Recently, Disney Cruise Line updated their Know Before You Go website with details on Ports of Call and restrictions for unvaccinated children now that the ships are expanding out and visiting ports other than just Castaway Cay. Before we go any further discussing the debarkation policy’s unvaccinated children statement it is important to know that the restriction does NOT apply at Castaway Cay based on additional information that was shared with travel agents – I still haven’t found this statement on DCL’s Know Before You Go page, however, I was able to confirm via DCL’s live chat.
Disney Cruise Line’s requirements for guest going ashore is based on CDC guidance. All Guests are required to be vaccinated in order to explore ports of call at their own leisure, except at Castaway Cay. Guests who are vaccinated and wish to disembark the ship with unvaccinated children will need to purchase a Disney Cruise Line Port Adventure, except when at Castaway Cay.
The port of call debarkation policy referenced above is based on the details published on October 13, 2013. As we all know, the policy could change at any time so please always refer to DCL’s Know Before You Go pages as well as direct communications specific to your sailing for the most up to date and accurate information.
Hi! I’m a little late in following this – but does this apply to children under 12 who can NOT be vaccinated because there is no vaccine available? So all unvaccinated children under 12 – must be a DCL port adventure? Thank you for clarifying! I’m sure I’ve missed updates elsewhere…
This is my understanding.
I guess if you purchase a Disney excursion you don’t spread covid.
No, it’s for contract tracing.
@Cathy: Also, if you’re on a DCL excursion – everyone you’re with has tested negative. If you’re not on a DCL excursion, the risk of coming into contact with a Covid positive person increases.
While I’m not trying to be controversial, I guess it depends on which port excursion you choose. We went on many port excursions where we stopped at shopping areas open to locals, other cruise ships, etc. There was much mingling with non-port excursion people. Unless they don’t offer those kinds of port excursions, many are hard to control whom you come in contact with.
I agree, I wasn’t going to comment anymore on this but you are correct. We normally go on 7 cruises a year and I have done many excursions and you are near many people who are not on the cruise so I really don’t understand this other than it is another grab by Disney to sell excursions. I really don’t see how Disney can control this unless everyone you come in contact with has been tested daily and even that guarantees nothing. If they don’t offer certain excursions because of that you are really just paying money to do something just to get off the ship. Not my idea of fun.
Cathy – our understanding is that Disney excursions are for right now only going to have Disney cruise people – no mixing of other cruise lines or ships – and the excursions especially ones that have kids not yet eligible for vaccination – will be ship to ship stopping for the excursion only – no shopping or drop offs to walk back to the ship – and during the excursion Disney groups at minimum social distancing from other excursion groups – there are many, many specific guidelines to having excursions at all. Disney is trying to make things work the best they can for everyone. Many, including our family, appreciate Disney’s efforts.
@Scarrpinginontario and @Cathy: Because of Covid, many things, including the way excursions are run, have changed to follow safety protocols. Those outside interactions that used to happen on excursions are specifically not happening right now in order to limit possibilities of exposure to a Covid positive person and potentially putting people on board at unnecessary risk. It is very smart and admirable the way that DCL is doing everything to safely sail and to keep the safety of crew, cast and guests as paramount importance.
Yes I understand. I am leaving on a cruise in 15 days and did not notice much difference in the excursions listed so I was just curious as to their reasoning. We are not traveling with children.
When are they / we going to stop listening to the CDC? The CDC continues to be wrong over and over again. Me and my family will risk cold and flu symptoms over blood clots and heart inflammation any day. Especially for something that can be treated quickly with OTC prophylactics.
Marcus – could it be this is a Disney requirement not the CDC – could it be Disney being careful – your statements are wrong – even people who had beliefs like yours, who lay dying, begging unbelievers to accept this is a real and a horrible illness, not a cold or flu, pleading with people to get vaccinated. Millions, worldwide have been vaccinated. Are there a few with side effects? Yes. Are the vast, vast majority 99%+ doing well with the vaccine? Yes. Most people have taken vaccines their entire lives. There are no OTC prophylactics. It is silly to think that people will go to a farm supply store and purchase livestock medicine (not intended for people and many people who have taken it end up sick or dead) over a vaccine created for humans. Bottom line – this is Disney’s business and if you do not want to follow Disney’s rules – that is fine – but be willing to accept the consequences of your decision without complaining. Know that many Disney fans are thankful for the positions that Disney has taken.
Wow. Critical thinking is in short supply.
I’m amazed that there are people who think a vaccine that has helped millions will either kill or harm them, while believing a virus has harmed and killed millions wont. Critical thinking is indeed in short supply.
@Marcus Almost 750,000 Americans dead and many thousands more suffering with long term Covid and this is still your takeaway? It shouldn’t have to happen to you, to matter to you. I, and many others, are grateful that DCL continues to keep the safety of its crew, cast members and guests of utmost importance.
If you don’t feed the troll (Marcus) he will go away.
@ Walter & R……….Amen.?
You speak for many of us. Thanks.
We just got off a DCL cruise on Monday 10/11/21. Our kids are too young for the vax and by the time we found out we couldn’t take them off the ship, the only excursion available to all of us was a $31/$41 “Wine Country Tour”. It wasn’t an option to leave the kids in the Oceaneers Club because it was full (15 kid limit per 2 hr reservation). You also had to physically remove them from Oceaneers at the end of the 2 hours, wait about 20 min, then walk them down to be rescanned back in. No point in getting off the ship for less than 2 hours. Still had fun on the ship but not what we hoped for when we boarded. We were informed of the change after we boarded.
My wife and I are going with our 2 girls who are too young to be vaccinated. We all recently recovered from Covid and will not have to do the pretesting to embark (Per Safe Passage if recovered within 90 days), so my toddlers will be much safer than anyone vaccinated. Does anyone know if Covid recovered toddlers still have to do a Disney Port Adventure to visit ports of call? Disney customer service reps read the general website info, and told me they still do, but they also told me we would still have to get tested to embark, which we do not. ( I know they are doing their best with the fluid situation). From a safety standpoint, requiring covid recovered, unvaccinated toddlers to still go on a Port Adventure when others who have not recovered from Covid in the last 90 days can go freely doesn’t make sense (vaccinated or not).