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. 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. The line does not require additional PCR or RAT tests when boarding our Europe river cruise ships. Most lines only accept vaccines recognized and approved by the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Is A Pre-Arrival COVID-19 Test Required? Guests do not need to wear masks in their staterooms. Award-winning beer ninja. Disney Cruise Line joins the majority of cruise operators that have done away with COVID-19 vaccination requirements on some ships. Its understandable why many voyagers can get muddled on what they need to do in relation to COVID-19 vaccination requirements for their next cruise. In compliance with U.K. guidance, Fred. 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. View Best Prices on NCL, Royal Caribbean Starting on September 5, 2022, guests who are not vaccinated will be able to sail on Royal Caribbean cruise ships, the worlds largest cruise line. A precruise test is no longer required on the river ships. Other sources include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Travelers Health site that maintains up-to-date information on current health situations around the world, general healthy travel tips and help in finding a travel health clinic. Guests who choose not to be vaccinated or not willing to verify vaccination will be subject to testing and additional health protocols which will be at their expense. Guests are strongly recommended to set sail fully vaccinated, if they are eligible, said Royal Caribbeans news release. Health and safety are always our first priority in fact, we were the health and safety leaders from the very start of the pandemic. Some cruise lines encourage vaccination even though they dont require it. This article was originally published in February 2022. For example, approximately 100 cases were reported onboard Coral Princess in early July during one of the first restart cruises, while more recently, local news services have reported more than 800 cases aboard Majestic Princess. Dont Forget Travel Insurance For Your Next Trip! Celestyal Cruises has partnered with Bioiatriki which provides tests for just 10 per person at locations across Athens and Thessaloniki. Cruise vacations are a great way to explore the world and have a fun and relaxing time. On voyages that visit Greece or Italy, they are required on the ship when indoors. Will Lines Still Require a Pre-Cruise COVID-19 Test Before a Cruise? View Best Prices on Celebrity, Read Also: Last Minute Cruise Deals Tampa. As the health situation evolves, cruise lines are always adjusting their health and safety policies including whether guests need to wear masks onboard. The line also warns that masks could be required by some ports of call its ships visit. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. Given the significant, positive progress in the public health environment, the Cruise Line updated its health and safety guidelines, which are now more aligned with other global travel organizations. Is an Alaska Cruise Worth the Investment? 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. Carnival has also removed the mask mandate from its ships. Vaccinated passengers dont need to test unless visiting Canada, Bermuda, Greece or Australia and on trips of 16 nights or longer. For all country specific travel requirements, travelers should visit www.ncl.com/travel-requirements-by-country. Costa Cruises, Azamara, and Silversea Cruises have also dropped their vaccination policies with some exceptions. Most major cruise lines do not require guests to be vaccinated unless theyre traveling from or to a destination that requires it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends updating people on their COVID-19 vaccines before going on a cruise. No. Furthermore, all cruise travelers should be aware that any cruise line has the authority to update protocols in any region, for any sailing, at any time, should it be deemed necessary for public health and safety and the health and safety of those aboard a ship. Also Check: 7 Night Western Mediterranean Cruise. Australia has been one of the more strict regions of the world with respect to pandemic cruise travel restrictions. The company plans to start sailing again in August, including to Greece, Turkey, and Italy. Is A Pierside, Pre-Embarkation COVID-19 Test Required? Fried, a Democrat, is running to unseat DeSantis in next years election. The reintroduced policy is effective immediately, and there is no announced end date for when it may be relaxed. All products and brands mentioned in this article are selected by our writers and editors based on first-hand experience or customer feedback. Some of its current passengers have chosen to sail because every adult onboard has been tested and vaccinated. There are a few exceptions. As Australia sees a rise in COVID-19 cases, policies are changing once again to try and prevent the spread of . : Yes American Queen is even vaccinating its shoreside employees. However, the cruise line did recently relax testing requirements for vaccinated passengers, with a reference that vaccine rules could also drop sometime in the future: MSC Cruises will continue to monitor pandemic conditions and port requirements outside of the U.S., with a goal to relax testing and vaccination protocols to open cruising to all guests, while prioritizing the health and safety of its guests, crew and destinations.. Until recently, Virgin Voyages had a simple policy. Royal Caribbean Group, parent company of Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity, also rolled back its testing requirements this month, following the end of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships. Antibody tests are not accepted. No precruise testing is required for vaccinated guests on sailings of five nights or less. Crew Vaccinated? Otherwise all guests must be fully vaccinated 14 days before departure. All guests on all sailings through the end of 2022 with Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection are required to be fully vaccinated. While most cruise lines require adults to be vaccinated right now, unvaccinated readers want to know when the vaccine mandate may go away. Cruise lines are gradually easing restrictions and resuming operations, with some already allowing unvaccinated passengers to disembark. Heres what you need to know. No. 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. Younger passengers are not subject to any vaccination requirements or testing protocols. 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. Cruising is a popular way to explore the world, and many travelers are eager to get back on the open seas. We'll send you a weekly newsletter to your inbox. A precruise test is no longer required on the river ships. Who needs the vaccine: All guests and crew are required to be fully vaccinated with the booster shot. The Travel Off Path Community FB group has all the latest reopening news, conversations, and Q& As happening daily! Oceania CruisesFully vaccinated passengers aged 12 and older dont need a test to embark. That includes things like visiting restaurants or movie theaters, going to a sporting event, and of course, travel. Top 5 Travel Insurance Plans For 2023 Starting At $10 Per Week. In the fall of 2022, many popular cruise lines dropped the requirement for passengers to be up-to-date on Covid-19 vaccinations. For those who are unvaccinated, pre-embarkation testing is required. Which Cruise Lines Require That Kids Be Vaccinated? Health and safety are always our first priority in fact, we were the health and safety leaders from the very start of the pandemic, said Harry Sommer, Norwegian Cruise Line president and chief executive officer. Effective April 15, all guests five and older must be vaccinated to sail on Celebrity from the United States. The question for Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian becomes which changes will lead to the most passengers on their ships? For example, many cruise lines require passengers to be tested for COVID-19 before boarding and may also require them to quarantine for a period of time before embarking. Can I Travel if I've Been Exposed to COVID-19? "Effective with sailings departing March 1 . These Cruise Lines Are Requiring Passengers To Wear Masks Again All The Details. Despite Floridas law, Norwegian Cruise Line is also insisting it will require everyone on board its ships to be fully inoculated against Covid-19. Azamara is one of the cruise lines that no longer requires passengers to wear masks on their ships, although they still recommend them. Masks and Physical Distancing Requirements: Masks may be required in public areas on the ship . Testing is required on sailings of six nights or more. 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. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. Policy: In general, masks are not required onboard except in the medical center. Check your airlines protocols around testing, mask-wearing, vaccination, or quarantining if youre flying before or after the cruise. Costa Cruises, Azamara, and Silversea Cruises have also dropped their vaccination policies with some exceptions. Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, : For Freedom, Odyssey, Allure, Symphony and sailing out of Florida ports in July and August we are strongly recommending all guests eligible for vaccines are fully vaccinated. Starting Sept. 6, Princess Cruises will require passengers on sailings of 16 nights or longer to take a test within three days of leaving, as well as those on full Panama Canal transits. Keep in mind that even though face masks are no longer required for ships from the above cruise lines, they still may be required in specific venues such as the theater or kids clubs. For Celebrity, that means cruises leaving from Los Angeles, the U.K. and Europe but not Ireland. 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. Pre-voyage testing is not required for guests with proof of vaccination unless local regulations stipulate otherwise. Cruises from Florida and other ports of departure will still require the shot for those 12 and older in order to sail for the time being. 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. Cruise lines make it clear that passengers must be fully vaccinated. The three major cruise lines sailing from U.S. ports Royal Caribbean International Get Free Report, 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. "There may, however, be certain venues and events where masks will be required," said the brand.