Disney Cruise Line will begin demanding confirmation of COVID-19 immunization for guests from the United States boarding ships bound for the Bahamas next month, the first time the business has mandated such a requirement for ships departing from domestic ports.
In recent days, the United States has seen a torrent of new vaccination requirements, following the Food and Drug Administration’s complete clearance of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The agency’s final approval came despite an uptick in new coronavirus infections and hospitalizations caused by the highly infectious Delta strain. Over 19,000 Americans have died of COVID-19 in the previous month, and the virus has killed approximately 631,000 people worldwide since the outbreak began.
Beginning September 3, 2021, Disney stated that passengers 12 and older must be completely vaccinated at least 14 days prior to boarding any ship bound for the Bahamas. This includes Castaway Cay, Disney’s own island. Until November, the new regulation remains in effect.
Children under the age of 12 are exempt, but must present confirmation of a negative COVID-19 PCR test performed between five and 24 hours before to boarding, as well as a second test at the terminal, Disney stated.
The new regulations come on the heels of the Bahamas issuing an emergency order earlier this month requiring all cruise passengers 12 years and older to provide evidence of immunization.
Royal Caribbean revised its policy last week, requiring passengers 12 and older to be fully vaccinated prior to embarking on cruises departing from any US port, with the requirement taking effect September 3 for cruises traveling from Florida to the Bahamas. According to USA Today, four vaccinated adults and two unvaccinated kids tested positive for COVID-19 aboard a cruise ship departing from the Bahamas last month.
MSC Cruises, meantime, will begin introducing a similar policy from September 3.
Carnival Cruise Lines took a similar step on Sunday, saying that it will mandate vaccinations for all guests above the age of 12, building on a previous policy that required at least 95% of passengers and personnel to be vaccinated. The revised policy, which takes effect August 28, exempts people with medical problems that make immunization impossible.
Carnival is facing numerous lawsuits after epidemics on its ships early last year, which killed at least ten people, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Marilyn Tackett, 77, of Oklahoma, was one of 27 confirmed cases onboard the Carnival Vista, which departed from Galveston, Texas, in late July. According to the Washington Post, Tackett died this week of COVID-19. The cruise operator expressed regret for Tackett’s death but stated that she “very probably” did not contract COVID on board.
Following a federal judge’s acceptance of Norwegian Cruise Line’s appeal to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order prohibiting vaccine requirements, cruise lines now have further freedom to seek proof of immunization from customers departing from Florida. The Republican governor has filed an appeal with the 11th United States Circuit Court. For the time being, Norwegian Cruise Line requires that all guests be completely immunized.