Here Are The Most Current Vaccination Requirements For The Major Cruise Lines
Keep in mind, as entry requirements to foreign countries change, the cruise lines will need to adjust their vaccination requirements. You must check your cruise lines and destination requirements right up until its time to head to the port.
These are the most up-to-date vaccination cruising requirements for the major carriers.
Finally, its important to note that all cruise lines have the same policy on this topic. Its always the passengers responsibility to know and meet all of the requirements for cruising. No refunds or credits are provided when a would-be cruiser doesnt have the proper health or ID documents to sail. Now more than ever, its imperative that travelers read all the documentation sent from the cruise line. If you dont, you could end up spending thousands of dollars for a vacation youll never take. And thats no fun at all.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Uniworld has increased the number of family-friendly itineraries from five to 16 in 2016, with sailings on the Rhine, Danube, Seine and Po Rivers. The minimum age is 4, and children up to age 18 pay half price.
The sailings on the luxury river line are designed to be fun and interactive. Sample onboard activities include dessert-making with the ship’s pastry chef, tasting local soft drinks with the resident Soda Sommelier, craft workshops and local language classes. The Young Travellers Lounge, available on all multigenerational Uniworld ships, has a PlayStation, a wide selection of games, movies and candy jars. Every family-friendly cruise itinerary also features onboard visits from local children or teens.
Parents can also go onshore and leave their children in the care of Family Hosts for Junior Cruisers and Young Cruisers , who will supervise and coordinate onboard activities. Each night the child receives a special pillow gift from the destinations visited.
Why Kids Might Be Banned From Cruise Ships When Cruising Restarts
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You may have heard that the odds are growing for a summer restart of big-ship cruising out of U.S. ports. But if thats got you thinking about booking a summer cruise with your kids or grandkids, you might want to hold off a bit.
It seems increasingly likely that at least some children will not be allowed on the initial sailings that cruise lines operate out of such U.S. ports as PortMiami and Port Canaveral.
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Thats because cruise lines are under pressure to restart operations out of U.S. ports with a mandate that almost all passengers show proof of a COVID-19 vaccine something that children under the age of 16 cant get for now .
Last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent a letter to cruise lines saying they could fast-track their return to operations out of U.S. ports in the coming weeks only if they committed to sailing with 98% of crew and 95% of passengers vaccinated for COVID-19. The CDC has been blocking cruise ships from sailing out of U.S. ports since March of 2020.
Its likely that many lines will accept such terms.
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Are There Children’s Menus On A River Cruise Are There High Chairs Or Booster Seats
There are no children’s menus on a regular river cruise, but most of the lines that offer family cruises have a separate menu for kids on those sailings. CroisiEurope does not have a special menu on its family cruises, but it asks families to contact them in advance so meals can be adapted, if necessary; staff will also reheat bottles and baby food. River cruises with family sailings will have chairs that are appropriate for the age groups that are allowed to sail. High chairs, as a rule, are not available.
That Cruise Document Doesnt Say What You Think It Says About Vaccination Requirements
Unfortunately, when Maxwell forwarded his paper trail, it was clear that he and his fiance had misunderstood some of the correspondence from Celebrity.
His cruise contract provided a link to the most up-to-date cruising requirements, which didnt support his theory that unvaccinated adults can cruise.
Since June, the Celebrity website has displayed this information on its site.
Fact: All Celebrity passengers 12 and older must be fully vaccinated 14 days before boarding their cruise.
I showed the information to Maxwell and explained that a refund isnt in the cards when a passenger doesnt have the required documentation to cruise.
I asked Maxwell if he had something else that I might use to successfully mediate his request.
Unfortunately, that was a dead-end as well.
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Are River Cruises Right For Kids
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While major cruise lines are wowing families with mega-ships with cool features like bumper cars, rock-climbing walls, 10-story waterslides, surf simulators, iFly skydiving and more, river cruise lines are slower to catch up in that department. Especially popular in Europe, river cruises meander slowly down rivers like the Danube and the Rhine, stopping in intimate ports as well as larger cities to offer passengers an easy way to visit multiple countries without packing up bags, dealing with train transfers, flights, etc.
Some river cruises dont allow children at all, but a few river cruises lines such as Uniworld and AmaWaterways are teasing parents with family sailings on itineraries that take you through the fairy-tale castles of Germany or follow the Sound of Music in Austria. But, are river cruises actually a good vacation option for kids? Sadly not really.
Tauck Family River Cruises
Luxury river cruise line Tauck was one of the first river cruise lines to offer family-friendly cruises and has done so since 2010.
The Tauck Bridges range is available during the summer holidays in July and August each year. These river cruises include a variety of shore excursions that the whole family will love, such as walking in the footsteps of gladiators at the Colosseum, riding an ancient Ferris wheel in Vienna or learning how to make marzipan in Germany.
Tauck is an all-inclusive river cruise line. Holidays withthis company include everything, from flights, hotels and airport transfers, tounlimited food and drinks, as well as gratuities. Shore excursions are alsoincluded, which makes deciding what to do in each port really easy.
Minimum age to cruisewith Tauck: Children must be three years old or over to cruise. Shoreexcursions also have minimum ages assigned to them.
Accommodation: Cabins with sofa beds accommodate families of up to four people.
Child fares: Children pay the full adult fare.
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Croisieurope Family River Cruises
CroisiEurope is a French-owned, family-run river cruise line. These child-friendly river cruises are popular with families all year round, but particularly in the summer holidays.
Summer cruises with CroisiEurope have a kids club on-board so that children can have fun with new friends and parents can enjoy some quality time on their own. As well as the activities, sports and pool games, the children put on a show at the end of the cruise for parents to watch.
Whilst river cruises, on the whole, tend to be quite expensive, CroisiEuropes prices are very reasonable, so this river cruise line would make a great choice for families on a budget.
Minimum age to cruise with CroisiEurope: CroisiEurope has no minimum age to sail in Europe. For cruises in Russia, Asia and South Africa, the minimum age is seven years old.
Accommodation: One child can share with two adults. Or children can have the cabin next door from age five.
Child fares: In an odd twist to the norm, kids sail free during the school holidays in July and August on a selection of cruises in Spain, Portugal and Italy. At other times they receive a discount of 20%. For single parents, the single supplement is waived when travelling with children.
Showing Up For A Cruise Partially Vaccinated
Earlier this summer, Maxwell and his fiancee booked the Caribbean cruise. They would board the Equinox in Ft. Lauderdale on Aug. 1.
The itinerary of the cruise the couple would eventually miss because they arent fully vaccinated.
On the day of departure, the pair made their way to the port. They were especially excited as this cruise was more than a vacation the couple planned to marry during the trip.
We arrived at the port early as Celebrity instructed. Before the trip, we both took an RT-PCR test and received negative results. At check-in, we provided those results. We received the first round of the Moderna COVID vaccine, and we shared that information as well. Then, we went through four security checkpoints. At each station, the employees photographed our identification, our vaccination cards, and our negative coronavirus test results.
After that, we boarded the ship, went to our cabin, and unpacked for the eight-day cruise.
After unpacking, the two began exploring the Equinox. It was still several hours before the ships scheduled departure.
First, we had dinner, Maxwell recalled. We were happy to finally be on board, and we were ready to set sail!
But as the couple settled back into their cabin, the evening suddenly took a shocking turn.
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Adventures By Disney River Cruise
Typical starting price: $4,599 for 7 days
Where they sail: Danube, Rhine, Seine
Duration:;8 days
Specialty cruises: Danube Christmas markets, Oktoberfest, Rhine food and wine, Seine National Geographic photography
Amenities : High-speed Wi-Fi, gym, sun-deck, walking track, bikes for shore use, pool or whirlpool, fitness classes, salon, massage
Inclusions: All meals, unlimited beverages , daily excursions, all gratuities onboard and at restaurants, daily cocktail hour, select meals off the ship during excursions, onboard entertainment
Pros: Adventures by Disney guides add a wonderful touch to each journey with storytelling, educational information, and goes above and beyond to ensure every guest has a great time.
Cons: The ships aren’t “Imagineered.” In other words, if you are used to the added magic that occurs on a Disney Cruise Line, you won’t find that here.
Adventures by Disney, the guided, family vacation arm of the Walt Disney Company, offers unique journeys sprinkled with signature Disney magic. Each day, you’ll receive an enamel pin reflecting the day’s adventure such as Mickey dressed as Mozart or Donald cooking goulash.
The Adventures by Disney river cruises are designed for families, and their itineraries, both onboard and onshore, have something for every age group. Kids love the Junior Adventurer dinners or Disney movie nights, and there is also a Just Teens program with dinners and separate tour groups at various destinations.
Viking Ocean Cruises Review: Onboard An Adults
The cruise that is the subject of this review, along with all meals, lodging, etc., were provided at no cost to the writer.
Since 1997, Viking River Cruises has been making a name for itself by cruising through the worlds rivers on a fleet of elegantly appointed vessels small enough to navigate them. The fleet is currently up to 53 longships, and the company has been able to establish a loyal following by branding itself as The Thinking Persons Cruise, complete with curated onboard libraries, guest lecturers, a focus on the culture of the destinations, unique itineraries and excursions and an emphasis on serving regional cuisine.
River cruises come with certain limitations, though, like the size of the ships and an inability to traverse more open expanses of water. So in 2013, the company announced the launch of Viking Ocean Cruises, a fleet of nearly-identical cruise ships that while larger than the longships, are still much smaller than what youd expect from, say, Royal Caribbean. When offered the opportunity to travel aboard the Viking Sky on its Viking Homelands itinerary to Northern Europe, we accepted, eager to see how Viking Ocean Cruises ships stacked up against the competition.
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Life On Board A Viking River Cruise
What type of meals do you offer?An extensive full buffet breakfast with hot and cold choices; a three course lunch in the dining room or lighter lunch served in the lounge bar; and five course evening meal. The emphasis is on international cuisine based on fresh and seasonal produce.
Do Viking ships cater to vegetarians and special diets?Yes, provided the UK office is advised in advance and the maitre d informed when on board
What are the dress codes onboard a Viking River Cruise?During the day, casual with the emphasis on comfort as guests may be walking around towns and villages on their excursions. Sensible shoes, a raincoat and layers! In the evening, its smart casual open neck shirts, slacks and dresses. Captains welcome is more dressy but not formal, men generally wear a jacket
How should I tip on board staff?Tipping is not included in the holiday price, they are a personal way to show satisfaction and good service and always appreciated. The suggested amount is the equivalent of 10 euros a day which is then split among all shipboard staff. Additional tipping is at the discretion of the guest
What is inclusive of the price of booking, and what would I need pay extra for?Return travel to the point of embarkation and disembarkation, full board accommodation as detailed in the brochure, transfers, all port and airport taxes, and a full programme of escorted tours, wine with dinner, tea and coffee are available all day
Are hair-dryers provided in the cabins?Yes
Should You Book A Viking Cruise
My answer is a resounding yes. It’s a different way to travel and a great way to see the world. All of your belongings stay in one place making it easy to go from place to place there’s even laundry on board free of charge.
All of your costs are up front which is particularly nice in expensive places like Norway. Though the cruises are not for a backpacker’s budget, the value is exceptional. Michael and I were shocked by the level of service combined with the incredible food and options on board alone.
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Before You Board The Ship
One of the best parts about Viking cruises is that there is absolutely no hassle. It’s the most stress-free travel you can possibly have. When you arrive at your port of call you’ll be greeted by Viking staff as they usher you seamlessly to the destination.
Having cruised before, one of the most stressful parts is boarding the ship. You can wait in line hours trying to get through security, passport check, and finally receive your room card, to then be hassled over for the safety demonstration.
Here are some views you have while cruising with Viking:
Not with Viking. We had absolutely no line. The entire process took about five minutes. After friendly staff handed us our room key we were handed a cool glass of champagne and a hot towel.
Discover Europe On Our Family Cruises
On our A-ROSA family cruises we have very special offers for families. You can choose between cabins of all categories, optionally with an additional bed or a spacious family cabin. Our all-round carefree package Premium all inclusive will make your family holiday even more perfect. It includes a whole host of benefits and services, such as: gourmet buffets and live cooking, high-quality drinks throughout the day, 15 % discount on spa treatments, free Wi-Fi and much more.
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Uniworld Family River Cruises
Uniworld offers a boutique river cruising experience. Travel + Leisure magazine has named Uniworld as the Worlds Best River Cruise Line year after year. But this luxury river cruise line isnt just for adults.
Onboard Uniworlds opulent river boats, families can enjoy activities together, such as local language classes, craft workshops or making desserts with the help of the ships pastry chef. Theres even a Soda Sommelier serving soft drinks from local regions.
Parents can enjoy romantic meals together as children are entertained at the Young Travellers Table along with their new-found friends and Uniworlds dedicated Family Hosts.
There are lots of organised activities for children on-board, so parents get a break too. A lovely touch is that young travellers receive a surprise gift on their pillow each night of the cruise.
Minimum age to cruise with Uniworld: Children must be four years old or over.
Accommodation: Interconnectingrooms are available.
Child fares: Childrenaged 4 to 17 get a 25% discount when travelling with an adult .
We Spoke To Wendy Atkin
What is, in your opinion, special about the Viking River Cruises?We have a fleet of 18 ships, owned and operated by Viking, so we can guarantee the same excellent service wherever you are in the world.
The fleet is modern, spacious with the majority built since 2000.
Designed specifically to navigate the rivers they operate with ease.
Scandinavian influenced design gives ships a contemporary, sylish and comfortable feel with emphasis on fine woods, natural, neutral coloured fabrics and large picture windows.Every ship boasts an impressive observation lounge with panoramic windows giving the best views of the passing countryside.
Where do Viking River Cruises visit?Viking ships visit many towns and cities along the rivers and waterways they operate on their programme of itineraries in Russia, China, the Mekong and Europe. A new place is visited virtually every day
What are the most popular destinations and attractions?On each itinerary, a programme of escorted tours is included in the price and this showcases the main attractions of the place visited.
What are fellow passengers typically like on a Viking cruise?Like-minded travelling companions many of whom have travelled with Viking before. Passengers are generally well travelled.We welcome guests from all corners of the world with the majority from American, Australia and Europe. Passengers are looking for a more intimate holiday experience with the emphasis on relaxation in a comfortable environment.
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