Disney Cruise Line is going to start asking US passengers to show proof of vaccination against COVID19 by next month. Starting September 3, Disney will require vaccination for passengers 12 and older. They need to complete their vaccination doses 14 days before boarding any ship that heads to the Bahamas. This includes trips to Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.
Children younger than 12 years old are exempted from this policy. However, they will need to show a negative COVID19 PCR test taken 1-5 days before boarding. Then, there will be a second test at the terminal.
Disney to Require Vaccination Amid Surge
Companies start requiring vaccination following the Food and Drug Administration’s full approval of Pfizer’s COVID vaccine. The decision by the agency came Monday as COVID cases increased once again because of the Delta variant. In the last month alone, 19,000 Americans died of COVID19.
Disney decided to require vaccination for Bahamas trips after the Bahamas issued an emergency order earlier this month. The Bahamas started requiring passengers 12 and up to show proof of vaccination.
Disney isn’t the only cruise operator to update its policy for Bahamas trips. Royal Caribbean updated its policy last week. Royal Caribbean will also require passengers 12 and up to be fully vaccinated. This goes for all cruises departing from any US port. The new mandate will take effect by September 3 for cruises leaving from Florida to the Bahamas.
Fully Vaccinated Adults Testing Positive
The prevalence of the delta variant made the return of cruises more difficult. A fully vaccinated passenger aboard the Carnival Vista died this week because of COVID19 complications.
Recently, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued updated guidance discouraging high-risk groups from cruising. This includes seniors and those who have pre-existing conditions that can develop into a severe case of COVID.
