Disney Cruise Line Castaway Cay beach

DCL COVID-19 Efforts: 100% Testing and More!

If the sea is calling you like it calls Moana, you’ll be happy to know that Disney Cruise Line and other Cruise Line International Association members have committed to some unprecedented COVID-19 mitigation efforts – all of which will be in place before sailings can resume.

This plan is made in hopes that the US no-sail order will be lifted, would-be cruisers will feel safe to return, and tourism in this industry would resume.

Just as other areas of our lives have changed dramatically in the last six months, so too will our sailing adventures. In fact, these are unprecedented efforts, and they will be in place on all CLIA ships, which include all of the major cruise lines including Disney.

Let’s take a look at CLIA’s core elements!

Testing

All passengers and crew will be tested for COVID-19 prior to embarkation. There aren’t any additional details on this like how long before sailing cruisers have to be tested, who will conduct these tests, or how people will be quarantined between the time of the test and the embarkation.

The incubation period has been determined to be up to 14 days, so a negative test an hour, a day, or even a week prior to sailing may not be valid at the time of sailing. Therefore, either more determinations will need to be made for this mitigation effort, or CLIA hasn’t made this information publicly available.

Mandatory Face Covering

Face masks will be required of all passengers and crew when physical distancing cannot be maintained both on-board the ship and onshore excursions. This has become a pretty standard prevention effort, so it will be a familiar requirement.

If anyone refuses to comply or is observed not complying with this requirement onshore excursions, they will be refused re-boarding. The CLIA announcement doesn’t specifically say this, but it can be assumed that the passenger(s) will be required to find their own way back home!

Disney Cruise Line and other CLIA members have committed to some COVID-19 mitigation efforts when sailing resumes including testing of all passengers and cruise prior to sailing.
Disney Cruise Line and other CLIA members have committed to some COVID-19 mitigation efforts when sailing resumes including testing of all passengers and cruise prior to sailing.

Physical Distancing

Physical distancing will be required whenever possible including in terminals, on-board, on private islands where applicable, and onshore excursions. Like with the mask requirement, if passengers fail to comply, they will be denied re-boarding.

Ventilation

CLIA cruise ships including DCL will be required to provide air management and ventilation in an effort to bring more fresh air on-board. Enhanced filtration and other technologies are also required. This means that cruise lines might have to make investments in these new technologies if they don’t already have the capability to comply.

Medical Capability

Each ship will also be required to have a plan to manage medical needs on board including dedicated cabin capacity and plans for isolation should it be necessary. They will also make arrangements with on-shore providers for quarantine, medical facilities, and transportation. Hopefully, none of this will be necessary in this pandemic or in the future, but it’s always good to have a plan in place!

Would you feel comfortable going on a Disney cruise with these new requirements?