BREAKING: Disney Cruise Line to Require All Guests 5+ To Be Fully Vaccinated for Sailings Starting In 2022
Disney guests and travel professionals are all a buzz after the latest announcement to be made about Disney Cruise Line sailings. Starting January 13th, 2022 guests departing on Disney Cruise Lines will be required to be fully vaccinated if they are age 5 and older.
The following is a memo that will be sent out to guests on affected sailings:
“All of us at Disney Cruise Line hope you and your family are staying well. We are reaching out with important updated information about the COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements for your sailing.
As we welcome Guests aboard our ships, the health and safety of our Guests, Cast Members and Crew Members is a top priority. We have resumed sailing in a gradual, phased approach that emphasizes multiple layers of health and safety measures, developed considering guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other medical experts.
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements
Currently, Disney Cruise Line continues to require all vaccine-eligible Guests (based on U.S. eligibility requirements) to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time of sailing, as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This will be a requirement for all Guests (U.S. and international) ages 5 and older for sailings beginning on and after January 13, 2022.
In consideration of guidance from the CDC and the World Health Organization, Disney Cruise Lines accepts the following vaccine types: Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, Covishield, Novavax, Sinopharm, and Sinovac.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines fully vaccinated as 14 days after receiving:
a single-dose of an accepted 1-dose vaccine
the second dose of an accepted 2-dose vaccine
the full series of an active (not placebo) COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S.-based AstraZeneca or Novavax COVID-19 vaccine trials
the second dose of any “mix-and-match” combination of accepted COVID-19 vaccines (administered at least 17 days apart)
Pre-Trip COVID-19 Testing:
Guests who are not vaccine-eligible, because of age, must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result (paid for by the Guest) taken between 3 days and 24 hours before their sail date. Guests ages 5-11 may complete these testing requirement in lieu of being fully vaccinated for sailings that depart before January 13, 2022. Guests 4 years of age and under must complete these testing requirements.
The test should be a NAAT test, rapid PCR test or lab-based PCR test. Rapid antigen tests are not accepted. Disney Cruise Line has secured a special rate of $98.33 per PCR test (which includes a 3.5% processing fee) through our third-party vendor, Inspire Diagnostics. Guests may also obtain their test from any independent testing supplier.
Safe Passage website, by Inspire Diagnostics:
In order to sail, all Guests (adults and children, regardless of age) must upload their proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test results on the Safe Passage website by Inspire Diagnostics. A parent or legal guardian will need to use their own account to provide this information on behalf of minors. To learn more about how to provide proof of your negative COVID-19 test result, please visit Before Leaving Home: Know Before You Go.
After appropriate documents have been uploaded and reviewed by Inspire, Guests should see the words “Clear to Arrive” in the Pre-Sail Screening section when they log into their account before arriving at the port.
It is also recommended that Guests bring a copy of their proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 PCR test result with them to the port. If you have any questions about your Safe Passage registration or status, please contact 877-250-5132.
Embarkation COVID-19 Testing:
In consideration of guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, all Guests (regardless of age and vaccination status) are required to take a COVID-19 test (paid for by Disney Cruise Line and administered by Inspire Diagnostics) at the terminal before boarding. This will be the second of two COVID-19 PCR tests required for unvaccinated Guests. Guests with positive COVID-19 test results—as well as those sharing the same stateroom and their close contacts—will be denied boarding.
Debarkation Day COVID-19 Antigen Testing
All unvaccinated Guests on 5-night and longer sailings are required to take a COVID-19 antigen test (paid for by Disney Cruise Line) on the ship the day before debarking.
Online Check-in:
You must complete Online Check-in beginning 30 days prior to your sailing. You will need to submit the required documents as well as select a Port Arrival Time. All Guests, including our Platinum Castaway Club Guests, will need to select a Port Arrival Time. It’s important you arrive at the terminal on time. Guests arriving prior to their selected arrival time will be asked to return at the appropriate time; and Guests arriving after their scheduled time may be delayed and asked to wait behind those arriving at their scheduled time. Online Check-in can be completed or modified up to one day prior to sailing. After completing Online Check-in, you will receive a Port Arrival Form by email. Bring this with you to the port to expedite your arrival.
Going Ashore:
Considering guidance from the CDC, fully vaccinated Guests who wish to disembark the ship while in a port of call can do so on their own. Guests who are vaccinated and wish to disembark the ship with unvaccinated children, in any port of call other than Disney Castaway Cay, will need to purchase a Disney Cruise Line Port Adventure for their party. Additional details about going ashore can be found in the Ports of Call: Know Before You Go section of our website.
My Plans:
Download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app or go online to make advance reservations that are necessary for participating in youth activities or reserve premium experiences like beverage tastings and dinner at Palo. You’ll be able to reserve these experiences once your reservation is paid in full and you are within your Castaway Club booking window. At this time, we are still finalizing some of the onboard activity offerings and Port Adventures for your sailing and encourage you to continue checking back as new inventory becomes available.
Guests sailing on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy through May 30, Disney Magic through May 8 and Disney Wonder through April 17, 2022, may modify their sail date or cancel their sailing without any Disney-imposed cancellation fees by contacting their travel agent by December 1, 2021. Please note that cancellation fees imposed by third-party suppliers, including airlines, as well as travel insurance, are not refundable. Refunds will be processed back to the original form of payment. Standard cancellation policies and terms and conditions apply for any cancellation or modification requests received on or after December 2, 2021.
We look forward to welcoming you aboard soon.
Sincerely,
The Cast and Crew
Disney Cruise Line”
While the memo outlines the acceptable forms of the vaccine variants, it also notes that proof of vaccination will also need to be uploaded to the check in portal prior to embarkation. Guests that are 11-5 years of age are still allowed the current protocol that will stay in place for guests younger than that going forward as being able to provide an approved negative COVID-19 testing.
As noted, this new policy will go into effect with sailings starting on January 13th, 2022. As STM learns more, we will be certain to update any additional information or announcements.
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