As the situation with the COVID-19 pandemics, we’ve seen various changes made and new guidelines released.
One big industry that has yet to fully return since the start of the pandemic is the cruising industry. Recently, we shared that cruises may be able to begin sailing again from the U.S. this summer and now the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) has issued some updated guidance.
According to USA Today, the CDC released new guidance today for cruise ships with “instructions for trial voyages with volunteer passengers” which must take place before they can set sail with paying passengers under the CDC’s framework.
USA Today notes that the CDC now states that with the release of this guidance, “cruise ship operators now have all the necessary requirements and recommendations they need to start simulated voyages before resuming restricted passenger voyages and apply for a COVID-19 conditional sailing certificate to begin sailing with restricted passenger voyages.”
Recommendations and requirements are subject to change in the future, however, so that is something cruise line operators must keep in mind.
According to USA Today, cruise ships that require at least 95% of its passengers to be vaccinated, and require at least 98% of their crew members to be vaccinated, will be able to skip the test sailing requirement. Those cruise lines will be able to go straight to starting sailings with their paying passengers.
For those cruises that undergo the simulation phase, test cruises must have at least 10% passenger capacity, all volunteer passengers have to be at least 18 years old or older, and all volunteer passengers must either be fully vaccinated or they must provide “written documentation from a healthcare provider or self-certified statement that the volunteer passenger has no medical conditions that would place the volunteer at high risk for severe COVID-19 as determined through CDC guidance.”
All volunteer passengers also have to agree to certain COVID-19 testing requirements. Simulated voyages have to be between 2-7 days in length.
The CDC outlines a number of activities that have to be simulated onboard including onboard activities (like seating and meal service at dining and entertainment venues), recreational activities that the cruise intends to offer for future paying, restricted passenger voyages (like casinos, spa services, etc.), private-island shore excursions (if any are planned to be offered during future paying, restricted passenger voyages), and more.
Cruise lines must complete at least one simulation for each ship which they intend to use for restricted passenger voyages, unless the cruise line will be meeting those vaccination requirements that allow them to skip the testing phase. According to USA Today, however, “it is unclear when cruise operators will be able to begin test sailings. “
USA Today indicates that a CDC spokesperson has said cruise lines could start offering passenger voyages from the U.S. in mid-July, depending on their compliance with the CDC’s framework.
You can read the full CDC guidance here.
Right now, Disney has canceled all U.S. cruises through June, and select cruises are canceled through October. We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more updates regarding cruising and let you know what we find!
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Do you have a Disney Cruise booked for later this year? Tell us in the comments!
Roger Cutlass says
Every cruise line should simply shift to non-US ports and tell the CDC and it’s ‘requirements’ to get bent.
Christine de Klerk says
The CDC can’t make laws, and they fail to update their science books past May of 2020. The CDC has flipped flopped so many times nobody takes them seriously anymore. If you’re afraid, stay home, the rest of us have immune systems and would like to go back to real life now, thank you. The CDC can suck an egg. Cruise ships already have strict cleanliness guidelines and are some of the cleanest places on the planet. These “recommendations” do nothing but continue to hamstring business and pleasure all at the same time.
NC-Dad says
When the new Florida EOs regarding companies not being allowed to require vaccination proof for customers take effect on July 1, all the Florida based cruise companies will not be able to require vaccination proof for cruising. I know Carnival is based in Miami. Disney is based in Orlando. The new EO will make CDC “suggestions” invalid, as the CDC is not a legislative nor law enforcement body. I wonder if the cruise companies will move out of Florida JUST to spite science-based no-nonsense return to normalcy.
If you don’t want to return to normalcy, you have been brainwashed. Please don’t reply in that case.
Kelly says
Since children are not being vaccinated, how can disney fulfill the 95% rule? We have a cruise booked for September and are really hoping to go but we chose Disney because we have children.
John R says
How does one get to be a volunteer for a Disney cruise 😉
Mr . JOHN says
To go on a cruise to practice 10% could be 4,000 10 % = 400 passages . It is free I would like to see if anyone get sick and if they do they have to stay in there cabin and who is going to give medical help . If they all get sick they have to stay on the ship for how long . You get sick you might be on the ship for 2 weeks I do not think they are going to let you fly home . Disney is going to have many ,and many times they have to do practice .. I would not feel comfortable this year 2022 it would be more Sensible .Disney Cruise Line be smart and wait for a real cruise in 2022 .Disney you need s. the data to make it very safe . I know there will be people in line to be able to do this but be aware.
Arlene says
Any word yet on which way DCL will go on this? Either sailing with fully vaccinated passengers, or will they do the test cruise? I’m really curious to find out how they’re going to handle this situation when 50% of the ship is usually children and most of them under 12 years old. I know that Pfizer is working on a vaccine for 12 to 15 year olds, but there are many toddlers and younger children on Disney cruise line ships. So I’m wondering if you have heard any word on how Disney is going to handle this, and especially with the new Florida laws stating that “no one doing business in Florida can ask for proof of vaccination.” Florida really cut off it’s nose to spite it’s face with this one! This sort of ties Disney cruise lines hands as far as vaccinations go, which are so crucial to the well-being of their passengers. Vaccinations have proven so far to be highly effective in curtailing the spread of the coronavirus. So I’m really curious as to how DCL is going to go about handling this.
DFB Sarah says
Arlene, we’re curious, too. We will have to wait and see what Disney Cruise Line sets for its policies.