Hell of a Cruise:Highlighting the panic, failures of the COVID early days. 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. The cruise line has a limited but growing presence in the U.S., with cruises from Florida and New York. In other words, this is not something you want to put off until the last minute. Note that in some cases, the restrictions may depend on your departure point and the ships home port so always check before sailing. Before your trip, you will need to review your cruise lines health and safety protocols. The cruise industry has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, but there is some good news on the horizon. First-time cruisers:3 things to know before stepping foot on the ship, Recommended Reading: Cruise Capital Of The World. We had somewhere in the neighborhood of 4000 passengers on board and I would venture to guess that less than 2% wore masks. Also, fully vaccinated passengers now no longer need to provide a negative COVID-19 test prior to setting sail on many voyages. 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. 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. Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection welcomes all guests regardless of vaccination status. Disney Cruise Lines joins Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, and Holland America Line, which no longer require vaccinations on most sailings. 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. We expect approximately 90 percent of our guests will be vaccinated. 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. Carnival Cruise LineOnly passengers on sailings to Canada, Bermuda, Greece and Australia, plus cruises of 16 nights or more, need to be fully vaccinated. Cruise lines make it clear that passengers must be fully vaccinated. These links are signposted with an asterisk. As an adults-only cruise line, Virgin required everyone on the ship to be vaccinated. Cruise vaccination requirements will vary by cruise line, where you embark from and which ports of call you choose. DeSantis To Appeal Preliminary Injunction Allowing Norwegian Cruises To Require Vaccines. Were still requiring that the majority of Sailors be vaccinated, but were opening up our voyages for a limited number of unvaccinated Sailors to join us. Virgin Voyages is known for being adults-only, which means it's easier to require vaccines. No. Specifically, guests should wear face masks in nearly all public settings regardless of physical distancing measures but will not be required to wear face masks in their own stateroom. As of November 17, 2022, Princess Cruise Lines has also reinstituted mandatory masks onboard for Australia and New Zealand sailings, stating that masking requirements may change at any time, so we ask for flexibility from our guests., Similarly, Royal Caribbean International also states that all guests should wear a mask while travelling through the terminal and in public indoor spaces or crowded outdoor spaces onboard and that protocols are subject to change.. Read Also: Cruises In April 2022 From Florida. However, some cruise lines have recently revoked the obligation to wear masks on certain ships this summer. There is no requirement for passengers to mask on board, but 100% of the crew is masked. 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. MSC is a popular choice for passengers looking for relatively affordable fares. And, I would say that nobody wearing or not wearing masks were ever made to feel uncomfortable. How long will the vaccine requirement be in place for cruise passengers? While each cruise line might accept different ones, the major vaccines Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and AstraZeneca all seem to have wide acceptance. Its almost unheard of for a vaccinated person to get seriously ill with Covid-19, she said in an email. 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. Carnival Cruise Line updated its Have Fun. 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. As of the fall of 2022, many cruise line have dropped vaccination, testing and masking requirements. Otherwise all guests must be fully vaccinated 14 days before departure. In fact, apart from vaccines and testing, the onboard experience has returned to exactly what it was before the pandemic. As the United States has opened up again following the worst of the pandemic, many people have returned to a normal way of life. Treat those flights as domestic travel. Democrats have denounced the new law and accused DeSantis of undermining both public health and the cruise industry. Other cruise lines have also slowly restarted operations in Australia, including Princess Cruises, P&O Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International. No precruise testing is required for vaccinated guests on sailings of five nights or less. CunardAll guests age 16 and up must be vaccinated, including with booster shots. Also Check: 7 Night Western Mediterranean Cruise. Youll find expert advice for experienced and first-time cruisers, as well as port and destination guides. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. View Best Prices on Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line For cruises that depart on or after September 6, 2022, Carnival Cruise Line will allow all guests to once again sail on their Fun Ships. The revenue generated will help us to support the content of this website and to continue to invest in our award-winning journalism. In addition to staying up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines, the CDC recommends that people who plan to cruise do the following: Dont Miss: Which Cruise Line Gives The Best Military Discount. 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. For instance, Norwegian Cruise Line began waiving vaccination and testing requirements in October. For instance, a Panama Canal cruise making a stop in Colombia triggers vaccine requirements for ports later in the itinerary. Be Safe protocols for Australia sailings on November 17, 2022, reintroducing mandatory mask wearing. Vaccine and pretrip testing requirements can be confusing, especially if you are cruising internationally. If you know a bit about which brands belong to which company, youll recognize that these are all cruise lines under the Carnival Corporation and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings umbrellas. Click on your favorite cruise line below to find out. Crew Vaccinated? The CDC updated its guidelines on July 18 so that vaccination is no longer a requirement instead, its merely recommended. Booked guests can get up-to-date information using the Cruise Personalizer tool. Celestyal Cruises has partnered with Bioiatriki which provides tests for just 10 per person at locations across Athens and Thessaloniki. Until recently, Virgin Voyages had a simple policy. Traveler Alert: Dont Forget Travel Insurance For Your Next Trip! The changes are subject to local restrictions, such as those in Bermuda, Canada and Greece, and dont include voyages in Australia or trips that are 16 or more nights. Who Needs to Be Vaccinated: All passengers, no exceptions, need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 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. 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. As well, Sir Richard Bransons new cruise line Virgin Voyages also dropped its masking policy as of yesterday, February 28. The company shared that information in an email that was sent to people booked on upcoming sailings. The question for Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian becomes which changes will lead to the most passengers on their ships? Thats hard to say because it depends on the state of the pandemic at any given time. Because you may visit multiple locations on a cruise, you need to know the requirements for all your ports of call. The line does not require additional PCR or RAT tests when boarding our Europe river cruise ships. For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPGs new cruise newsletter. Cruise like a pro with expert tips from our editors. What other safety measures are in place: All ships have been equipped with High Efficiency Particular Air filters and buffets have been eliminated. All products and brands mentioned in this article are selected by our writers and editors based on first-hand experience or customer feedback. Currently, booster shots are not required for any passengers. The policy now reads, out of an abundance of caution, for the time being, masks are required in public indoor spaces.. You can view Carnivals latest policies here. There are a few exceptions. 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 line does not require additional PCR or RAT tests when boarding our Europe river cruise ships. These brands are Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and Seabourn. The revenue generated will help us to support the content of this website and to continue to invest in our award-winning journalism. Youll find expert advice for experienced and first-time cruisers, as well as port and destination guides. Some of its current passengers have chosen to sail because every adult onboard has been tested and vaccinated. Aida Cruises, Ama Waterways, American Queen Steamboat Company, Azamara, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, Carnival Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Viking are all open or planning to open soon. Free expert cruise tips and news from Cruise Hive! Children age 12 to 15 must have received two initial doses of the vaccination. However, before they cruise, those without the shot will need to have a negative test taken within three days of cruising . You can view Virgin Voyages latest policies here. 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. As long as Covid-19 remains a pandemic, it seems unlikely cruise lines will change protocols. In other health protocol-related news, last week Norwegian Cruise Line announced that as of today, it will be allowing unvaccinated kids under 12 to sail on its ships. Most lines only accept vaccines recognized and approved by the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 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.. Unvaccinated cruises passengers must wear masks, while vaccinated passengers dont. Carnival Cruise Line is now requiring all guests and crew to wear masks aboard two vessels, and other cruise lines are doing the same. Princess Cruises will remove vaccination requirements on Sept. 6 for most voyages that are less than 16 days. Also Check: What Cruises Leave From Miami, As of August 8, 2022 only children under 12 are welcome as unvaccinated guests on Celebrity cruise lines when leaving the United States. Now that policy has changed to 90% of passengers, allowing 10% of those onboard to sail unvaccinated with an exemption. Prior to the pandemic, the industry directly and indirectly supported nearly 160,000 jobs in Florida. Enjoy your cruise. For the most up-to-date policies, always double-check with your cruise line of choice, as protocols change rapidly. Policy: In general, masks are not required onboard except in the medical center. Carnival, for example, says itll accept some vaccine exemptions from those ages 12 and younger, as well as adults who have that they cant be vaccinated but only at their Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Maryland, South Carolina and Alabama ports until the end of March 2022. Carnival will now allow all passengers including those who are unvaccinated to sail freely as of September 6, 2022. What was true for your friend who took a Viking cruise in fall 2022 may not apply to the cruise you booked for a 2023 voyage on Carnival. However, Asia and Oceania, and some countries in Central and South America, still have stricter rules in place. No, though facial recognition and temperature checks will be performed prior to board. 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 You May Like: Where To Find The Best Cruise Deals. 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. 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.. As the major cruise lines prepare to relaunch from U.S. ports this summer, they have not yet been as frank with unvaccinated passengers as they need to be about how their cruise experience will stack up next to that of their vaccinated cruise mates. All products and brands mentioned in this article are selected by our writers and editors based on first-hand experience or customer feedback. Get Expert Tips. No special request or exemption is need to sail unvaccinated. Typical bacon geek. Generally, proof of inoculation must include your name, the type of vaccine you received and the dates on which you received all required doses. Pushaw said the governors executive order is not likely to scare away seagoing travelers. 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. Do I need a vaccine to cruise? Celebrity CruisesBeginning September 5, all passengers regardless of vaccination status can cruise from the U.K., Europe, and Los Angeles. Heres what the CDC currently recommends when it comes to vaccines. Many other cruise line operators and brands made similar protocol changes, including Carnival Cruise Line and MSC Cruises. However, some cruise lines have recently revoked the obligation to wear masks on certain ships this summer. If you have received one of these shots, then you should be good to go. Note: There may be additional requirements if you are traveling internationally, and the rules can changesometimes overnight. READ NEXT: Bimini Cruise Port: Everything You Need To Know. 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. 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. What is the Average Cost of a 7-Day Cruise? Heres what you need to know. While cruising restarted in other regions in mid-2021, Australia only reopened for cruises in mid-2022. - As of July 25, 2022, the line no longer requires pre-cruise testing unless . We'll send you a weekly newsletter to your inbox. Celebrity Cruises For all country specific travel requirements, travelers should visit www.ncl.com/travel-requirements-by-country. The company plans to start sailing again in August, including to Greece, Turkey, and Italy. Cruise ship operators, at their discretion, may designate areas as only accessible to fully vaccinated passengers and crew where masks and physical distancing are not required (e.g., casinos . For now, none of the cruise lines that have a vaccine requirement have announced any plans to rescind that rule in the future. Which Cruise Lines Require That Kids Be Vaccinated? All guests and crew will be required to wear a mask onboard. 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. It must be noted, however, that there have been no reports of cases reported from cruise ships having severe symptoms or requiring hospitalization, with most individuals who return positive test results reporting no symptoms or only mild discomfort. When asked how Carnival intends to handle Floridas new law, a spokesperson did not comment on the decision to break from the law and instead referred NBC News to its frequently-asked-questions page, which states that guests will be asked to confirm their status as fully vaccinated for Covid-19 and provide proof of vaccination in advance of boarding, unless a vaccination exemption is given in advance. Will masks be required on cruise ships in 2022? MSCs policy toward vaccination for sailing from the United States is that while kids under 12 years old are allowed to sail unvaccinated, those older than that must have the shot. Remember that cruise ports such as San Juan, Puerto Rico, and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, are actually part of the U.S. Carnival no longer requires masks on its ships. For all sailings 6 nights or longer, vaccinated guests must present a digital or physical copy of a supervised and negative COVID-19 test result from a test taken within 3 days prior to sailing. Masks and Physical Distancing Requirements: Masks may be required in public areas on the ship . A number of cruise lines have reviewed their policies following the change. So, will you need a vaccine to cruise? Otherwise, vaccines are required for passengers age 12 and up. 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. That includes things like visiting restaurants or movie theaters, going to a sporting event, and of course, travel. 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. Its also important to know that while all adults in the US are now eligible for boosters, the definition of fully vaccinated hasnt changed and you dont need an extra shot to be considered fully vaccinated. For more information about the Companys award-winning 18-ship fleet and worldwide itineraries, or to book a cruise, please call +1-888-NCL-CRUISE , contact a travel professional or visit www.ncl.com. Heres a rundown of the basic rules for some leading cruise lines. And, some cruise stops may then trigger requirements for ports of call later in the trip. Cruising is slowly returning to the seas, and many cruise lines are now open or planning to reopen soon. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. When Is The Best Time To Cruise To Alaska, Toyota Fj Cruiser Trail Teams Ultimate Edition For Sale, Which Is The Best River Cruise Company In Europe. 2. Many travelers have been patiently waiting to take their long-awaited vacation at sea and we cannot wait to celebrate their return. Australia has been one of the more strict regions of the world with respect to pandemic cruise travel restrictions. 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. 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. That means having both doses of a two-dose shot 14 days before embarking on the ship. In turn, each operator has prepared their own cruise vaccination policy that is designed to work across all destinations they service. Who needs the vaccine: All guests and crew are required to be fully vaccinated with the booster shot. 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. Some lines, however, may still require one or more protocols to be adhered to, either on a voyage-by-voyage basis or on a destination-basis. Others have eliminated both Covid vaccination requirements and testing requirements for some, but not all, passengers based on itineraries or cruise lengths. Carnival has also removed the mask mandate from its ships. Norwegian Epic (Photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line) Oceania Cruises Policy: In general, masks are not required onboard. Is A Pierside, Pre-Embarkation COVID-19 Test Required?. Also called a bivalent booster, the updated booster became available for people aged 511 on October 12, 2022. You May Like: How Big Are The Disney Cruise Ships. In an abundance of caution in response to recent cases reported onboard cruise ships, Carnival Cruise Line has reintroduced mandatory mask wearing policies for the cruise line's. The company plans to start sailing again in August, including to Greece, Turkey, and Italy. Compare and find the best cruise deals. Now, a recent shift has led to cruise lines removing those hurdles as well. 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.. Top 5 Travel Insurance Plans For 2023 Starting At $10 Per Week. We previously reported in our guide to cruise lines mask policies article that a large number of brands would be dropping all mask requirements onboard their ships as of today. Azamara is one of the cruise lines that no longer requires passengers to wear masks on their ships, although they still recommend them. Some cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, accept vaccines recommended or approved by the World Health Organization as well as the CDC.