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CDC Discontinues COVID-19 Cruise Guidance; What Does This Mean for Disney Cruise Line?

The cruise industry has been among the hardest hit businesses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic with health and safety restrictions, staffing shortages, and all of the other challenges travelers and workers have faced around the world since 2020.

Throughout the duration of the pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has led the way with a full COVID-19 protocol in place for cruise lines to follow ensuring the safety of Guests and crew members.

Effective July 18, 2022, the CDC has discontinued its COVID-19 program. While the CDC will continue to share guidance on how to safely operate within the cruise line industry, its official program has ended giving each cruise line full control of managing their own protocols.

What does this mean for Guests preparing to set sail on Disney Cruise Line?

Disney Wish, Disney Cruise Line

Credit: Disney

The CDC shared the announcement for the end of the COVID-19 program on its website stating:

As of July 18, 2022, CDC’s COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships is no longer in effect. CDC will continue to publish guidance to help cruise ships continue to provide a safer and healthier environment for passengers, crew and communities going forward. 

As for Disney Cruise Line, COVID-19 related restrictions, requirements, and updates vary based on the departure port and destinations of individual sailings and ships.

disney-cruise-line

Credit: Disney

So far, no changes have been announced for upcoming Disney Cruise Line sailings outside of Disney’s recent update to European departures which preceded the CDC’s announcement.

If you are preparing for a Disney Cruise Line vacation, it is very important to confirm requirements for your individual cruise ahead of your trip. Thankfully, Disney makes this very easy to do with their “Know Before You Go” page, which breaks down all of the specifics based on each ship and destination.

Credit: Tricia Kennedy

Disney Cruise Line just celebrated the launch of its fifth and newest ship, the Disney Wish, which is currently offering three and four-night cruises to the Bahamas, with stops at Castaway Cay, out of Port Canaveral. The Disney Wish features enhanced dining experiences, amenities, recreational offerings for kids, teens, adults, and families, brand new entertainment, and more, all departing within a short drive of the Walt Disney World Resort.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Disney has typically followed official CDC or local city/state guidance, often even going beyond the basic recommendations, but this trend has been changing over the past couple of months. If any changes are announced for Disney Cruise Line in response to the latest CDC update, we will be sure to share the news here on DisneyTips.

About Brittany DiCologero

Brittany is a New England-based writer focused on the history of the Walt Disney World Resort. She is the author of "Red, White, and Disney: The Myths and Reality of American History at the Walt Disney World Resort," and "Brittany Earns Her Ears."