When Will Covid Vaccine Requirements Go Away
I think that its likely to be a requirement that is in place through this fall and winter, Gottlieb said. Im talking more about CDC and the policy environment. I think that the public health officials â CDC â is going to want to see what the epidemiology of this disease is when it gets to a quote, unquote, normal state.â
The decision depends largely on how the pandemic progresses and whether we see a new variant flare up.
I think CDC is going to want to see what does that looks like. Well hopefully get our first glimpse of that this year. This is like a transition year. Then theyll make decisions about whether or not they continue to require vaccines in certain settings,â he said,
Cruise lines have generally not been a priority for the CDC which kept the industry grounded for more than a year. Despite that, Gottlieb does see some light at the end of the tunnel.
The short answer to the question is: I think this is kind of a springtime thing from a CDC policy standpoint. They are going to want to make a decision around this after we get through another fall and winter with covid and see if we are truly in an endemic phase with this.
While vaccination requirements could go away in 2023, testing requirements are likely to continue for the foreseeable future .
Cruise Line & Cruise ShipCarnival Cruise LineDonald Wood June 23, 2022
Carnival Cruise Line announced updated rules and protocols for unvaccinated passengers sailing on its ships through the end of December.
Disney Cruise Line Sailing Will Require Covid Test And Vaccination
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Disney Cruise Line is set to resume sailing this summer in the UK. The Disney Magic will take 2, 3, and 4-night staycation sailings exclusive to UK residents.
Guests on these sailings will remain on the ship for the whole cruise. The ship will not stop at any ports of call, hence the name staycation.
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Disney has released more information regarding the health and safety measures that will be taken on these cruises, including vaccination requirements.
Per the Disney Cruise Line website, Guests will be required to meet health and safety requirements, including COVID-19 testing and full COVID-19 vaccination for adults 18 years of age and older.
All guests ages 18 and older will need to be fully vaccinated and guests under 18 will need to have a negative COVID-19 test result between 5 and 24 hours prior to sailing. Disney will contact guests prior to their cruise to let them know how to show proof of vaccination.
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Booking for these UK cruises is set to open April 28th for Golden Oak Club Members, April 29th for Disney Vacation Club Members and Adventures by Disney Insiders, and April 30th for the general public.
Stay tuned to Chip & Co for more Disney Cruise Line updates and info!
Current Vaccine And Testing Requirements For All Major Cruise Lines
Cruise Line & Cruise ShipLacey Pfalz August 09, 2022
Theres a lot of new news surrounding the CDCs recent ending of its COVID-19-related cruise requirements, and so far, plenty of cruise lines have been making amendments to their vaccination and testing requirements.
Check out the cruise lines below to learn about the current vaccine and testing requirements for each of the most popular cruise lines. Dont hesitate to check out their individual websites for more detailed information, especially if youll be heading on a cruise soon!
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Covid Vaccination Will Be Required On Disney Cruises To Bahamas
HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Aug. 26, 2021 — U.S. passengers aged 12 and older boarding Disney Cruise Line voyages to the Bahamas will have to start providing proof of COVID-19 vaccination as of Sept. 3, the company said Wednesday.
The new policy is in effect until November and requires passengers to be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before boarding and includes visitors to Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, CBS News reported.
Children younger than 12 will require proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken between five days and 24 hours before boarding, as well as a second negative test at the terminal.
It’s the first time Disney has issued a vaccination mandate for ships sailing from U.S. ports, CBS News reported.
Earlier this month, the Bahamas said it would require all cruise passengers 12 and older to show proof of vaccination.
A number of other cruise lines have announced mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies, CBS News reported.
More information
Disney Cruise Covid Testing And Vaccine Requirements This Summer
by Timothy Moore | May 24, 2022 | DCL News, Disney Cruise Line
Scroll on for the latest Disney Cruise COVID testing and vaccine requirements ahead of your summer voyage.
Disney Cruise Line continues to have stricter COVID-19 safety protocols than the parks, given the nature of cruises. If youve got a summer voyage planned on a Disney Cruise Line ship, including the new Disney Wish, its crucial that you know what to expect in terms of vaccine and testing requirements.
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Princess Cruises Removing Vaccine Requirement For Most Sailings
Princess Cruises has announced that they will be removing their vaccine requirement for most cruises that are less than 16 days starting on September 6, 2022. Starting September 6, vaccinated guests sailing on cruises of less than 16 days will no longer have to test before boarding and only need to upload proof of vaccination while getting OceanReady. Unvaccinated guests, or those who do not provide proof of vaccination, on those itineraries will self-test within three days of sailing and upload proof of a negative test before boarding.
These new guidelines apply to itineraries from all departure ports except where government regulations and protocols may vary like Canada, Greece and Australia.
Below are the key points for Princess updated CruiseHealth guidelines for embarkation:
No pre-cruise testing for vaccinated guests on voyages of up to 15 nights with the exception of full Panama Canal transits, trans-ocean and other special itineraries unvaccinated guests must provide a negative self-test result taken within three days of embarkation
Guests sailing on voyages 16 nights or longer, or sailing on full Panama Canal transits, trans-ocean and other specific itineraries, need to take a supervised test within three days of embarkation . Guests on these types of voyages will be contacted directly by an Ocean Navigator to assist.
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What To Know Before You Cruise
Vaccine and pretrip testing requirements can be confusing, especially if you are cruising internationally. Cruise lines have their own rules countries have their own rules. And the rules are constantly changing.
Before your trip, you will need to review your cruise lines health and safety protocols. In most cases, you will be expected to arrive at your ship with a negative COVID test resulteither a PCR test or tele-health-monitored antigen test, paid for by you. The cruise line may also require a test at the pier, paid for by the cruise line.
Unvaccinated children have more stringent requirements that may include a series of tests both precruise and on the ship.
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What If You Recently Recovered From Covid
If you recently recovered from COVID-19, you might still test positive. If a guest tests positive for COVID-19 within 11 to 90 days of their sail date, they might qualify to be considered 90-Day-Recovered. If the person qualifies and uploads the proper documents, they may not need to participate in the COVID-19 testing during the pre-sail, embarkation, or debarkation parts of their trip.
To qualify for this, youll have to upload the following to the Safe Passage website and bring it with you to the port:
- A copy of your previous positive COVID-19 test result which is greater than 11 days and less than 90 days from your expected sail date. The test must have been antigen, NAAT, rapid PCR or lab-based PCR. The test result must include your date of birth.
- A signed letter stating that you have recovered from COVID-19 in the last 90 days and are clear for travel.
- Vaccinated Guests must also upload proof of vaccination in addition to their 90-Day-Recovered documentation.
Princess Cruises Removes Vaccine Requirement For Most Voyages Elminates Pre
Unvaccinated Guests Required to Self-Test Within 3 Days of Sailing
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. Princess Cruises today announced updated COVID-19 protocols and guidelines, removing the vaccine requirement for most voyages of less than 16 days so that anyone can cruise, and adjusting pre-travel testing requirements to make it less complicated.
Starting Sept. 6, vaccinated guests sailing on voyages of less than 16 days will no longer have to test before boarding and only need to upload proof of vaccination while getting OceanReady. Unvaccinated guests, or those who do not provide proof of vaccination, on those itineraries will self-test within three days of sailing and upload proof of a negative test before boarding.
These new guidelines apply to itineraries from all departure ports except where government regulations and protocols may vary like Canada, Greece and Australia.
Below are the key points for Princess updated CruiseHealth guidelines for embarkation:
- No pre-cruise testing for vaccinated guests on voyages of up to 15 nights with the exception of full Panama Canal transits, trans-ocean and other special itineraries unvaccinated guests must provide a negative self-test result taken within three days of embarkation
Princess updated guidelines reflect the cruise lines ongoing commitment to providing a safe and healthy environment for all guests and crew.
The updated guidelines are subject to the local regulations of applicable homeports and destinations.
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Can I Get A Covid Test At The Embarkation Port From The Cruise Line
Some cruise lines offer covid testing at the terminal as an option, but not all.
In some cases, the testing is only available as a backup option, in case your testing options prior to the sailing fall through. A few will offer testing at the terminal as a primary option.
Youâll need to check with your cruise line as to if they offer any testing at the embarkation port, but you should not count on it being an option.
If youâre travelling internationally for your cruise, you could bring an acceptable at-home Covid test with you, or make an appointment for a test at the airport you fly into.
In nearly all cases, the pre-cruise covid test you take will be your financial responsibility.
Requirements For Cruise Passengers Visiting Europe
Guests on sailings departing from and arriving at homeports in Europeincluding Barcelona, Spain Civitavecchia, Italy Dover, England and Copenhagen, Denmarkare required to adhere to the following COVID-19 vaccination and testing protocols.
COVID-19 VaccinationDisney Cruise Line requires all vaccine-eligible Guests to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time of sailing , as defined by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization . This is a requirement for all guests ages 5 and older.
In consideration of guidance from the CDC and WHO, Disney Cruise Line accepts the following vaccine types: Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, Covishield, Novavax, Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV , Sinovac-CoronaVac and Covavaxin .
The CDC defines fully vaccinated as 14 days after receiving:
- A single dose of an accepted 1-dose vaccine
- A second dose of an accepted 2-dose vaccine
- A full series of an active COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S.-based AstraZeneca or Novavax COVID-19 vaccine trials
- A second dose of any mix-and-match combination of accepted COVID-19 vaccines
See below for additional information about country-specific government entry requirements.
For sailings departing European ports before July 30, 2022, all Guests will be required to take a COVID-19 test at the terminal before boarding on embarkation day.
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Norwegian Celebrity Policies Require 5+ Age Group To Be Vaccinated
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., parent company to Norwegian Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises, instituted a 100% vaccination requirement in April and announced earlier this month that it would remain in place indefinitely.
There are no exemptions, including no age-related exemptions, to the 100% vaccination requirement.
The announcement came on the heels of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s approval for children ages 5 through 11 to be vaccinated. Frank Del Rio, president and CEO of Norwegian, said on an earnings call that the move would “allow for an expanded group of 100% vaccinated guests, especially families to sail on our brand.”
Similarly, Celebrity Cruises, a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group, said on its website that that “all crew and guests who are eligible to be vaccinated must be vaccinated in order to sail with us.”
And Holland America Line, a Carnival Corp. cruise line, said on its website that through Feb. 28, its cruises “are available for guests who have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine and have proof of vaccination.”
Earlier this month, Holland America announced a promotion to encourage sailing with vaccinated children offering that passengers “aged 5 to 17 sailing as the third and fourth guests in the same stateroom” would cruise for free an offer available on some holiday sailings and other itineraries into spring to be reserved by Thursday.
Carnival Royal Caribbean And More To Drop Vaccination Requirements For Select Sailings
Four major cruise lines are dropping their vaccination requirements for some sailings next month, the cruise lines said.
Carnival Cruise Line will no longer require unvaccinated guests to apply for an exemption in order to sail as of Sep. 6, according to a news release. That does not include voyages in Australia or trips that are 16 or more nights, and the changes are subject to local restrictions.
Princess Cruises will also remove vaccination requirements on “most voyages of less than 16 days so that anyone can cruise” starting Sept. 6, according to a news release Friday. Princess currently requires unvaccinated guests to have a vaccine exemption before they can sail, according to its website.
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Similarly, Royal Caribbean will welcome all travelers, regardless of vaccination status, as well on sailings from Los Angeles, New Orleans, Galveston, Texas, and Europe beginning Sept. 5 “as long as testing requirements are met,” a spokesperson told USA TODAY via email Thursday.
“We are collaborating with local governments throughout the Caribbean to align on vaccination requirements for additional itineraries,” the spokesperson added.
Royal Caribbean currently requires guests 12 and older to show proof of vaccination before they can sail from North America, according to its website.
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Cunard Luxury Cruise Line
Vaccination Requirements: Guests over the age of 16 are required to be fully vaccinated and have their booster shot a minimum of one week before sailing. Children ages 5-15 are required to be fully vaccinated but do not need a booster shot. Children ages 5-11 are eligible to apply for a vaccination exemption.
Testing Requirements: All guests 5 and older are required to take an official negative COVID-19 test before embarking.
Mask Mandates: Masks are not required on board, but are required during embarkation, disembarkation, and at certain port centers.
Destination Requirements: While Cunard does not have any regulations on who may go ashore during the sailing, all passengers are still required to comply with any and all local protocols.
For more information, please see here.
How Requirements Could Change In The Future
One final thing to know is that requirements could change in the future.
Up until July 2022, cruise lines followed the CDCs voluntary program for Covid protocols on cruise ships. However, the health agency ended that program, giving cruise lines more leeway on how to implement rules around things like testing and vaccines.
As the world has learned to live alongside the virus and it appears less severe, restrictions have eased around the world and on cruise ships. It is possible that vaccine mandates put in place could ease as well. For example, Virgin Voyages recently went from requiring all passengers to have the vaccine to 90%.
You should look to your specific cruise line for the latest details on their policy. We expect that over time cruise lines will move toward being more relaxed on vaccine requirements. At this time, however, the vast majority of passengers must have the shot.
Below weve listed policies for major cruise lines. While all cruise lines offer the ability for younger kids to sail without the vaccine, those with an asterisk indicate cruise lines with exemptions for adults.
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Disney Cruises To Require Covid
Disney Cruise Line in January will require that all passengers 5 years and older be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, expanding the company’s mandate to include younger children aboard its ships.
Disney, which operates four ships, is the first cruise line to update its policy with a requirement for children ages 5 to 11, who only recently became eligible for the vaccine.
The updated policy takes effect on January 13, 2022, Disney said. Until that date, Parents of kids under 5 years of age must show proof of a negative test for a child between three days and 24 hours ahead of departure. The requirements apply to sailings in the U.S. and abroad.
The requirements align with Disney’s policy stating all vaccine-eligible guests be immunized against COVID-19.
Th Food and Drug Administration late last month approved kid-size doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children as young as 5, as now recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Disney and most other large cruise lines now require passengers 12 and older to be fully vaccinated. Some have allowed unvaccinated children onboard with a pre-departure coronavirus test, but the numbers are limited due to policies requiring at least 95% of passengers to be immunized.
Norwegian Cruise Line requires all passengers and crew be fully vaccinated, including eligible children, and bars ineligible children from boarding its ships.