Disney Cruise Line Has Updated Vaccine Requirements for Children

Disney Cruise Line has announced a change to its vaccine requirements for guests under the age of 12. Currently, DCL requires that all guests ages 5 older be fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. Beginning on September 2, 2022, for sailings departing U.S. and Canadian ports, the rule will change. On that date, guests ages 12 and older must be vaccinated. The requirement is being removed for younger children.

Pre-cruise COVID tests will still be needed for all guests, regardless of age or vaccination status, though the rules are different for different categories of guests. All the details can be found on the DCL Know Before You Go page on the DCL website.

The complete text of the DCL letter to guests is below:

Dear Guest,
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 September 2, 2022, for sailings departing U.S. and Canadian ports, Disney Cruise Line will only require Guests ages 12 and older to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time of sailing, as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In consideration of CDC guidance, Disney Cruise Line highly recommends that Guests ages 11 and younger be fully vaccinated before sailing.
As a reminder, for sailings departing U.S. and Canadian ports before September 2, 2022, Disney Cruise Line will still require Guests ages 5 and older to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time of sailing, as defined by the CDC.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements
In consideration of guidance from the CDC and the World Health Organization, Disney Cruise Line accepts the following vaccine types for Guests ages 5 and older: Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, Covishield, Novavax, Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV (VeroCell), Sinovac-CoronaVac and Covavaxin (Bharat Biotech).
For Guests ages 5 and older, the CDC defines fully vaccinated as 14 days after receiving one of the following:
· A single dose of an accepted 1-dose vaccine
· The second dose of an accepted 2-dose vaccine
· The full series of an active (not placebo) COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S.-based AstraZeneca or Novavax COVID-19 vaccine trials
· The second dose of any “mix and match” combination of accepted COVID-19 vaccines (administered at least 17 days apart)
In consideration of guidance from the CDC and the World Health Organization, Disney Cruise Line accepts only the following vaccines for Guests ages 4 and younger: Pfizer, Moderna, Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV (VeroCell), and Sinovac-CoronaVac.
For Guests ages 4 and younger, the CDC defines fully vaccinated as 14 days after receiving one of the following:
· Three doses of Pfizer: the second dose administered 21 days after the first; and the third dose administered 56 days after the second
· Two doses of Moderna: the second dose administered one month after the first
· Two doses of Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV (VeroCell): the second dose administered 21-28 days after the first
· Two doses of Sinovac-CoronaVac: the second dose administered 14-28 days after the first

COVID-19 Testing for Guests who are Fully Vaccinated
Pre-Trip Testing: Fully vaccinated Guests on sailings departing U.S. and Canadian ports must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result (paid for by the Guest) taken 1-2 days before setting sail. Completing pre-trip testing prior to embarkation day enhances the efficiency of boarding and confirms that you are negative for COVID-19 prior to traveling to the terminal. Pre-trip test results must be uploaded into the Inspire Diagnostics Safe Passage website by midnight prior to embarkation day. Inspire Diagnostics is Disney Cruise Line’s third-party partner for vaccination verification and COVID-19 testing.
Antigen tests must be completed using a proctored telehealth service and come with digital results that can be uploaded to the Safe Passage website. A nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) or PCR test also is acceptable. Guests can purchase COVID-19 tests through the Inspire Diagnostics Safe Passage website, or obtain a test from any independent testing supplier.
Embarkation Day Testing: Fully vaccinated Guests who upload their pre-trip test results to the Safe Passage website by midnight prior to embarkation day will be exempt from embarkation testing. Fully vaccinated Guests who do not upload test results by midnight prior to embarkation day must be tested at the terminal on embarkation day before boarding the ship and will be charged for the cost of the test. Guests with positive COVID-19 test results are required to complete a second confirmatory test. Guests with confirmed positive test results—as well as those sharing the same stateroom and other close contacts—will be denied boarding.
The cost of embarkation tests for fully vaccinated Guests will be $74.00 (USD) plus tax for the initial antigen test, and, if needed, $125.00 (USD) plus tax for a confirmatory PCR test, charged at the time of service. For Canada sailings, the cost of embarkation tests for fully vaccinated Guests will be $95.00 (CAD) plus GST for the initial antigen test, and, if needed, $160.00 (CAD) plus GST for a confirmatory PCR test, charged at the time of service.
COVID-19 Testing for Guests who are Not Fully Vaccinated
Pre-Trip Testing: Guests who are not fully vaccinated must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken 1-3 days before the sail date. The test should be a Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT), a rapid PCR test or a lab-based PCR test. Rapid antigen tests are not accepted. This will be the first of two tests required for unvaccinated Guests; the second test will be conducted at the terminal on embarkation day.
Embarkation Day Testing: Guests who are not fully vaccinated are required to complete a COVID-19 test at the terminal prior to boarding on embarkation day (paid for by Disney Cruise Line).

Upload Proof of Vaccination and COVID-19 Test Results to Safe Passage Website
In order to sail, all Guests (adults and children, regardless of age) must upload their proof of vaccination and negative COVID-19 test results on the Inspire Diagnostics Safe Passage website by midnight prior to their sailing. 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 Before Leaving Home: Know Before You Go.
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 and negative COVID-19 PCR test result with them to the port. If you have any questions about your Safe Passage registration or status, please contact Inspire Diagnostics at 877-250-5132.

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 considered “90-Day-Recovered” are not required to participate in COVID-19 testing during the Pre-Sail, Embarkation or Debarkation phases of their voyage. For details on what documentation is required, please visit Before Leaving Home: Know Before You Go.

Face Coverings
Face coverings are not required for Guests outdoors while on board the ship and at designated locations on Castaway Cay. Face coverings are optional in most indoor locations throughout the ship. We continue to strongly recommend unvaccinated guests wear a face covering in all indoor locations. Face coverings are optional on motorcoach transportation and in the cruise terminal and may be required in ports of call based on local government requirements. Face coverings are required in all testing areas.

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, and Guests arriving after their scheduled time may be delayed and asked to wait behind those arriving at their scheduled 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 Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy or Disney Wish September 2, 2022 through December 31, 2022 may modify their sail date or cancel their sailing without any Disney-imposed cancellation fees by contacting their travel agent by August 29, 2022. 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 August 30, 2022.
We look forward to welcoming you aboard soon.
Sincerely,
The Cast and Crew
Disney Cruise Line