Disney Cruise Safety Info: Vaccines, Testing, Face Masks, and More!

It’s official — Disney Cruise Line is officially setting sail again from U.S. ports in just a few weeks. On Friday, Disney officially made the announcement for a return to sailing from Florida this August, and longtime DCL fans, Castaway Club members, and hopeful first-time cruisers can’t wait to board a Disney Cruise ship.

But when it comes to health and safety, what do passengers need to be aware of? Here are all of the latest updates to the Disney Cruise Line health and safety information that you need to know if you are taking a cruise in August 2021 and beyond.

Here are some essential pieces of information to keep in mind if you are thinking of cruising soon.

Face Masks, Vaccines, and COVID-19 Testing

So, if you are cruising out of Port Canaveral, Florida, this summer, are face masks required? What about COVID-19 vaccines? Testing? Here is what Disney has shared.

Disney strongly Guests to be fully vaccinated before taking a cruise. However, for cruises departing from Florida — the first one setting sail August 9, for example — Disney Cruise Line is not requiring Guests to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

COVID-19 testing will be required, both before Guests leave home and on embarkation day, except for those Guests who choose to voluntarily provide proof of vaccination.

Disney shared the following regarding COVID-19 testing:

Learn about the COVID-19 tests that are required for Guests before leaving home and at the terminal.

• Pre-Trip COVID-19 Testing: Guests must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test (paid for at the Guest’s expense) taken between 5 days and 24 hours prior to the sail date. Disney Cruise Line has secured a special rate of $98.33 per PCR test (which includes a 3.5% processing fee) through our third-party vendor, Inspire Diagnostics. Guests may also obtain their PCR test from any independent testing supplier. Guests who are fully vaccinated may choose to provide proof of vaccination instead of undergoing COVID19 pre-trip testing. To learn more about how to provide proof of your negative COVID-19 PCR test result, please visit: Before Leaving Home: Know Before You Go.
• Embarkation COVID-19 Testing: Guests are required to undergo a rapid PCR COVID-19 test administered by Inspire Diagnostics at the terminal prior to boarding. Guests with positive COVID-19 test results, as well as those in their travel party, will be denied boarding. The $65 test fee will be charged to the folio of all Guests 12 years and older. Disney Cruise Line acts as the paying agent for Inspire Diagnostics and will remit the entire cost of the COVID-19 test to Inspire Diagnostics. Guests who are fully vaccinated may choose to provide proof of vaccination instead of undergoing COVID-19 Embarkation Day testing.

Face coverings will be required in most indoor public areas for all Guests ages 2 and older.

Social Distancing Measures are also in place. Cruise capacity has been reduced to promote physical distancing both on the ship and on Castaway Cay.

Cruise Cleanliness and COVID-19 Safety

Additionally, more hand sanitizer locations have been added to the ship and Castaway Cay.

Cleaning protocols are enhanced in all Guest areas, including both public areas and staterooms.

Disney is employing new technology in air purification systems onboard the ship, upgrading air filters, and increasing air circulation across the fleet.

Disney Cruise Line Crew Members

Medical personnel are on board and equipped to screen for and respond to COVID-19.

Disney Cruise Line Crew Members have been trained based on the latest guidance. And all Crew Members will wear face coverings indoors.

More Information

Disney has provided even more details about the enhanced health and safety measures being implemented across the Disney Cruise Line fleet (which currently includes the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, Disney Wonder, and Disney Magic — the Disney Wish will set sail for the first time in 2022). All of these details can be found on the official Know Before You Go webpage on the DCL website, which you can click here to view.

The webpage breaks down all of the need-to-know information in a helpful-informative, and easy-to-understand way. You can see evidence of this in the screenshots below:

Disney released the following statement online:

While our cruise experience may have changed a bit, we’ve come up with new and exciting offerings to create magical memories together—tailored to our times and presented with all the care you’ve come to expect from Disney Cruise Line. From original live shows inside the lavish Walt Disney Theatre to innovative new ways to see and interact with Disney Characters throughout the ship, storytelling springs to life on a Disney cruise.

As we welcome Guests aboard our ships, the health and safety of our Guests, Cast Members and Crew Members is a top priority. Our focus remains on operating our ships in a responsible way that continues to create magic for all on board. We are resuming sailing in a gradual, phased approach that emphasizes multiple layers of health and safety measures, developed in consideration of guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other medical experts. Under this guidance, we’ve reimagined your cruise experience so we all can enjoy the magic responsibly.

Additionally, enjoy peace of mind when booking your cruise, knowing there are options available that allow you to change or cancel your booking flexibly.

Are you hoping to set sail on a Disney Cruise anytime soon? Click here to book a trip and work with the Authorized Disney Vacation Planners at Academy Travel!