Disney Cruise Line Next To Update Vaccination & Testing Protocols

Following in the wake of a number of other cruise lines recently, Disney Cruise Line has now updated its vaccination and testing protocols. The new update comes into effect on September 2, 2022. Read on to find out what changes are being made and how they could affect your cruise.

Disney Cruise Line updates vaccination and testing protocols

A number of other cruise lines have recently announced various changes to their COVID-19 vaccination and testing protocols. Next in line is Disney Cruise Line, which has announced new changes, coming into effect from September 2, 2022.

The changes include new age-based vaccination guidelines, including the youngest guests will no longer need to be fully vaccinated to sail after September 2. Other changes involve embarkation day testing for vaccinated passengers.

Current protocols require that all passengers aged 5 and older be fully vaccinated before sailing. However, from September 2, only passengers aged 12 and older must be fully vaccinated to sail with Disney Cruise Lines. Despite this, the newly updated protocols do recommend that passengers aged 11 and younger be fully vaccinated prior to sailing.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the definition of fully vaccinated means a complete series of primary vaccination doses received at least 14 days before embarkation. However, booster jabs are not required to be considered fully vaccinated. Passengers who are fully vaccinated are required to present proof that the vaccination was completed in the appropriate time frame prior to boarding.

Testing changes with Disney Cruise Line

Passengers that are fully vaccinated may take a pre-cruise test 1-2 days prior to boarding any Disney ship from a US or Canadian homeport. They are required to upload their negative test results to the Inspire Diagnostics Safe Passage website. Those that do so will now be exempt from a second pre-cruise test at the terminal on embarkation day.

The cruise line clarifies testing requirements on its “Know Before You Go” web page as follows:

Fully vaccinated guests who do not upload test results by midnight prior to embarkation day must be tested at the terminal on embarkation day before boarding the ship and will be charged for the cost of the test.

Meanwhile, initial antigen tests at the terminal cost $74 (US) per passenger. Should the passenger receive a positive result, a second, PCR test will be administered for $125 (US). If that test comes back positive, the passenger and their traveling party won’t be permitted to board the cruise ship.

In the case of Canadian homeports, the initial antigen test costs $95 (CAD) and $160 (CAD) for a second, PCR test, if required.

Testing for unvaccinated passengers

In the case of passengers who are not vaccinated, or who are unable to provide appropriate COVID-19 vaccination records before embarkation day, they must take a NAAT or PCR test 1-3 days prior to boarding the cruise ship. Please note that rapid antigen tests are not suitable in this case.

Meanwhile, passengers will be required to undergo another test at the cruise terminal, the cost of which is borne by Disney Cruise Line. Should the first test be positive, a second test will also be required.

As with vaccinated passengers, should the second test come back positive, the passenger and their traveling party will not be allowed to board. Moreover, they will be responsible for making their own travel arrangements to head home.

Other testing requirements on Disney Cruise Line

For those passengers with back-to-back sailings, they will still be required to test between voyages. Moreover, this is regardless of their vaccination status, age, or test results that were taken before the initial cruise.

Those who have recovered from the virus

Passengers who have recently recovered from the virus will still be able to board. Also, this may exempt them from pre-cruise testing. This depends on when the passenger last tested positive for the virus. Passengers in this situation should contact Disney Cruise Line for the latest updates.

It should be noted that, for all cruise lines, vaccination and testing requirements are still subject to change. Anyone who has already booked future sailings should keep in touch with their cruise line for any updated information.