As for Martindales agency, business is booming. "We would object to it," DeSantis said in response to a question from a reporter about such mandates. Registered in England and Wales. Just because the CDC has stopped paying attention does not mean Carnival, Royal Caribbean International (RCL) - Get Free Report, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH) - Get Free Report, and other cruise lines that sail from the U.S. will drop pre-cruise covid testing and vaccine requirements. Unvaccinated guests are welcome to sail on all voyages, except for itineraries that feature destinations that continue to require vaccinations. Our ships have been sailing very full all summer, but there is still room for more of our loyal guests, and these guidelines will make it a simpler process, and make cruising accessible for those who were not able to meet the protocols we were required to follow for much of the past 14 months, said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. These protocols include that fully vaccinated guests do not need to provide proof of a negative test result. There's no indication that consumers are "shying away from taking cruise vacations," its CEO said. honestly, we should have never gotten rid of mask mandates in the first place. These new guidelines apply to all Cunard cruises from Southampton and all other departure points, with the exception of countries where government regulations and protocols vary including Canada and Australia. Carnival Cruise Line removed testing for vaccinated passengers on sailings less than 16 nights, and eliminated the exemption request process for unvaccinated travelers, who will only need to show a negative test result at embarkation. Cruise-specific travel insurance is recommended on both Australian domestic cruises and international cruises. 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. Find out when the conditional sailing order expires. Children 11 and under are no longer required to be vaccinated. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, how vocal some potential customers and cruise lines, Margaritaville at Sea Gears Up With Travel Advisors in Mind, Its a Summer of Record-Breaking Cruise Sales. The Miami-based cruise line also announced that starting Sept. 6, vaccinated passengers sailing on voyages of less than 16 days will no longer have to test before boarding. The cruise lines are already set up to self-manage with all protocols necessary to keep their guests in the safest environment possible, as they always have been.. Anne Kalosh | Aug 12, 2022. Royal Caribbean said in a letter to travel agents, Here at Royal Caribbean, you can trust we will continue to prioritize the health and safety of our guests, crew, and the communities we visit. Carnival Cruise Line removed testing for vaccinated passengers on sailings less than 16 nights, and eliminated the exemption request process for unvaccinated travelers, who will only need to show a negative test result at embarkation. "We're going to announce very . Disney Cruise Line adheres to local laws, regulations and protocols in place at all homeports and ports of call . The policy is true on most sailings on a first-come, first-served basis without the need for exemptions or vaccine status justifications. Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. Royal Caribbean released a further update to its protocols on Wednesday, which will go into effect in September 2022. ), This announcement is the most significant to date, and is another step to greater consumer confidence in travel, Tolkin said. Earlier this week, Carnival and Norwegian cruise lines relaxed their mask rules as well. "The fact is we were being held, and we felt unfairly, to a different standard: a zero-risk standard relative to the rest of the travel and leisure sector and the rest of society. The agency . That could change. I'm looking forward to cruising again,' he said. Cruise Lines Relax COVID Testing and Vaccination Policies For trips shorter than six days, vaccinated passengers will no longer need to obtain a negative test result before boarding. - All other cruises still require proof of initial vaccination and a booster until further notice. This takes effect Sept. 6. April 5, 2021. Vaccinated guests, regardless of age, no longer need to test for the shorter sailings. Whats notably missing are Eastern Caribbean cruises, such as those that sail to the Bahamas. Two Summer Itineraries Modified for Disney Cruise Ship, Passenger Accused of Using Stolen Credit Cards for Royal Caribbean Cruise, Royal Caribbean Makes Major Updates for Loyal Guests, Holland America Line Gears Up For Alaska Travel Expo. The cruise line has dropped all pre-cruise testing for sailings less than 6 nights. Since the CDC Voluntary Program for U.S. Based Cruise Ships ended in July, Carnival Cruise Line joined the list of cruise lines that have removed some testing requirements. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian all require anyone 12 and older sailing on their ships to be fully vaccinated. To date, the biggest group to confirm it will likely extend its 100 percent vaccination policy into . These include a number of sailings of 16 nights or longerand other specific voyages. 32. Unvaccinated children under 5 do not require pre-cruise testing. Carnivals 50th anniversary sailabration kicks off in Long Beach. Many cruise fans and potential passengers may expect that this CDC decision means that vaccine requirements and precruise testing may soon go away. You can keep up with her on Instagram at @IAmSarahJaneB. On July 18, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the elimination of its COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships sailing in U.S. waters, a first-of-its-kind move that would allow each individual cruise line to manage its own COVID-19 mitigation programs. Sign Up for Our Monthly Cruise Newsletter. Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity mentioned herein. No business wants to make a choice -- or in this case have choices made for them by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- that alienates potential customers. Check with Carnival for specific cruise requirements. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. Vaccine exemptions are limited to a small number of guests who are over age 5. If unvaccinated guests have recently recovered from COVID and can provide appropriate documentation, they will also be exempt from the testing requirement. "CDC continues to evaluate the latest science and state of . Disney Cruise Line is one of the last cruise lines to make these changes. There's one common reason for these reversals of vaccine mandates: the ban on vaccine passports in states like Florida and Texas, which has created a heated standoff between cruise lines and the states. In April, DeSantis issued an executive order in Florida banning vaccine passports and prohibiting local business - including cruise lines - from requiring them. Only those sailing on longer, more complex itineraries will be required to have an observed or in-person test prior to departure. Royal Caribbean Chief Executive Jason Liberty,during his company's fourth-quarter earnings call,pointed out how well those protocols have been working. Please be aware that health and safety measures may change at any time. Seatrade, a trading name of Informa Markets (UK) Limited. With that in mind, we've put together this list of cruise lines allowing unvaccinated guests to sail, as well as what the other lines currently require regarding vaccinations. Though . Guests of . Disney Cruise Line becomes one of the final major lines to remove the vaccine mandate, along with relaxing testing requirements. In late July the CDC relaxed Covid requirements for the cruise industry. We'll send you a weekly newsletter to your inbox. The vaccination policy for Cunard passengers remains the same. There are also excursion rules and limited capacity. By the end of March, many mask mandates will go away, as is already happening in moststates and a growing number of schools. Margaritaville at Seas vaccinated guests will no longer be required to undergo testing prior to boarding, making it quicker and easier than ever to escape to paradise.. (Note: This information is accurate as of February 7, 2023. In short, Gottlieb sees a transition from government-imposed rules on isolation/quarantine to the expectation that people take personal responsibility. Now nursing homes are pushing to lift the vaccination mandate altogether. That's a policy some havegrudginglycomplied with, while others have skipped cruising because of it. For cruises out of Galveston and New Orleans that visit Grand Cayman, only passengers that show a valid vaccination record can go ashore. Cruises 5 days or less: With the exception of sailings to Bermuda and Canada, fully vaccinated passengers will not be required to test before sailing. For sailings from Southampton, Ravenna and Civitavecchia, and Amsterdam, vaccinated travelers must present a negative COVID test taken within two days before embarking, while unvaccinated travelers must test negative within one day of sailing. Here's why. - As of July 25, 2022, the line no longer requires pre-cruise testing unless . Currently, the island nation requires all cruise ship passengers 12 and over to be fully vaccinated to enter the port. Youll find expert advice for experienced and first-time cruisers, as well as port and destination guides. CDC drops risk advisory for cruise ship travel, 2 years into the COVID pandemic : Coronavirus Updates While the agency has lifted its travel health notice two years after putting it in place . Unvaccinated passengers ages 12 and older must present a medically supervised negative PCR or antigen test taken no more than 72 hoursbefore sailing. Fortunately, the CDC has also indicated that it is evaluating the situation, which may lead to welcome changes for cruise travelers. All Rights Reserved. And there may be places around the world that still require certain things, certain testing, certain vaccinations, so if we choose to go to those places, then we're going to respect that, and guests will be informed ahead of time and know what they have to do. The Disney Cruise Line announced Wednesday that it will require all passengers ages five and older to be fully COVID-19 vaccinated in order to be granted entry onto the ship . He has close to three decades of experience in journalism leading numerous investigations and long-form journalism projects for the OC Weekly and other publications. With the CDCs removal of the pre-embarkation testing requirement, we are hopeful and pleased that the travel and cruising industries are sailing toward a new normal, said Oneil Khosa, CEO of Margaritaville at Sea. The CDC used that power to stop all cruises from U.S. ports from March 2020 through July 2021. We continue to work with our destination partners to evolve our protocols and align with the broader travel industry, as we transition to the point that everyone can vacation with us.. By maximizing miles and points, cheap deals, sales, backpacking, and couchsurfing Rocky has traveled to 75 countries and still counting. The industry is still recovering and working under a patchwork of regulations. The 10% rule remains in effect for cruising leaving the United States. Fully-vaccinated . Unvaccinated guests are welcome to sail on all voyages, except for those to or from Australia and on transatlantic and transpacific cruises. Be sure to familiarize your self, or reach out and Im happy to help find you a cruise that meets you and your family needs. And, even when that ban was lifted, the cruise lines had to operate under a strict set of rules that no other industry had to follow. Here are some of the latest cruise lines that are pulling back on pandemic measures. There will be no pre-cruise testing for vaccinated travelers on cruisesup to 15 nights, with the exception of full Panama Canal transits, trans-ocean and other special itineraries. He also predicted a quiet spring and summer 2022 since many people have been vaccinated or infected so immunity in the US . Travel insurance. Norwegian Cruise Line requires all its passengers and crew to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and has been fighting in court to continue its mandate. They say it has made it all but impossible to find enough willing workers, and the resulting staff shortages have forced . In addition, all guests, age 18 and older, who are more than 6 months past the last dose of their initial vaccine series must be boosted (if eligible) in order to sail: Other cruises have limited space for vaccine exempt guests through December 2022. These new requirements apply to voyages from all ports except those in Canada, Bermuda, Greece and Australia, where government regulations still require vaccinations. This means $178 worth of COVID-19 tests, strict mask requirements, seating restrictions in areas like theaters and casinos, and the possibility of not being able to go ashore, depending on local restrictions. That's likely only partly true because Royal . The CDC will now classify ships with a 90% or higher vaccination rate as "highly vaccinated". The unvaccinated cruise is now back. "Since we resumed operations, our goal has been to making cruising one of the safest vacations anywhere in the world while providing an exceptional guest experience,"he said. Instead, the cruise line will introduce these on a rolling basis across the fleet. For the time being, cruise lines are mostly holding strong to their vaccine mandates, but another subset of travelers is hoping those will eventually go away, too. The unvaccinated cruise is now back. Apr 12, 2022 10:20 AM EDT. As of August 8, 2022 only children under 12 are welcome as unvaccinated guests on Celebrity cruise lines when leaving the United States. Children under 12 will not have to present negative Covid-19 tests, regardless of vaccination status. 'This a transition year then they'll decide whether they want vaccinations in congregate settings like cruising, whether this becomes part of the childhood immunization schedule,' Gottlieb said. This now means that regardless of vaccination status, guests can cruise on the select sailings, as long as they meet any testing requirements. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. Some cruise lines already let children and a select few customers travel unvaccinated. However, sailings visiting Greece require a supervised COVID test prior to embarking. Starting Sept. 6, vaccinated travelers on cruises under16 days will no longer have to test before embarking and only need to upload proof of vaccination while getting OceanReady. With the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ending its cruise ship program on July 18, 2022, multiple cruise lines have already announced updated protocols to allow more unvaccinated guests to sail and to reduce pre-cruise testing. For cruises of five or fewer nights from Los Angeles, vaccinated passengers won't need to test for COVID. At this time, no changes have been made to our health and safety protocols for voyages originating in the U.S. as we look forward to reviewing the details of the CDCs planned guidelines for public health operations on cruise ships.. Receive full access to our market insights, commentary, newsletters, breaking news alerts, and more. Cruise ships will be allowed to lift COVID-19 restrictions from mid-January, the CDC said Monday. Some people embraced the vaccines early, others waited, and some got vaccinated only when they absolutely had to. In response to the CDC program ending, Margaritaville at Sea and Virgin Voyages have also ended their pre-cruise testing, doing so even for U.S.-based cruises. A cruise ship in Florida. Oct 26, 2021, 4:08 AM. "The options available to unvaccinated guests continue to expand, according to Princess. Im talking more about CDC and the policy environment. All rights reserved. This positivity rate is still a small fraction of what it is in society at large, and nearly all cases on board were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms.". The Bahamas, for example recently changed its covid testing rules opening up the possibility that many Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian cruises that stop there could change the rules for those sailings. Receive full access to our market insights, commentary, newsletters, breaking news alerts, and more. You'll start to see us move into what society is doing at large. The Uniglobe travel agency says most cruise lines are making the same call: to keep the guidelines. Articles are of a general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances. Informa Markets, a trading division of Informa PLC. The cruise line also noted that children under 5 will not need to receive a vaccine exemption to sail under the new COVID-19 program, and passengers can expect "additional flexibility" in pre . Starting on October 14, guests boarding Disney Wish for the 3-night Bahamas cruise from Port Canaveral will be the first group to take advantage of the new protocols. Vaccination for sailings starting and ending in the U.S. is not required. All rights reserved. Pre-cruise testing is no longer required, except for cruises to Canada, Bermuda, Greece and Australia (per local guidelines), and on voyages 16 nights or longer. For the next 12 months, he believes a lot of people are likely to get a booster to take them through the fall and winter. The three major cruise lines sailing from U.S. ports -- Royal Caribbean International ( RCL) - Get Free Report, Carnival Cruise Lines CCL, and Norwegian Cruise Line NCLH -- still require pre . "Gov. Seatrade, a trading name of Informa Markets (UK) Limited. This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. "We are already experiencing an increase in calls and bookings due to the pent-up demand for cruise, andwe expect to see another uptick as a result of this latest announcement.. It will also . Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. But when the sailing was announced as "fully vaccinated" in May, Gov. Virgin Voyages has also modified its vaccine policy to also allow 10% of guests to be unvaccinated. Before boarding all three cruise lines, passengers must show their original vaccination cards. Royal Caribbean said, We are working with local governments in the Eastern Caribbean to align on vaccination requirements for more itineraries. Travel Codex is owned by Travel Codex, LLC. Each sailing is unvaxxed capacity-controlled based on the total number of vaccinated guests projected to be on board. However, Azamara still lists Miami as a port requiring COVID-19 tests, and Viking has yet to remove its testing in the U.S. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. parent to the Norwegian, Oceania and Regent brands also confirmed that they would keep health and safety protocols in place for ships operating in U.S. waters with the following statement: We welcome the decision by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to end the CDC COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships operating in U.S. waters. If you are taking a cruise and still need a rapid Covid-19 antigen test, try Azova for a inexpensive effective option. That means three pillars of the government's made-in-Canada COVID-19 vaccine procurement strategy have failed or could soon fail. Anne Kalosh | Mar 03, 2022. Cruise travel's CDC status has come a long way in the past few months. Now, the official termination of the CDC program is only accelerating the elimination of testing among other lines. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. But like Celebrity, this mandate was rolled back in early June for all cruises sailing out of Florida and Texas. 'One-way masking works,' Gottlieb said, provided it's a high-quality mask like an N95. The ship is set to sail this Saturday from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and will be the first revenue cruise to depart from a US port in over a year. Its 100 percent vaccination policy for Cunard passengers remains the same call: to keep the.. 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