*Terms & Conditions Package not available on sailings less than 5 days or charter sailings. Are there any restrictions on pre-existing health conditions or limitations for guests due to COVID-19? As delivering the best experience for our guests is always a top priority, after working closely with our destination partners, we anticipate that guests will be free to explore certain ports of call on their own. Can I buy travel insurance through Norwegian Cruise Line? 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. Mask Policy Masks on board are recommended but not required indoors or outdoors. Starting with departures from October 8, 2022, guests who are vaccinated will no longer have to take a pre-boarding antigen test 48 hours before departure, if the itinerary starts in South America, the Caribbean, the United Arab Emirates, and the Mediterranean (with the exception of Greece). All passengers must also present a negative PCR test result at the pier. Vaccine questions, answered. As is true for most travel restrictions these days, your ability to book a cruise may depend on your vaccination status. FDA Panel Endorses Updated COVID Shots for All, Regardless of Vaccination Status, When To Get Boosted After Having a COVID-19 Breakthrough Infection, How Effective Are the Bivalent Boosters? (Note: This information is accurate as of February 7, 2023. Some ships can hold more than 5,400 passengers at two to a room. You can keep up with her on Instagram at @IAmSarahJaneB. Children may or may not be able to cruise, depending on the ship. If you're vaccinated, that decreases your chances of having a positive test and having to skip your trip at the last minute. If you're an adult in the US, the answer is probably not, unless you're one of the few people with a medical or religious exemption (and whether you'll be offered an exemption depends on the cruise line). This includes an increase in intensive care unit capacity, new and upgraded equipment, onshore medical institution partnerships, telemedicine capabilities and additional robust consultation and treatment options. The cruise line . The new protocols do not apply to itineraries for countries where local regulations may vary, such as Canada, Australia, and Greece. Health and safety is our top priority, and we will continue to modify our robust SailSafe program as the public health environment evolves. So, if you're planning your next vacation to include traveling by cruise ship, consider staying up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccines. Holland America LineAs of September 6, on most voyages of 15 nights or less, vaccinated guests age 5 and up do not need to be tested prior to cruising. Norwegian still strongly recommends that all guests be up to date on their vaccination status and test at their convenience before travel. Are children allowed to sail on your ships if they are not vaccinated? But specific policies vary, and sometimes unvaccinated people have extra requirements. CDC also continues to recommend mask wearing in indoor travel settings.. 301 Route 17 N, Suite 1150, Rutherford, NJ 07070 USA | Telephone:(201) 902-2000. With Sail Safe, our industry leading Health & Safety Program, we will continue to put our guests and our crew members first by keeping everyone safe and healthy on board our ships and in the communities we visit. According to the CDC, "cruise ship travel presents a unique combination of health concerns.". Please keep in mind that this is largely dependent on the local health authorities and the evolving regulations, which are subject to change. Guests who have symptoms of COVID-19 whilst onboard should immediately contact the onboard medical centre for further instruction. And other cruise brands, such as Carnival Cruise Line, currently make way for select exemptions, but they have yet to permit them across the board. Testing at home is safe, simple, and convenient. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) is officially the first company to welcome unvaccinated travelers onboard its cruise brands Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises without any capacity limits, and the industry response is one largely of praise. FDA proposes switching to annual coronavirus vaccine, mimicking flu model. This article was published more than1 year ago. A cruise can be a fun way to visit certain areas of the world at a slower pace. To board Carnival ships, unvaccinated guests need to show a negative PCR or an antigen test within three days of boarding (self-tests are now accepted by Carnival for boarding purposes). Yes, we welcome all guests to sail with us, regardless of vaccination status and age, and with no testing or masking requirements. 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. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Starting March 11, 2023, proof of vaccination for sailings to or from Europe will no longer be required. Present one of the following: Negative COVID-19 antigen test within 24 hours of the embarkation date. Starting in September, a larger number of unvaccinated travelers will be allowed onboard cruise ships both big and small on select routes but will be required to be tested for COVID first. "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. Outbreak updates for international cruise ships. Retesting three to five days after returning, and in particular, if symptoms have developed, is also advised, says Dr. Jasmin Valentin of Sameday Health. Cruise ship travel during COVID-19. Will all guests be required to be vaccinated prior to the cruise? Beginning September 2, for sailings departing U.S. and Canadian ports, guests ages 12 and older are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time of sailing. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For additional information, please visit Cruise Travel Requirements by Country. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. But even before the COVID-19 pandemic, cruise ships didn't have the best reputation for being disease-free. 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. The big question is, what cruise lines allow unvaccinated guests to sail? COVID-19 requirements may differ in destinations that have specific mandates, such as Canada, Greece and Bermuda. Unvaccinated guests are welcome to sail on all voyages, except for itineraries that feature destinations that continue to require vaccinations. Booked guests will be provided full details specific to their port of departure before sailing, Royal Caribbean spokeswoman Lyan Sierra-Caro said in an email. Those who are unvaccinated or unable to verify vaccination will be required to undergo testing and follow other protocols, which will be announced at a later date.. Are children required to have a COVID-19 vaccine to cruise? 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. 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. Check your airline's protocols around testing, mask-wearing, vaccination, or quarantining if you're flying before or after the cruise. 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. In many cases, yes. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. But like the latter lines, it'll still make you show proof of one for some sailings. Children age 12 to 15 must have received two initial doses of the vaccination. Our long-awaited revisions to our testing and vaccination requirements bring us closer in line with the rest of society, which has learned to adapt and live with COVID-19, and makes it simpler and easier for our loyal guests to cruise on our three best-in-class brands, said Frank Del Rio, president and CEO of NCLH. All passengers age 4 and up must take a prearrival test and show a negative result to board. There are still some cruise lines that have not yet indicated they will relax their COVID protocols, though their numbers are dwindling. Royal Caribbean will require vaccinations for some. Destination specific requirements will still need to be met. Check out our variety of itineraries. We know from our advisors that their unvaccinated clients have been waiting for this announcement, and I have no doubt that we will see a spike in cruise bookings. Unvaccinated guests are permitted to sail on most MSC voyages. 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. Requirements may differ for guests traveling on voyages departing from or visiting destinations with specific local regulations, such as Canada, Greece, and Bermuda. Will I have to sign a COVID-19 waiver to board a ship? Lindblad ExpeditionsAll passengers age 5 and older must be vaccinated. The Coronavirus Outbreak Has Affected 4 Different Cruise ShipsHere's Why Illness Can Spread so Fast at Sea. That's hard to say because it depends on the state of the pandemic at any given time. Presidents gain too much power when emergencies like covid hit, The Checkup With Dr. Wen: Three important studies shed light on long covid, We are not overcounting covid deaths in the United States, China, speeding through phases of covid, gets on with living with virus, FDA advisers favor retiring original covid shot and using newer version. What testing and treatment capabilities are there onboard? Guests under the age of 12 dont have any vaccination or testing requirements. All departures from the U.S. that are nine nights or less dont require any testing, unless they stop in Canada or Bermuda. Many popular cruise lines have eliminated the vaccine and pre-embarkation test as the industry is beginning to shift away from mandatory vaccines and testing. While some cruise lines operating in Europe have been requiring all passengers to be vaccinated, the C.D.C. Completed health questionnaire (prior to embarkation); Standard travel documents, including passport or any visas as required. However, we encourage all guests to follow the vaccination and testing guidance outlined above. Cond Nast Traveler does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every ship has a team of experienced doctors and nurses trained to manage a broad range of medical conditions, including COVID-19. Since late July, cruise lines have been further relaxing rules. The cruise lines join Saga Cruises, a company catering to passengers 50 and older, which said last month it would require all guests to be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before boarding. It turns out that you can usually board a cruise ship without being vaccinated for COVID-19. The reasons for the changes are clear: 1) the CDC is no longer requiring specific COVID protocols for cruising; 2) cruise lines want more business. A guest is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the required number of doses in their vaccine series have been fully administered (e.g. Passengers age 4 and under do not require a vaccination. FDA, CDC expand Pfizer & Moderna bivalent vaccines to kids 6 months and up with Sandra Fryhofer, MD. Before your trip, you will need to review your cruise lines health and safety protocols. 2023 CNET, a Red Ventures company. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. Otherwise, you will need a booster. Earlier this month, the Miami-based cruise line dropped vaccination requirements for passengersunless their cruise itinerary stops at ports in destinations that require the inoculation (Canada, Australia, and New Zealand for those 12 and older; Galapagos for those three and older). Viking strongly recommends passengers receive a booster dose before departing. Or will NCL offer testing onboard to meet travel requirements for guests flying back to countries that require negative COVID-19 test results to re-enter the country post cruise? 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. Starting March 11, 2023, proof of vaccination for sailings to or from Europe will no longer be required. Cruises that are 16 nights or longer may have additional requirements based on the itinerary. Unvaccinated guests are welcome but required to have a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to departure, subject to local regulations. READ NEXT: 18 Most Unique Cruise Ship Bars in 2022. 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. Those eligible for boosters are also required to have received them. NAAT test (i.e., PCR) within 48 hours of embarkation date. It's also important to know that while all adults in the US are now eligible for boosters, the definition of "fully vaccinated" hasn't changed and you don't need an extra shot to be considered fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated guests are welcome to sail on most voyages, except for itineraries that feature destinations with local regulations that may continue to require vaccination including Australia. Our CareTeam will assist with daily wellbeing check-ins . And the CDC also recommends testing before boarding a cruise ship. All guests 18 and older must be vaccinated to sail, plus one booster shot if eligible. Vaccine and pretrip testing requirements can be confusing, especially if you are cruising internationally. In the specific event that you have a child turning 5 during the voyage, check in with your cruise line before buying a ticket. Cond Nast Traveler may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Copyright 2023 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. In mid-June, Viking announced that 'travelers cruising with Viking are no longer required to take a pre-cruise test. Masks are no longer required. Medical news, pregnancy topics and health hacks that don't cost money. Cruise ship travel. 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. No, we do not currently have any restrictions or limitations for guests with pre-existing health conditions.