Update May 27th, 2021…CDC Drops Mask & Distancing for cruises
New CDC guidelines were released today, which is good news for vaccinated travelers. If a ship has a 95% vaccination rate for both travelers and crew, masks and social distancing will not be required. Ships that don’t reach the 95% vaccination threshold can designate indoor areas for fully vaccinated passengers and crew where masks and physical distancing are not required, such as in casinos, bars, spas, entertainment venues and dining areas. Those travelers that are not vaccinated will still be required to wear a mask around most areas of the ship, with the exception of dining, bars, and in some outdoor areas where social distancing is possible.
We are still awaiting clarification from cruise lines if guests will be asked to wear masks in port during the check-in process.
It is official, as of January 29, the CDC requires all passengers onboard cruise ships to wear masks while sailing. Issued this past Friday, all travelers into, within, or out of the United States traveling by airplane, ships, ferries, trains, subways, buses, taxis and ride-shares will have to wear a face mask. We will have updates on the Travel Mask Mandate.
The plan for a mask requirement for planes, trains and airports had already been put in place, but on Friday, the text included ships and ferries bridging it into the cruise industry. While most cruise lines had expected to require face coverings in public spaces on cruise ships, the order makes it a requirement once sailings return.
The order includes everyone, not in a private setting and exempts those who are eating, drinking, or taking medication for brief periods, along with children under the age of two.
Wearing Face Masks on a Cruise
- Masks will be required at the port during the check-in process.
- You will need to bring masks with you. It is likely that the cruise lines will also have masks with their logos available for sale onboard. We recommend you bring either plenty of disposable masks or enough cloth masks for several days or your trip since it is recommended you at least hand wash them daily and they will need to dry. MSC decided to give daily masks out to passengers, but it is 1 ship with limited capacity. We believe as all ships start sailing out of U.S. that cruise lines will require you to bring your own or purchase one, but time will tell if we are correct.
- The crew will be wearing masks at all times, both indoor & outdoor settings.
- Masks will be required in public areas when social distancing is not possible.
- Cruise operators should ensure that requirements for face masks are in accordance with the most up-to-date CDC guidelines. This means a mask that has two or more layer covering both the nose and mouth. Make sure to check out How Covid is Changing Cruises.
- Seating in restaurants, bars & lounges will allow for physical distancing, so guests can eat and drink without needing face coverings while seated.
- Seating will be spread out on the pool deck so you do not have to wear face coverings there once you have your spot.
Will You Have To Wear a Mask on A Cruise if you have a health condition?
- Some exceptions might be made in advance of sailing for someone who has a health condition that prevents them from wearing a mask. According to the healthy sail panel set up by Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and NCL Cruises, guests who have medical needs might be able to receive an exception. “Individuals for whom wearing a mask is medically contraindicated should be directed to a secondary medical screening (to be conducted in person or as a telehealth consult) where a case-by-case assessment of the individual’s fitness for travel will be made, and a recommendation to allow or deny boarding will be based on the fitness for travel determination.” However, based on the strictness of airlines & masks, we feel it’s safe to assume that initially, the cruise lines will also enforce this with little to no exceptions.
Wearing face masks has become a controversial point around the country, and the debate over whether people will want to wear them on cruises is equally divisive. If you enjoy cruising, don’t let masks discourage you from cruising. Remember that we are in different times and it’s not all bad. There will be fewer people, which means more personalized service & fewer crowds, plus enhanced safety features. Also, remember that masks will be part of the cruise experience, but not forever. It is for your health & safety and there will be plenty of places like the pool deck, your cabin, and during meals where you will not have to wear your mask.
At some point, we do expect the CDC update the warnings for cruises and we will cover it for you as it happens.
Will vaccines be required to cruise? We are all waiting to hear about something that is currently not required for flights or hotel stays.
Related blogs that may interest you:
COVID Cruise Booking Terms & Cancellation Policies
Caribbean & Mexico Hotels Offering COVID Testing
Cruise Line Drink Packages
