COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements Are CHANGING for a Major Cruise Line

One of the industries hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic was the cruise line industry.

Once cruise lines were able to operate again, certain health and safety measures were put in place with specific requirements for COVID-19 testing and vaccination for all passengers. But one cruise line has recently changed its vaccination policy for many of its sailings.

Carnival Cruise Line has ended its vaccine requirement for many of its cruises. According to Carnival’s website, new guidelines will be in place for COVID-19 requirements for cruises that depart on September 6th, 2022, or later.

Under these updated guidelines, “Vaccinated guests must continue to provide evidence of their vaccination status prior to embarkation. 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.”

The rules note that “unvaccinated guests are welcome to sail and are no longer required to apply for a vaccine exemption, except for cruises in Australia or on voyages 16 nights and longer.”

However, unvaccinated guests or those who do not have proof of vaccination must provide the results of a negative PCR or antigen test taken within three days of getting on the cruise. Also, “guests under the age of five years are exempt from vaccination and testing requirements from the United States and under the age of 12 from Australia.”

This comes after the CDC ended its required COVID-19 policies back in July. Since then, other cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages, have updated their COVID-19 testing policies.

After September 5th, 2022, COVID-19 vaccination requirements for Royal Caribbean Cruises will also be changing, but only at select ports.

Disney Cruise Line still requires ALL guests who are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine (based on U.S. eligibility standards) to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This requirement is in place for all guests ages 5 and up.

Disney also requires fully vaccinated guests sailing from U.S. and Canadian ports to provide a negative COVID-19 test result no more than 2 days before setting sail to be exempt from the required embarkation COVID-19 testing at the terminal. Here’s a complete guide to Disney’s COVID-19 policies.