Know Before You Go Updates: COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement Sailing Away Soon – Unvaccinated Guests Still Required to Test

Disney Cruise Line updated their Know Before You Go pages on September 27th with a change in the COVID-19 vaccination requirement. Disney Cruise Line will be dropping the vaccination requirement allowing unvaccinated guest to sail with a negative test. The sail dates vary by ship with the majority of the fleet dropping the vaccination requirement mid-October, followed in November by the Disney Magic.

DCL Know Before You Go 20220927

Beginning October 14, 2022, for Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wish, and Disney Wonder sailings, and followed November 7, 2022 for Disney Magic sailings, Disney Cruise Line will no longer require Guests to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time of sailing, however, it is highly recommended. All Guests ages 5 years and older who are not fully vaccinated (Unvaccinated Guests) will need to submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken 1-2 days before the sail date. Guests ages 4 years of age and younger do not require testing.

The following Know Before You Go pages were updated on August 29, 2022:

The effective sailings based on those dates are as follows:

The following email went to guests booked on the ships dropping the requirement in October.


09/27/2022

Reservation #:

Dear Emily,

All of us at Disney Cruise Line look forward to welcoming you aboard soon. We are reaching out with important updates to the COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements for your sailing.

Beginning October 14, 2022, for Disney WonderDisney DreamDisney Fantasy, and Disney Wish sailings, Disney Cruise Line will no longer require Guests to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time of sailing, however, it is highly recommended. All Guests ages 5 years and older who are not fully vaccinated (Unvaccinated Guests) will need to submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken 1-2 days before the sail date. Guests ages 4 years of age and younger do not require testing. Acceptable vaccines and testing information can be found in the Know Before You Go section of our website.

COVID-19 Testing Requirements for Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wish sailings from the U.S. beginning October 14, 2022
Fully Vaccinated GuestsNo testing required.
Unvaccinated Guests (ages 5 years and older)COVID-19 test required 1-2 days before the sail date. The test may be an observed antigen test through a proctored telehealth service with digital results. A rapid or lab-based PCR test, or Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) is also acceptable.
Unvaccinated Guests (ages 4 years and younger)No testing required.

Upload Proof of Vaccination and/or COVID-19 Test Results

To be exempt from testing requirements, fully vaccinated Guests must upload their proof of vaccination to the Inspire Diagnostics Safe Passage website by midnight prior to embarkation dayUnvaccinated Guests must upload a negative COVID-19 test result to the Inspire Diagnostics Safe Passage website by midnight prior to embarkation day. Uploading proof of vaccination or a COVID-19 test result is a requirement for adults and children, except for those ages 4 and younger. A parent or legal guardian will need to use their own account to provide this information on behalf of minors. To learn more about how to provide proof of your negative COVID-19 test result, please visit the Know Before You Go section of our website.

After appropriate documents have been uploaded and reviewed by Inspire, Guests should see the words “Clear to Arrive” or “Clear to Sail” in the Pre-Sail Screening section when they log into their Safe Passage account before arriving at the port.

It is also recommended that Guests bring a copy of their proof of vaccination or negative COVID- test result with them to the port. Guests who fail to upload proof of vaccination and/or COVID-19 test results prior to embarkation day will be delayed and may be denied boarding. If you have any questions about your Safe Passage registration or status, please contact Inspire Diagnostics at 877-250-5132.

Back-to-Back Sailings

Fully vaccinated Guests are not required to be tested between back-to-back sailings. Guests ages 5 years and older who are not fully vaccinated and traveling on back-to-back sailings will be required to complete a COVID-19 test between sailings, arranged by Disney Cruise Line.

Guests Recently Recovered from COVID-19

In some cases, people who have recently recovered from COVID-19 may still test positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. If Guests have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 within 11 to 90 days of their sail date, they may qualify to be considered as “90-Day-Recovered,” with the appropriate documentation and subsequent approval. Guests who are not fully vaccinated and are considered “90-Day-Recovered” are not required to submit a negative COVID-19 test result prior to sailing. Details on what documentation is required is available in the Know Before You Go section of our website.

Online Check-in

You must complete Online Check-in beginning 30 days prior to your sailing. You will need to submit the required documents as well as select a Port Arrival Time. All Guests, including our Platinum Castaway Club Guests, will need to select a Port Arrival Time. Please be aware that Guests will not be permitted at the terminal or in parking areas before their scheduled arrival time. Guests who arrive early will be asked to return at their scheduled arrival time. Online Check-in can be completed or modified up to one day prior to sailing. After completing Online Check-in, you will receive a Port Arrival Form by email. Bring this with you to the port to expedite your arrival.

As our health and safety protocols and operational guidelines are subject to change, please visit the Know Before You Go section of our website for the latest information and answers to many frequently asked questions.

Guests booked on the Disney WonderDisney Dream, Disney Fantasy or Disney Wish October 14, 2022, through January 31, 2023, may modify or cancel their sailing by October 11, 2022 without any Disney-imposed cancellation fees. Please contact your travel agent for details on how to cancel or modify your booking. Please note that change fees and cancellation fees imposed by third-party suppliers, such as airlines and hotels, as well as travel insurance, are not refundable. Refunds will be processed back to the original form of payment. Standard cancellation policies and terms and conditions apply for any cancellation or modification requests received on or after October 12, 2022.

We look forward to welcoming you aboard soon.

Sincerely,

The Cast and Crew
Disney Cruise Line

DCL Email Vaccination Requirement Dropped 20220927

Another version of this email was sent to Guests booked on the Disney Magic.

09/27/2022

Reservation #:

Dear,

All of us at Disney Cruise Line look forward to welcoming you aboard soon. We are reaching out with important updates to the COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements for your sailing.

Beginning November 7, 2022, for Disney Magic sailings, Disney Cruise Line will no longer require Guests to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time of sailinghowever, it is highly recommended. All Guests ages 5 years and older who are not fully vaccinated (Unvaccinated Guests) will need to submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken 1-2 days before the sail date. Guests ages 4 years of age and younger do not require testing. Acceptable vaccines and testing information can be found in the Know Before You Go section of our website. 

 COVID-19 Testing Requirements for Disney Magic sailings from the U.S. beginning November 7, 2022
Fully Vaccinated Guests  No testing required. 
Unvaccinated Guests (ages 5 years and older)COVID-19 test required 1-2 days before the sail date. The test may be an observed antigen test through a proctored telehealth service with digital results. A rapid or lab-based PCR test, or Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) is also acceptable. 
Unvaccinated Guests (ages 4 years and younger)No testing required.

Upload Proof of Vaccination and/or COVID-19 Test Results

To be exempt from testing requirements, fully vaccinated Guests, must upload their proof of vaccination to the Inspire Diagnostics Safe Passage website by midnight prior to embarkation dayUnvaccinated Guests must upload a negative COVID-19 test result to the Inspire Diagnostics Safe Passage website by midnight prior to embarkation day. Uploading these documents is a requirement for adults and children, except for those ages 4 and younger. A parent or legal guardian will need to use their own account to provide this information on behalf of minors. To learn more about how to provide proof of your negative COVID-19 test result, please visit the Know Before You Go section of our website.

After appropriate documents have been uploaded and reviewed by Inspire, Guests should see the words “Clear to Arrive” or “Clear to Sail” in the Pre-Sail Screening section when they log into their Safe Passage account before arriving at the port. 

It is also recommended that Guests bring a copy of their proof of vaccination or negative COVID- test result with them to the port. Guests who fail to upload proof of vaccination and/or COVID-19 test results prior to embarkation day will be delayed and may be denied boarding. If you have any questions about your Safe Passage registration or status, please contact Inspire Diagnostics at 877-250-5132.

Back-to-Back Sailings

Fully vaccinated Guests are not required to be tested between back-to-back sailings. Guests ages 5 years and older who are not fully vaccinated and traveling on back-to-back sailings will be required to complete a COVID-19 test between sailings, arranged by Disney Cruise Line.

Guests Recently Recovered from COVID-19

In some cases, people who have recently recovered from COVID-19 may still test positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. If Guests have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 within 11 to 90 days of their sail date, they may qualify to be considered as “90-Day-Recovered,” with the appropriate documentation and subsequent approval. Guests who are not fully vaccinated and are considered “90-Day-Recovered” are not required to submit a negative COVID-19 test result prior to sailing. Details on what documentation is required is available in the Know Before You Go section of our website.

Online Check-in

You must complete Online Check-in beginning 30 days prior to your sailing. You will need to submit the required documents as well as select a Port Arrival Time. All Guests, including our Platinum Castaway Club Guests, will need to select a Port Arrival Time. Please be aware that Guests will not be permitted at the terminal or in parking areas before their scheduled arrival time. Guests who arrive early will be asked to return at their scheduled arrival time. Online Check-in can be completed or modified up to one day prior to sailing. After completing Online Check-in, you will receive a Port Arrival Form by email. Bring this with you to the port to expedite your arrival.

As our health and safety protocols and operational guidelines are subject to change, please visit the Know Before You Go section of our website for the latest information and answers to many frequently asked questions.

Guests booked on the Disney Magic November 7, 2022, through January 31, 2023, may modify or cancel their sailing by October 11, 2022, without any Disney-imposed cancellation fees. contact your travel agent for details on how to cancel or modify your booking. Please note that change fees and cancellation fees imposed by third-party suppliers, such as airlines and hotels, as well as travel insurance, are not refundable. Refunds will be processed back to the original form of payment. Standard cancellation policies and terms and conditions apply for any cancellation or modification requests received on or after October 12, 2022. 

We look forward to welcoming you aboard soon. 

Sincerely,

The Cast and Crew

Disney Cruise Line


We will continue to monitor for additional changes, but please take the time to read and familiarize the information on Disney Cruise Line emails and Know Before You Go pages, specific to your upcoming sailing as this remains a dynamic situation.

22 Replies to “Know Before You Go Updates: COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement Sailing Away Soon – Unvaccinated Guests Still Required to Test”

  1. Jeff

    Yes! Finally!!!!!! I have been pushing back multiple cruises over and over until they removed this. Thank you Disney Cruise Line!!!

    Reply
    1. Kathee

      Whoop whoop — We were orignally slatted to sail in April 2020. Have rescheduled multiple times due to their vaccine requirement. So excited that they have dropped this ridiculousness…

      Reply
  2. John

    We’re a go for May 2023 on the Wish! It was only a matter of time as many of us predicted. Disney saw the booking traffic and realized they were done unless they dropped all the requirements. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see testing requirements dropped in a month or 2 as well.

    Reply
    1. Jeff

      Right. Dropping the vaccines was the first and most important step. Now I’m hoping by my April cruise that testing is gone. Since the vaccinated are catching and spreading the virus the same as everyone else, testing only the unvaccinated is really pointless. All it does is brings uncertainty of having to cancel a trip at the last minute, which is bad for Disney as well since they refund the trip. But dropping the vaccines is great!

      Reply
      1. John

        My guess is only a few months more of these testing requirements. Disney likes to slow roll these changes to make it look like they’re customer focused and safe. But when you see entire countries like Canada completely dropping years old vaccine and testing requirements, DCL won’t be far behind.

        Reply
    1. CATHY

      With all the issues that many children are having I would never vaccinate my child with an emergency use vaccine. They have admitted they have not done enough trials with children. They have a long time to live with no one knows what the long term effects will be. I applaud the parents who are not vaccinating their young children yet.

      Reply
  3. mypftcommentingaccount

    Great to see the science finally winning over the fear and panic of the last few years.
    Now if they will just get rid of the nonsense testing requirements…

    Reply
    1. S

      Lol – this is literally the opposite of science winning. I’m so tired of all of the plague rats. Enjoy your diminished life expectancy and quality from multiple infections!

      Reply
      1. CATHY

        You are ridiculous if you believe that having a test or a vaccination will protect you from getting covid on a cruise. I will tell you I am vaxxed was tested and got Covid on 2 of my disney cruises. This is hogwash. Something to make you feel better. Unfortunately we will never know if it protected you from death because none of the dead people are commenting. My advice to you is just don’t cruise because this is the way it is going to be and this is not going to change. I applaud Disney finally doing the right thing. Oh and by the way do you stay in your house all the time? Because if not you are near all kinds of people vaxxed and unvaxxed all the time.

        Reply
        1. John

          @Cathy – no need to respond to these folks. S has literally said the same thing about plague rats since the beginning on many other threads. Unfortunately for S the options for cruising will rapidly close for him/her. NCL just got rid of all covid requirements (masking, testing and vaccinations). The entire country of Canada did the same. More will follow including DCL. S will simply have to hide away for the rest of their life while the rest of us go on living. Like you, I’m vaccinated and ready to move past all of this. How S thinks they will not have their own “diminished life quality” is beyond me if they never leave the house out of fear.

          Reply
          1. CATHY

            You are right. I guess it never ceases to amaze me when I read this stuff on Disney pages like these as well as actual cruise pages. I mean don’t these people research or read anything?

            Reply
  4. Erica Oliver

    I am elated by this! Common sense has prevailed – jabbed or not you can still transmit or catch C19 it makes no difference. Wash your hands!

    Reply
    1. CATHY

      Totally agree with you. At least some people still have common sense and live their lives fully and not out of manufactured fear.

      Reply
  5. Azure

    Don’t know if you’ll know the answer but thought I’d try anyhow. We were booked on a cruise that left on the 1st with my whole side of the family. Unfortunately our youngest tested positive and we were unable to go. We were however able to rebook just our little family to a later date. This date is after the new policy goes into effect (for better or worse). Will we need to provide proof of recovery even if our child is under 4 and no longer is required to test?

    Reply
    1. Azure

      Thank you!
      I will definitely double check with DCL agents since now my child is documented in their system as having recently had COVID, but it does sound like we should be good to go anyway.

      Reply
  6. CATHY

    No you will not. Since they have changed the policy you won’t need any of that. You only need to follow the policy as stated.

    Reply
  7. Roman Chyk

    Bermuda removed COVID testing for vaccinated travelers starting 25Oct. Why is DCL still requires negative covid tests on Magic sailings out of NYC?

    Reply

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