Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line further lift COVID-19 requirements

Thursday, November 3, 2022

Royal Caribbean International has further rolled back its COVID-19 requirements.

The cruise line is no longer requiring pre-cruise testing on most sailings, according to its website.

Royal Caribbean previously dropped its vaccine requirement for many sailings in September, but unvaccinated guests were still required to test before boarding.

Guests 12 and older who are not fully vaccinated on cruises from the United States and the Caribbean with stops in Colombia, Haiti or Honduras need to take a test within three days before their cruise.

All passengers 2 and older sailing from Australia also need to test prior to boarding, as do those 5 and up on transatlantic cruises.

Disney Cruise Line will make a similar move later this month.

The cruise line will no longer require unvaccinated passengers to take a test prior to boarding on sailings from the United States as of November 14, according to its website.

Disney Cruise Line announced plans to drop its vaccination requirement in September.

Passengers age 5 and older on sailings through Nov. 13 must either provide proof of vaccination or the results of a test taken between one and two days prior to sailing.

Disney Cruise Line continues to “highly” recommend that all passengers be fully vaccinated.

Other cruise lines change COVID-19 rules

Royal Caribbean and Disney’s changes come as other cruise lines have similarly dropped remaining COVID rules.

Virgin Voyages dropped all testing and vaccine requirements for its ships. The changes took effect for its Scarlet Lady vessel Oct. 28, and for Valiant Lady on Oct. 30, according to its website.

Major lines including Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, and Princess Cruises also removed all remaining testing and vaccination requirements for many voyages in recent weeks.

Many cruise lines began easing their pandemic health and safety requirements after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ended its COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships in July.

Image Credit: Royal Caribbean Press Center

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