Know Before You Go Updates: Florida Departures Policy Change Effective October 7, 2022

Late Friday, Disney Cruise Line updated the Know Before You Go pages with a new policy for sailings departing from Florida.

Beginning October 7, 2022, for sailings departing from Florida ports, Guests are no longer required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination to sail. Guests who choose to provide proof of vaccination are exempt from testing requirements.

Know Before You Go Update – October 7, 2022
DCL Know Before You Go 20221007

The policy change for Florida departures is not much more than an early adoption of a policy that was set to take effect later this week for the majority of the fleet.

In late-September, the cruise line announced 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. 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. While this new policy doesn’t spell it out, technically, a guests would not be required to provide proof of vaccination – in this scenario, the guest would be treated as unvaccinated and would be required to submit a negative test.

Friday’s update appears to come as a result of Norwegian Cruises legal challenge to Florida’s ban on vaccine mandates. On October 6th, a U.S. appeals court rejected a challenge by Norwegian Cruise Line to a Florida law barring businesses from requiring customers to show documentation proving they received a COVID-19 vaccine. You can read the 123-page opinion here.

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.

3 Replies to “Know Before You Go Updates: Florida Departures Policy Change Effective October 7, 2022”

  1. CATHY

    This has been great news. No testing for vaccinated people. I have sailed 6 cruises this year and the one I board in 12 days will be the least stressful due to this change.

    Reply

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