Disney Cruise Line Reminds Guests of Health & Safety Precautions

Disney Cruise Line has recently sent reminders to upcoming cruise passengers advising them that the health and safety of the ships’ crew and guests remains a top priority. Keeping this in mind, DCL continues to take important steps to help prevent the spread of illness onboard their ships.

Given the recent increase in COVID-19 cases around the world, including Omicron and the newest “IHU” variant, along with the CDC’s recommendation last week to “avoid cruising”, DCL has provided guests with an important reminder about the health and safety measures they have in place. They also took a moment to reiterate that it is very important that we all work together and follow these protocols for the health and well-being of everyone on board.

This information is being distributed via email to all guests on sailings departing January 1-17, 2022, but we thought we’d share it with all of you who are tossing around the idea of going on a Disney cruise later this year.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements

It’s important that all guests adhere to Disney Cruise Line’s COVID-19 testing and vaccination requirements. As a reminder, all guests 12 and over must be fully vaccinated to sail and beginning January 13th, this will be expanded to all guests ages 5 and over. While not required, DCL also encourages those who are eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster before sailing. COVID-19 vaccination requirements are listed on the Know Before You Go website.

COVID-19 Testing Requirements

Guests who are not vaccine-eligible because of age must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result taken between 3 days and 24 hours before their sail date. All guests (regardless of age and vaccination status) are required to take a COVID-19 PCR test at the terminal before boarding. Guests with positive COVID-19 test results – as well as those sharing the same stateroom and their close contacts – will be denied boarding. COVID-19 testing requirements are listed on the Know Before You Go website.

Embarkation Day Health Questionnaire and Health Acknowledgement

All guests are required to complete a health questionnaire prior to arriving at the terminal. The form can be found on the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App on Embarkation Day. In addition, an email will be sent to all guests with a link where they can fill out the questionnaire. Guests may also review the health acknowledgment here: https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/why-cruise-disney/experience-updates/us/.

Crew Member Vaccination and Testing

Disney Cruise Line crew members are fully vaccinated, and those who are eligible are provided with booster shots. Crew members are tested for COVID-19 multiple times per week. 

Face Coverings

All guests (ages 2 and up, including those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19) are required to wear face coverings indoors. Exceptions include when guests are in their staterooms or actively eating or drinking. Face coverings may be required in ports of call based on local government requirements. 

Physical Distancing

Since resuming operations, guest capacity aboard the Disney ships has been reduced and experiences have also been adjusted to promote physical distancing. It’s important that guests pay attention to signs placed throughout the ship that provide friendly reminders to keep their distance from others outside of their travel party. 

Hand Hygiene 

Throughout the cruise, DCL asks that guests wash or sanitize their hands regularly. The number of hand-sanitizing stations has increased throughout the ships, and crew members are there to provide friendly reminders, especially before entering food and beverage locations.

Self-Care

It’s vitally important for guests to take care of their health and the health of others onboard by immediately contacting the medical center should they feel unwell or start to experience any symptoms of COVID-19. Appointments to evaluate COVID-19 symptoms at the medical center are free of charge. 

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. 

DCL will also work with local governments in the ports that they visit to monitor the public health environment of each destination. If it becomes necessary to cancel a visit to a port during an upcoming sailing, they will look for alternate destinations or spend a day at sea en route to the next destination. 

It is also important to mention that some onboard experiences may be paused, modified or cancelled during an upcoming sailing as adjustments may be needed to promote the health and safety of everyone onboard.

Even with these measures in place, an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. There are multiple layers of health and safety protocols in place that meet or exceed CDC guidelines to help manage any cases that may occur onboard.

As a reminder, Disney Cruise Line has put a temporary flexible refund policy in place. Within 14 days of sailing, guests with COVID-19-related health concerns (symptoms or exposure) can receive a full refund to their original form of payment without Disney-imposed cancellation fees or apply their cruise fare toward a future sail date.

As always, if you’d like the assistance of an Earmarked Disney travel planner, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Dreams Unlimited Travel – the official sponsor of DCL Fan – for your no-obligation quote.

If you book your Disney Cruise Line vacation through Dreams Unlimited Travel, you will receive a shipboard credit of up to $1000 plus a complimentary gift basket.

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