On March 30, US-based Windstar Cruises announced a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for its guests and crew. Here's what you need to know about some of the top cruise lines and where they stand on vaccination requirements, testing and masking as of early September 2022. Travelers to Maui who aren't vaccinated will no longer be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival, a move that eliminates one travel restriction as vacationers flock to the islandthis summer. Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. It's what's known as a protein subunit vaccine. Travellers to and from Australia no longer need to provide evidence of their COVID-19 vaccination status. Viking Health & Safety Program Updated February 6, 2023. For all country specific travel requirements, travelers should visit www.ncl.com/travel-requirements-by-country. As of Friday, 92 cruise ships had opted into the CDC's COVID-19 program and were all classified under the "Highly Vaccinated" category, according to the agency. If you are considering travel on a cruise ship, please review the latest CDC guidance. With the exception of sailings to Bermuda and Canada, no fully vaccinated passengers will be required to test before sailing. We pay respect to the Traditional Custodians and First Peoples of NSW, and acknowledge their continued connection to their country and culture. Arriving Sydney 10/03/23 Fox News Flash top headlines for March 24. Once reports are received from cruise vessels, their tier level is published below. Before you sail away on your next adventure, we at Cruise Guru strongly recommend you check that youve met all cruise vaccine requirements well before the voyage. So you'll need to know the rules . . Some lines make exceptions for young children and people who can't be vaccinated due to medical conditions or religious beliefs. Norwegian Spirit Mask Mandates: While masks are highly encouraged for all guests unless eating or drinking, they are not required at any point of the sailing. Consider it an advance warning; if the real virus ever turns up, the immune system is ready to try to squelch it. . no fully vaccinated passengers will be required to test before sailing. Social distancing and mask-wearing remains at our guests discretion, Ambassador said. With much discussion about cruises and vaccines, it can quite become quite confusing to determine your specific cruise vaccination requirements. on cruises 5 days or less. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Testing Requirements: All guests 2 and older are required to submit a negative test regardless of vaccination status. The CDC will likely recommend COVID-19 vaccination for congregate settings like cruises through this fall and winter, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, advisor to Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, said Thursday. Get the latest deals and news direct to your inbox every week. The classifications apply to commercial, foreign-flagged passenger-carrying ships with at least 250 passengers. By Samantha Mayling. For 25 years, we have always had the highest standards for health and cleanliness, and our protocol enhancements make Viking even safer. Mississippi Health Officials Urge Residents To Get COVID-19 Vaccine, NPR: COVID-19 Test. Mask Mandates: Masks are not presently required onboard MSC cruises. getting tested if you have any signs or symptoms of COVID-19. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. Starting July 2, Royal Caribbean ships will not be requiring passengers to have covid vaccines for sailings from the U.S. Follow the cruise operators protocols for managing outbreaks and COVID-19 cases and close contacts on board. The new protocols are in line with the voluntary program from the CDC, which includes testing requirements, vaccination requirements, and mask requirements. Program. You should reconsidercruise ship travel if you are. We use cookies to optimise our website and our service. Share by email. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention relaxed its definition of what it means to be a highly vaccinated cruise ship this week, lowering the percentage of passengers required to get the shot. Have no fear, we provide all the relevant links and information you need for all of the major cruise lines below. This cruise will be operated as a vaccinated cruise, as defined by health authorities, with guests and crew vaccination rates approaching 100%.. As the leading small ship travel company, Viking takes you closer to the heart of the places you want to visit. Destination Requirements: Depending on port visits, rules and regulations for destinations will vary based on local protocols. Ambassador believes the time is right to relax testing and vaccination requirements, with onboard COVID rates currently being very low. All unvaccinated guests ages 2 and older are required to receive a lab-administered PCR or antigen test up to 3 days before sailing. We are always looking for ways to improve our website. Passengers displaying COVID-19 symptoms within 72 hours of departure are advised to take a COVID test at home. Guests must have received their final dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days before the beginning of the cruise and provide proof of vaccination at terminal check-in. There are very few cases on board (less than 30 positive cases per 1,000 people), and there is no impact to critical services such as healthcare, engineering, cleaning, food and beverage. River cruise lines sail into Egypt with new ships and . Beginning August 29, no fully vaccinated passengers will be required to test before sailing. On cruises 6 days or more, all guests are required to take an official COVID-19 test before boarding. 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. Silversea Cruises Celestyal Cruises Vaccine required? The cruise line's vaccine mandate will apply to guests who are at least 16 years old aboard ships sailing from the US or the Bahamas, according to Royal Caribbean's frequently asked questions. COVID-19 cruise cover varies depending on the provider. Related: Cruise ship contact tracing: How the world's major lines are tracking COVID-19 exposure. A U.S. judge has allowed Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH.N)todemand that passengers show written proof of coronavirus vaccination before they board a ship, dealing a major blow to . COVID-19 vaccination is still required for all guests 12 years or older sailing from Europe through 30 November 2022. There's an option, if you . The cruise line still recommends that passengers are up to date with their vaccines. The Australian Government continues to apply improved border measures including: amendments to legal frameworks under the Biosecurity Act 2015 to ensure the Australian Government maintains control over disembarkation. Currently, the CDC classifies cruise ships under three categories: "Not Highly Vaccinated," which includes ships where less than 90% of passengers and 95% of the crew are fully vaccinated; "Highly Vaccinated," which includes ships where at least 90% of passengers and 95% of crew are fully vaccinated, but less than that includes people with up to date COVID-19 boosters; and the third category is having a "Vaccination Standard of Excellence," which means at least 90% of passengers and 95% of the crew are vaccinated and up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. For more information about the Company's award-winning 18-ship fleet and worldwide itineraries, or to book a cruise, please call +1-888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784), contact a travel professional or visit www.ncl.com. Jump to your specific cruise line by following the links below to find out when cruises resume, Azamara | Carnival Australia | Carnival International |Celebrity Cruises |Celestyal Cruises | Costa Cruises | Cunard | Holland America, Hurtigruten Cruises | MSC Cruises | Norwegian Cruise Line |Oceania Cruises |P&O Cruises Australia | P&O Cruises UK | PONANT Cruises, Princess Cruises | Regent Seven Seas | Royal Caribbean |Seabourn |Silversea | Viking Cruises | Virgin Voyages | Windstar. "Currently, COVID-19 vaccination is required for all guests for all sailings departing on March 13, 2021, through April 10, 2021, at this time," American Cruise Lines said in a statement.. The CDC dropped its cruise covid-19 reporting program last month, prompting cruise lines to announce they would loosen testing requirements for vaccinated passengers and in most cases . Slow Vaccination Rate In Vermont Prompts Surge In Walk-In Clinics Before you travel, check theSmartraveller advice on cruisesand contact your travel agent or cruise operator for specific information on their COVID-19 safety protocols. Vaccinated passengers on longer cruises will have to show proof of COVID-19 test taken within three days of embarkation. Children 5 and under are not required to be vaccinated. It works somewhat differently from the current crop of vaccines authorized for use in the U.S. but is based on a well-understood technology and doesn't require special refrigeration. Mask Mandates: While masks are optional for vaccinated guests, they are strongly recommended for unvaccinated children and their families. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Unvaccinated guests are unable to sail with Costa on Eastern Mediterranean cruises. As of Friday afternoon, over 911,000 people were fully vaccinated in Mississippi, or 29% of the population. Meet Hemp-Derived Delta-9 THC. The tier classification is from the Critical outbreak thresholds for . Pre-pandemic travel norms are on their way back to the Hawaiian Islands. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. As with any rapidly changing scenario like this one, laws, and regulations change at a rapid pace, and this often affects your cruise vaccination requirements as well. Developed in coordination with an international team of scientific and medical advisors, the Viking Health & Safety Programme is one of the most well-researched and comprehensive COVID-19 prevention and mitigation plans in the travel industry. No matter how healthy you are, we strongly advise you do not travel uninsured. These 3 Cruise Lines Don't Require Vaccination Against COVID-19 Aug 09, 2022 Coronavirus Cruise Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises will no longer require a COVID-19 vaccine to sail. Regent Seven Seas Cruises will also amend its testing and vaccination requirements beginning September 3. No ships were classified under the "Vaccination Standard of Excellence.". Hawaii To Abolish All Inter-Island Travel Restrictions, USA Today: No ships were classified. The line said: Ambassador remains one of the most COVID-conscious cruise lines in the industry, and light-touch preventative measures will continue to be enforced onboard.. Commonwealth of Australia | Department of Health and Aged Care, Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) health alert, International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate, Travellers from China, Hong Kong and Macau, wearing a mask when recommended or if you feel safer wearing a mask. Being allowed to exit Australia doesnt guarantee entry at your destination. COVID-19 vaccinations will be required on the upcoming sailings from the Bahamas and St. Maarten, the company said. Adherence to strict public health requirements on cruise ships will still be required. Update on cruise vessel COVID-19 status. The risk of infection and transmission of COVID-19 on cruises cannot be eliminated. For more information please also see theCDNA National Guidelines for Cruising in Australia. On cruises 6 days or more, all guests are required to take an official COVID-19 test before boarding. The rollbacks will apply to all individuals, regardless of vaccination status. says. Ambassador Cruise Line is to relax testing and vaccination requirements on most sailings early next month. Yes. "We are regularly communicating with all guests regarding any additional testing, vaccination, and shoreside operating requirements that may be necessary given the region and time period of their travel," the cruise line says on its website. "Many travelers have been patiently waiting to take their long-awaited vacation at sea and we cannot wait to celebrate their return.". For Sailings Departing From Other Ports Including Australia. Legal Statement. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. A spokesperson confirmed the temporary safety protocol to Fox News on Wednesday. Offers may be subject to change without notice. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to elders both past and present. British cruise line P&O Cruises has announced that Covid-19 vaccination and testing are no longer mandatory for guests travelling on their holidays. Updated 02/03/23. (Josephs, 6/5), CNN: Children ages 5-15 are required to be fully vaccinated but do not need a booster shot. As they walked in the hot spring sun this April and May, these four have another mission. Testing Requirements: All vaccinated guests are required to show proof of a negative antigen, NAAT or PCR test within two days of sailing. Check the requirements of your cruise operator and the states and/or territories and countries in which you will be travelling. Additional Requirements: Select countries have additional vaccination, testing and documentation requirements. Lindblad Expeditions All passengers age 5 and older must be vaccinated. Follow recommendations for isolation. The only exception is cruise J301 - Arcadia's World Cruise, Classic Southern Hemisphere Journeys or Exotic fly-cruises - which still require passengers to be fully vaccinated, including a booster jab, and a pre-departure Covid test. You should check all travel and cruising requirements at all interstate and overseas stops on your voyage. However, passengers sailing on Ambassadors longer cruises, such as Ambiences 2024 Grand Round the World Cruise, could still be subject to the stricter COVID protocols in place now. "This update is based on modeling data," CDC spokesperson Tom Skinner told USA Today. Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. All rights reserved. Simply contact us by calling up 13 13 03 and one of our Gurus will be on hand in a matter of moments. Proof of a negative Coronavirus test has long been a requirement to board a Disney Cruise, but that recently changed. Flying To Maui? Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Unvaccinated travelers will be able to sail with a recently administered negative COVID-19 test result, with some exclusions. (American Cruise Lines). For additional information about cruising in Australia, we suggest reading through our guide on when will cruises resume in Australia as well as the various Book with Confidence policies on offer by each cruise line. For cruises longer than 15 nights, a medically supervised COVID-19 test is required for all guests, and most passengers are required to be vaccinated. Currently, the CDC's Conditional Sail Order only prohibits commercial vessels from operating in U.S. waters if they have the capacity to carry over 250 individuals. Once reports are received from cruise vessels, their tier level is published below. other COVID-19 measures such as mask wearingor proof of vaccination, enhanced pre-arrival reporting and identification of COVID-19 risk through more sensitive question sets and improved processes.