It wasnt clear Friday how many people would be able to sail on each of the just-announced cruises, which will visit the Caribbean and the Bahamas. American Medical Association. Want CNET to notify you of price drops and the latest stories? Please refer to. Royal Caribbean just announced a flood of summer cruises. Also, crew members may work multiple voyages, passing on germs transmitted from previous passengers. On August 8, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, parent company of Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, announced it was also loosening vaccine requirements. Please keep in mind that this is largely dependent on the local health authorities and the evolving regulations, which are subject to change. Unvaccinated guests are welcome but required to have a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to departure, subject to local regulations. Specific destinations still require testing such as Canada, Greece, and Bermuda. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cond Nast Traveler does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The new protocols do not apply to itineraries for countries where local regulations may vary, such as Canada, Australia, and Greece. The Greece-based company announced this week it will remove all COVID protocols for sailings starting on or after March 2, 2023, with the exception being if the local regulations of a destination deem otherwise. Are children allowed to sail on your ships if they are not vaccinated? Respiratory illnesses like the flu, and COVID-19 and the common cold. Before your trip, you will need to review your cruise lines health and safety protocols. In mid-June, Viking announced that 'travelers cruising with Viking are no longer required to take a pre-cruise test. Our award-winning onboard medical centers are fully equipped with testing and treatment capabilities if needed. With eased restrictions that went into effect September 6 for most trips up to 15 nights, vaccinated passengers over the age of five no longer have to test, and unvaccinated guests can use a self-administered test within three days of departureexcept in areas where local restrictions deem otherwise (like Canada, Greece, and Australia) and on certain itineraries (like Panama Canal crossings, trans-ocean trips, and certain remote locales). When people are in a small space, keeping distance from one another is more difficult. Other cruise lines are singing the same tune. It can be confusing to keep track of which lines require what, and in which regions unvaccinated guests can sail if there are still destination limitations. Children as young as age 5 are now able to get vaccinated, so your ability to cruise may depend on whether you've chosen to get your child vaccinated. CDC Shares New Real-World Data on Updated Shots. Some countries issue "certificates of recovery" if someone has been infected with COVID-19 and recovered, issuing a certificate that proves a positive COVID-19 test and recovery, instead of vaccination as someone's proof of immunity. Kashif J. Piracha, MD, FACP, FASN, FNKF, is a practicing physician at Methodist Willowbrook Hospital. Carnival, for example, says it'll accept some vaccine exemptions from those ages 12 and younger, as well as adults who have "written confirmation from their medical provider" that they can't be vaccinated -- but only at their Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Maryland, South Carolina and Alabama ports until the end of March 2022. "Traveling Party" means (1) your family members living with you in the same household and (2) traveling companions assigned to your stateroom on the ship. COVID-19 vaccine exemptions at Carnival's 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. Additionally, starting this week, vaccinated passengers no longer need to test before embarking. Norwegian Cruise Line doesn't allow children under the age of 5 to cruise, for example, because they can't get vaccinated yet. Many major cruise lines require anyone who is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine to be fully inoculated . RELATED: Carnival Drops Pre-Cruise Testing & Vaccination Requirements. For additional information, please visit Cruise Travel Requirements by Country. Those eligible for boosters are also required to have received them. I believe that eventually all cruise lines will drop as many restrictions as they can, Jones adds. What testing and treatment capabilities are there onboard? Since 2009, Cruise Radio has provided the latest cruise news and industry analysis through informative articles, videos, and weekly podcasts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has kept cruise lines from U.S. sailings since March 2020, has recommended that passengers, crew and port workers be vaccinated. If you're vaccinated, that decreases your chances of having a positive test and having to skip your trip at the last minute. Its hard to say how this will affect me, advisor Adam Martindale said. Also enacted earlier this month on September 3, the Miami-based company will now allow guests over the age of 12 who are not vaccinated to board if they have a negative PCR or antigen test taken within 72 hours of embarkation. Unvaccinated children five to 11 years old will no longer need the vaccine to sail. How do I know if there are any travel restrictions that could impact my cruise? Guests under the age of 12 dont have any vaccination or testing requirements. No, we do not currently have any restrictions or limitations for guests with pre-existing health conditions. This includes vaccines such as AstraZeneca and Sinovac. The health and safety of our guests, crew and the communities we serve is our top priority and we continue to monitor and adjust to the evolving global situation, Celestyals Chief Commercial Officer Leslie Peden said in a statement. While guests over the age of five previously had to be vaccinated, starting in early September, unvaccinated passengers under the age of 12 are now allowed to board. Guests requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 test to return to their home country are directed to visit a clinic near the disembarkation terminal or airport. Cruisers have been patiently waiting and there is pent-up demand. This includes vaccines. Testing at home is safe, simple, and convenient. If you have a weakened immune system, talk with your healthcare provider about your cruise travel plans. All guests are advised to monitor and comply with applicable travel restrictions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Yes, we welcome all guests to sail with us, regardless of vaccination status and age, and with no testing or masking requirements. Disney also highly recommends vaccines for younger kids. Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. The world's second-largest cruise line late Friday said that effective Sept. 6 it no longer would require passengers to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccine for all voyages except those . Local regulations may have vaccine requirements to enter certain countries make sure to checkTravel Requirements by Countryto understand country specific requirements about accepted vaccines. At long last, cruise lines are finally starting to drop their vaccine mandates and allow all passengers inoculated or not to sail on their ships. For an easy-to-use online tool for locating COVID-19 testing providers around the world, please visitwww.TestForTravel.com. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. It depends. It's also possible that cruise lines could ease up on their pandemic measures in the near future and stop requiring proof of vaccination for passengers. The information in this story is accurate as of press time. However, we encourage all guests to follow the vaccination and testing guidance outlined above. All passengers age 4 and up must take a prearrival test and show a negative result to board. A tidal wave has followed, with other cruise lines announcing similar changes. 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. Do bivalent boosters work against XBB.1.5? 2 shots of Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, etc., or 1 shot of Johnson & Johnson). did not go that far. Travel tips you can trust. CDC continues to recommend that cruise travelers remain up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines and get tested for COVID-19 before and after they travel, and after any known exposure to a person with COVID-19. 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. Check with Carnival for specific cruise requirements. If you chose not to get a COVID-19 vaccine, can you still go on your favorite cruise vacation? Rules may be different depending on requirements of locales visited. Hubs, The Best Time to View D.C.s Cherry Blossoms This Year Is Sooner Than You Might Think, Low-Cost Carrier Norse Atlantic Adds London Routes From 4 U.S. Cities, Damon Dominique Believes Youre Already a Global Citizen, Stay Here Next: The Muir Hotel in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Stay Here Next: The Alpina Gstaad in Switzerland. Guest may also be required to present the negative results of a COVID-19 test taken prior to embarkation day. We will comply with all local regulations at all destinations we visit. Now many brand loyalists are chatting about jumping ship, so to speak, to a Norwegian company if their otherwise preferred cruise line does not also do away with vaccine requirements in the near future. In addition to staying up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines, the CDC recommends that people who plan to cruise do the following: Most major cruise lines do not require guests to be vaccinated unless they're traveling from or to a destination that requires it. For Europe and Tahiti, your last COVID-19 shot is now required within the last 270 days. Can I buy travel insurance through Norwegian Cruise Line? Drug-sniffing dogs and $500 fines: Carnival tries to tame cruises, Battery fire on Spirit flight to Florida sends 10 to hospital, In a crowded place, a face mask or respirator keeps the virus away, The investigation into covids origins must continue, Your questions about covid-19, answered by Dr. Leana Wen, Lab leak report energizes Republicans covid probes, We are asking the wrong question about the origins of covid, Doctors who touted ivermectin as covid fix now pushing it for flu, RSV, First combination home test for flu and covid cleared by the FDA. For those departing Europe or for longer U.S. itineraries, self-administered tests will be accepted (with the exception of those that stop in Australia, Bermuda, Canada, Greece or New Zealand). A couple of the factors in that unique combination are crowded spaces and tight quarters. Destination specific requirements will still need to be met. If a guest follows health and safety protocols and tests positive during their cruise, the Cruise Line will help coordinate necessary onboard COVID-19-related medical consultation, standard/common prescription drugs, and required land-based quarantine. The US doesn't issue certificates of recovery at this time, so telling the cruise line you already had COVID-19 won't get you a vaccine exemption. No, guests will not be required to take a COVID-19 antigen test before continuing on the second leg of a back-to-back sailing unless symptomatic, unvaccinated or if a specific country requires it. A precruise test is no longer required on the river ships. Do You Need To Be Vaccinated To Go on a Cruise? And documented guests ages 12 and older who are fully vaccinated (according to the destination they are embarking and/or traveling to) no longer need to be tested for the coronavirus prior to sailing. And the CDC also recommends testing before boarding a cruise ship. What happens if I get sick whilst onboard? - 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. Be sure to review the latest requirements prior to boarding. The slow return was impacted by low consumer confidence, continued health and safety concerns, and issues with air travel to and from ports., After all, the entire industry was paused in the early days of the pandemic. Detours with locals. 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. Spice up your small talk with the latest tech news, products and reviews. If you have a cruise booked, you should keep checking the cruise lines website or contact the line for the latest rules. The cruise line . Lets leave the covid origin mystery to scientists, Covid, flu, RSV declining in hospitals as tripledemic threat fades. Chances are if you're unvaccinated, you'll need to book a specific tour with the cruise line, such as Carnival's "bubble tour" for unvaccinated guests, which is mostly families with children who are too young to be vaccinated. This doesnt apply to select destinations where local regulations vary, including Australia. In addition, guests will be required to agree to abide by all of the cruise line's health and safety protocols and acknowledge the risks associated with COVID-19 during their voyage and shoreside experiences. All guests should assess their individual risk level and consult with their doctor if needed prior to sailing. Royal CaribbeanAll passengers are welcome regardless of vaccine status as of September 5, on select routes such as cruises from Los Angeles, Galveston (though those age 12 and up need to be vaccinated to go ashore in Grand Cayman), and New Orleans (same rule with Grand Cayman), and in most destinations in Europe.