacation opportunity. Articles are of a general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances. The Miami-based cruise line also announced that starting Sept. 6, vaccinated passengers sailing on voyages of less than 16 days will no longer have to test before boarding. THURSDAY, March 31, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- A two-year advisory that warned Americans against going on cruises has been dropped by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But Gottlieb does have a timetable in which he expects the agency to act. If guests are sailing on back-to-back cruises, they will not be required to be tested in between cruises, as long as they are fully vaccinated. Disney Cruise Line has not chosen to pick one date to implement the new procedures onboard its ships. The cruise line will drop the vaccine requirement on select sailings from the U.S. and Europe. For the time being, cruise lines are mostly holding strong to their vaccine mandates, but another subset of travelers is hoping those will eventually go away, too. However, Azamara still lists Miami as a port requiring COVID-19 tests, and Viking has yet to remove its testing in the U.S. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. parent to the Norwegian, Oceania and Regent brands also confirmed that they would keep health and safety protocols in place for ships operating in U.S. waters with the following statement: We welcome the decision by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to end the CDC COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships operating in U.S. waters. Virgin Voyages has also modified its vaccine policy to also allow 10% of guests to be unvaccinated. This announcement is the most significant to date, and is another step to greater consumer confidence in travel. The cruise lines have dropped mask requirements but still require proof of vaccination. (Note: This information is accurate as of February 7, 2023. At this time, no changes have been made to our health and safety protocols for voyages originating in the U.S. as we look forward to reviewing the details of the CDCs planned guidelines for public health operations on cruise ships.. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. scott@travelcodex.com, For updates: In all cases, the protocols may vary on a particular sailing if the destination has different rules than the . Otherwise all guests must be fully vaccinated 14 days before departure. Before boarding all three . Carnival Cruise Line will require testing for vaccinated passengers only on trips 16 nights or longer or where local rules mandate it, such as on sailings to Canada and Bermuda, starting on Sept . Thats why were asking readers like you to support our independent, fact-based journalism. The rules will vary by port, but an awful lot of sailings would be covered simply by adopting this rule change. New Details Released. . Our ships have been sailing very full all summer, but there is still room for more of our loyal guests, and these guidelines will make it a simpler process, and make cruising accessible for those who were not able to meet the protocols we were required to follow for much of the past 14 months, said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. Close to home: Climate change in Long Beach. That's likely only partly true because Royal . Children under 12 will not have to present negative Covid-19 tests, regardless of vaccination status. "I'm very glad that it has ended, said Adam Martindale, owner of a Cruise Planners franchise in San Diego, Calif. There are no other leisure industries as regulated as cruise lines are. Azamara, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Viking were among the first to do so, where permitted. What Is It Like to Travel to Saudi Arabia. This site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. Princess is now permitting up to 10% of its guests to be unvaccinated. Carnival, the largest cruise operator in the world, operates three vessels out of Long Beach. 'This a transition year then they'll decide whether they want vaccinations in congregate settings like cruising, whether this becomes part of the childhood immunization schedule,' Gottlieb said. Under the current voluntary CDC guidelines, 95% of passengers must be vaccinated. The cruise line has announced a further easing of its protocols by dropping the vaccine requirements on select sailings from September 5, 2022. Make sure you choose a travel insurance policy that covers you for cruising, and any activities you do on shore. Cruise Lines Relax COVID Testing and Vaccination Policies For trips shorter than six days, vaccinated passengers will no longer need to obtain a negative test result before boarding. An update is coming August 14. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. For the time being, cruise lines are mostly holding strong to their vaccine mandates, but another subset of travelers is hoping those will eventually go away, too. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. Editor in Chief Although cruises from the US may not require covid vaccination, a port on the cruise may. Disney Cruise Line will be changing its vaccine and testing requirements beginning September 2 for all cruises departing from ports in the United States and Canada. 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. Which Cruise Lines Require COVID-19 Vaccinations? Children ages four and younger do not need to be vaccinated, nor do they need to provide a negative test result. 301 Route 17 N, Suite 1150, Rutherford, NJ 07070 USA | Telephone:(201) 902-2000. We highly recommend that all Guests become fully vaccinated before sailing and encourage unvaccinated Guests to take a COVID-19 test 2 days prior to their cruise. Unvaccinated guests are welcome on most voyages. We finally got to a place that brings us much closer to where the rest of society is in terms of freedom to operate responsibly," the CEO said, according to a Travel Weekly article. CRUISE HIVE LTD 2008-2023. RELATED: Carnival Drops Pre-Cruise Testing & Vaccination Requirements. Copyright 2023. Those requirements are spelled out in more detail at the companys Have Fun. We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports. Making travel easier for all guests. Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. Disney Cruise Line is one of the last cruise lines to make these changes. Unvaccinated guests are permitted to sail on most MSC voyages. The unvaccinated cruise is now back. Also starting Sept. 5,Celebrity Cruises will discontinue its vaccination mandate for sailings from Los Angeles, the UK and Europe (but not Iceland). However, they must still follow requirements for unvaccinated guests, including pre-cruise and onboard testing. Rocky started blogging on his own website When Doublewides Fly to share information about flying around the world on a dime. Now nursing homes are pushing to lift the vaccination mandate altogether. Its important to note if the cruise line has a limit of unvaccinated guests. I'm looking forward to cruising again,' he said. Anthony Pignataro is an investigative reporter and editor for the Long Beach Post. A cruise ship in Florida. That's why Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian will likely let the CDC make the call on vaccinations even if they technically could decide to drop the vaccine requirement on their own. To date, the biggest group to confirm it will likely extend its 100 percent vaccination policy into . They say it has made it all but impossible to find enough willing workers, and the resulting staff shortages have forced . Royal Caribbean released a further update to its protocols on Wednesday, which will go into effect in September 2022. Be sure to double check or work with a travel agent to ensure youre meeting the requirements of the cruise you are considering. Seatrade, a trading name of Informa Markets (UK) Limited. Reason Magazine's archive of articles filed under Vaccine mandates. COVID-19 cruise cover varies depending on the provider. Cruise travel's CDC status has come a long way in the past few months. These cruises feature spooky character encounters and enchanted pumpkin trees. The options available to unvaccinated guests continue to expand. 32. Royal Caribbean said in a letter to travel agents, Here at Royal Caribbean, you can trust we will continue to prioritize the health and safety of our guests, crew, and the communities we visit. Royal Caribbean's Celebrity Cruises rolled back its COVID-19-vaccine mandate for Florida cruises. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has lowered the travel advisory for cruise ships, indicating the agency thinks conditions have slightly improved from late last year. Starting October 14, Disney Cruise Line will drop the vaccine mandate for all guests and introduce relaxed testing requirements for fully vaccinated guests. You'll start to see us move into what society is doing at large. . Please view our privacy policy for details about the information we share with our partners. If you are unvaccinated and looking to cruise, be sure to work with a travel partner, such as Scott & Thomas, who is familiar with the individual cruise lines policy. He also predicted a quiet spring and summer 2022 since many people have been vaccinated or infected so immunity in the US is high. The Adults only cruise lines allow for 10% of passengers to travel unvaccinated. With that in mind, we've put together this list of cruise lines allowing unvaccinated guests to sail, as well as what the other lines currently require regarding vaccinations. Learn to how to find the cheapest awards. The new guidelines effect NCL, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas. Children 11 and under are no longer required to be vaccinated. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Free expert cruise tips and news from Cruise Hive! Since 2009, Cruise Radio has provided the latest cruise news and industry analysis through informative articles, videos, and weekly podcasts. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian all require anyone 12 and older sailing on their ships to be fully vaccinated. The CDC's mask mandate for public transportation runs untilMarch 18, and Gottlieb thinks the agency will extend it by two or three weeks but give a definitive end date. However, sailings visiting Greece require a supervised COVID test prior to embarking. The test may be a medically observed antigen test, rapid or lab-based PCR test, or Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT). Carnival Cruises. On shorter cruises that . Fully-vaccinated . All guests 18 and older must be vaccinated to sail, plus one booster shot if eligible. The same date applies for Disney Fantasy, sailing from Port Canaveral, visiting Tortola, St Thomas, and Castaway Cay. Subscribe to RSS Here are some of the latest cruise lines that are pulling back on pandemic measures. Carnival allows unvaccinated guests to return to sailing. Family cruises will be a bit easier in Europe now as Celebrity Cruises has become the first line to drop the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirement for guests under the age of 18. What to Know About Riding on the Alaska Railroad, Katmandu Park Punta Cana Is Opening March 15, 14 of the Best New Cruise Ships Launching in 2023, The Top Hotels in Mexico for a Romantic Getaway. So if we're going to someplace we're going to honor whatever that destination's rules are. More travelers will soon be able to book a cruise when Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. becomes the first cruise company to drop vaccination requirements starting Sept. 3, 2022. The rules will vary by port, but an awful lot of sailings would be covered simply by adopting this rule change. 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