Could Disney Cruise Line start requiring vaccine documentation?

Yesterday Norwegian Cruise Line revealed that a federal judge ruled to temporarily halt enforcement of a Florida State Law prohibiting businesses from requiring customers to show proof of vaccination.

According to CNBC U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams granted the preliminary injunction, allowing Norwegian to require vaccine documentation from customers while the case heads to trial. 

Does this mean that other Cruise Lines including Disney will be able to require vaccine documents before guests can sail?

Here is Disney Cruise Line vaccination status and testing information:

Related – Port Canaveral gets ready for cruising to return

• COVID-19 Vaccination: Disney Cruise Line strongly encourages all eligible Guests to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before sailing. Guests who are fully vaccinated may choose to provide proof of vaccination in order to be exempt from pre-trip and Embarkation Day testing requirements (unless arriving from outside the United States) and travel insurance requirements. Keep in mind, vaccinated Guests arriving from outside the United States who are required to undergo the rapid test on Embarkation Day will not be charged for the test. Additionally, travel insurance is not required for vaccinated Guests arriving from outside the United States on sailings originating in the United States. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers people to be fully vaccinated 14 days after the final dose has been administered.
• Pre-Trip COVID-19 Testing: All Guests (adults and children) must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test (paid for at the Guest’s expense) taken between 5 days and 24 hours prior to the sail date. 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 PCR test from any independent testing supplier. Guests who are fully vaccinated may choose to provide proof of vaccination instead of undergoing COVID-19 pre-trip testing.
• Embarkation COVID-19 Testing: All Guests (adults and children) are required to undergo a rapid PCR COVID-19 test administered by Inspire Diagnostics at the terminal prior to boarding. Guests with positive COVID-19 test results, as well as those in their travel party, will be denied boarding. The $65 test fee will be charged to the folio of all Guests 12 years and older. Disney Cruise Line acts as the paying agent for Inspire Diagnostics and will remit the entire cost of the COVID-19 test to Inspire Diagnostics. Guests who are fully vaccinated may choose to provide proof of vaccination instead of undergoing COVID-19 Embarkation Day testing.
• Travel Insurance: For cruises departing from Florida through December 31, 2021, Guests 12 years of age and older must provide proof of a valid travel insurance policy that meets coverage requirements. Guests who are fully vaccinated may choose to provide proof of vaccination instead of obtaining travel insurance.
• Embarkation Day Health Questionnaire: Guests are required to complete a health questionnaire related to COVID-19 and gastrointestinal illnesses on Embarkation Day. Guests are also required to attest as to whether they have experienced or are currently experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, or have been in contact with anyone suspected of or confirmed as having COVID-19 within the previous 14 days.
• Face Coverings: All Guests (ages 2 and up, including those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19) are required to wear face coverings indoors, except when in their staterooms or actively eating or drinking (while stationary and maintaining an appropriate physical distance). Face coverings are not required for Guests outdoors while on board the ship and at designated locations on Disney Castaway Cay. See “Top Things You Need to Know” below to learn more about face covering requirements.
• Hand Sanitizers: The number of hand-sanitizing stations has increased throughout our ships.
• Signage: Additional signage has been installed highlighting recommendations from health authorities on physical distancing, coughing etiquette and proper handwashing.
• Reduced Guest Capacity and Physical Distancing: Considering guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other medical experts, we’re reducing overall Guest capacity in our terminal and aboard our ships, and modifying our experiences to promote physical distancing.
• Reimagined Experiences: While some experiences have been modified to accommodate new health and safety measures, you can be sure entertainment to inspire is always front-and-center for the entire family. Our ships are overflowing with magic—from Characters delighting Guests in new and entertaining ways to Broadway-style spectaculars.
• World-Class Dining: We’re serving up diverse global cuisines and classic casual bites inside themed restaurants peppered with Disney magic. Quick-service food and beverage locations still offer all-you-care-to-eat treats with service attendants available to help you satisfy your cravings at select times.
• Onboard Medical Capabilities: While we are taking a multi-layered approach to help promote health and wellness, we have a plan for managing any suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19. We have added a Public Health Officer and continue to staff our ships with nurses and physicians experienced in emergency or critical care and certified in advanced cardiac care and life support. We have developed protocols for screening for and responding to symptoms of COVID-19. Appointments with the Health Center to evaluate COVID-19 symptoms are free of charge. Medical facilities are equipped with isolation, monitoring care, ventilators, oxygen, laboratory and pharmacy services. The ship’s medical staff adheres to the requirements of the American College of Emergency Physician Health Care Guidelines for Cruise Ship Medical Facilities.
• Crew Members: All Crew Members will be screened for symptoms of illness before every shift. Crew Members showing any symptoms or feeling unwell will refrain from working.

As of right now, guests do not need to be vaccinated to cruise but as you can see above there is lots of testing to make sure that you or your family are not bringing COVID onboard the cruise ship.

The Disney Magic at Sea sailings from the UK already require guests to be vaccinated, and they perform a rapid test before boarding.

Related – Enter to Win a Disney Cruise aboard Disney Wish in Summer 2022!

At this time, it is not yet known if Disney will follow the Norwegian Cruise Line’s lead and begin asking for passenger COVID vaccination status before they board the Disney Cruise Line.

No changes to the Policies listed above have been announced. All eyes are on the Disney Cruise Line sailings in August to see if what is in play works or if modifications will have to be put in place for guests.

Stay tuned to Chip and Co for more…

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