Full Vaccination Required Ages 5+ Starting 1/13/22

[Kwami]

And I think that is partly my point - Disney has marketed to families with younger kids playing up all the kids clubs etc. and with their empty ships and now eliminating a market - they might need to look at the next group to market to and a logical group is the Disney Adults, just like the parks have.

I wish I thought the vaccine among kids was going to be successful. I live is a very very affluent area, and unless the schools require it, numbers will likely stay low. These folks will just travel elsewhere. Even on here you see the folks saying they are cancelling.

We'll see how this all plays out, as a stockholder I want full ships ... how will they do that to stop the bleed?

I think that the complaints and cancellations here aren't representative of the overall DCL population. The posters are here just very... vocal about this issue. If you look at the charts of vaccines in most states, they started going up again very quickly when the 5-11 vaccines were approved. I don't think that Disney will lose too many customers, and they'll probably pick up just about as many that feel safer with the vaccine requirements.

 

[Kwami]

No that’s not at all what I was thinking. Disney makes most of the entertainment something that kids would enjoy. Like Frozen, Aladan, and such. I enjoy the musicals on Royal more such as Mama Mia and Greece. I’m not sure a five year old could sit through those. I think people on these forums overestimate Disney’s appeal. They are barely a blip in the cruise industry.

Well, sure. DCL is a niche cruise line with high prices and a certain appeal. If they were to change their niche and start catering to a more adult audience, then what's the point of having DCL at all? You can see Momma Mia and Greece on any line. You can only see Frozen on DCL.

 

[Cheburashka]

If you look at the charts of vaccines in most states, they started going up again very quickly when the 5-11 vaccines were approved.

And they'll go up even more in a few months, after the first round of kids have gotten them, without serious side effects being common. When the unvaccinated kids and their parents see the vaccinated kids they know doing just fine a few months from now, and having fewer restrictions on their lives, it will encourage more of them to vaccinate. The same thing happened with adults and the vaccine. A lot of people (myself included) were hesitant to try it at first, then after the first wave of people were vaccinated and the vast majority were fine with it, a lot more people became willing, even eager, to be vaccinated.

 

[Disfan121418]

We are supposed to cruise in August.
We are coming from France and vaccination is only open for children 12 and up. Does that mean we can't sail because my 8-year-old daughter can't get vaccinated in our country?

So far that’s correct- I have heard from my travel agent and a mom who called Disney directly that they are making no medical exceptions and no logistics exceptions (I.e, if you don’t have access to the vaccine in time). Must be 14 days post 2 doses of an mRNA vaccine. It’s really unfair for those outside the US, and those with medical conditions who are not allowed to be vaccinated.

 

[Kwami]

Totally agree. I thought the testing was going really well to prevent outbreak. In fact, it technically should be more rigorous than a fully vaccinated population given the effectiveness of some of the vaccines on that list. Not trying to dis vaccines- it just is what it is.

Suggesting now that kids can be vaccinated we can talk about foregoing testing, removing masks, and alleviating other restrictions? I wish that could happen, but Disney is realistic and very careful. This decision proves that. So do the math on the requirement. Kids under 12 who are going into that first sailing and have not yet been vaccinated need to get their first dose in under 3 weeks. That isn’t even possible in a lot of places both inside and outside the US.
There’s a whole lot of ostracizing and alienating with this decision, and the testing system, although challenging for some traveling families, didn’t seem to be broken, so????

Cruises so far have had very few families from outside the US anyway since we weren't allowing most foreigners in until recently. But anyway, I'm sure that other countries will join the 5-11 vaccine group soon enough. For now, Disney can probably do just fine with the domestic guests, Canadians, and foreign families without young children. They're probably still OK with the ships not being full given the other distancing and cleaning protocols that they're adhering to.

 

[mab2012]

It took months for them to get supply out. And then we had to wait months for a second shot. If I were counting on kid supplies to go the same way adults did, I’d be planning to stay home until next summer at the earliest.

I am certainly hoping they are more organized now and that we don’t have supply chain issues. But if he doesn’t get a first shot in December and a second shot before the end of Feb, he won’t have finished the series two weeks before the cruise, as required.

Realistically, if I can’t get him an appointment on the books before the Dec 1 deadline imposed by Disney for changes, we’ll have to reschedule again.

Okay.

If I were in your position, based on what we know today, I would be very comfortable assuming my child would be fully vaccinated by March Break. But then my family cruised in August, when the cruise lines were still trying to figure out their vaccination policies and things were changing weekly, and I ended up having to get a third mRNA shot in another province to comply with RCCLs requirements. I had back-up plans for my back-up plans. So that probably says something about my risk tolerance; I imagine a lot of people in my situation would have cancelled. Everyone's comfort level is different.

I hope it all works out for you!

 

[Ol Goof]

My TA called DCL today about cancelling our inaugural Wish cruise. DCL told him explicitly that the vax mandate was only in effect til May 2022 and would not effect our June Wish sailing. I have not been able to find this in writing anywhere. Can anyone else confirm this ?

 

[KMack]

Also - where are you able to sign up? Are you in Ontario? Would love this info. Tnx!

Please check with your local health district. Ontario does not have a centrally controlled vaccine roll-out, like most other provinces. In Ontario, it is totally up to the local health district. So, whîle Ottawa Public Health has already identified the locations of more than 70+ pop up clinics (in addition to its regular vaccine sites) will be opened for pediatric vaccinations without needing an appointment, Renfrew (an hour away) still has no information.

 

[DCLMP]

Well, sure. DCL is a niche cruise line with high prices and a certain appeal. If they were to change their niche and start catering to a more adult audience, then what's the point of having DCL at all? You can see Momma Mia and Greece on any line. You can only see Frozen on DCL.

I don't think DCL should change anything....except of course the price.

 

[FigmentSpark]

My husband called Disney Vacation Club today (We used DVC Points to book two cruises in March/April) and was told that the 125% FCC we received for those two cruises when prior cruises were cancelled by Disney has to be used by September of 2022 but we need to move the cruises farther out than that. He is calling Disney Cruise Line tomorrow to see if there is any way we can book farther out than that. Not very hopeful for the answer though.

Can you post the result? I was told to phone DCL to get an extension, too, but I don't know how much good it will do. Canada still has a "do not cruise" travel warning which essentially nullifies any insurance. I'm covered if I go to Florida, but if I get on a ship, I'm not covered unless that warning is dropped down a level (or two).

 

[DCLMP]

My TA called DCL today about cancelling our inaugural Wish cruise. DCL told him explicitly that the vax mandate was only in effect til May 2022 and would not effect our June Wish sailing. I have not been able to find this in writing anywhere. Can anyone else confirm this ?

It's probably the email the CM's got telling them to tell customers that. I doubt they know at this point...unless Disney knows something we don't.

 

[KMack]

I expect you'll be fine. Remember how fast they got through (willing) adults once supply came in? In Ontario, first-dose bookings opened for under 50s around mid-May. By mid-July, you could get a shot pretty much anywhere without an appointment. Most people got first and second shots inside that two month period, and that was a much, much bigger population than the 5-12 year-olds. Given supply, they know how to get shots in arms.

I will be surprised we are not actively vaccinating kids by this time next week. If not then, by the next Monday, for sure. They've had weeks to coordinate Pfizer's shipments with Health Canada's approval. Anyone who wants their kid vaccinated will have a first shot before Christmas. Even with an 8-week interval, that's going to leave you with a couple of weeks to spare before March Break.

You should have a better idea after they announce tomorrow!

Pediatric vaccines will be in Ontario by Sunday and, depending on where you are, your local health district should be ready to start vaccination clinics almost immediately as the pediatric vaccine ancillary supplies have been in place for weeks waiting for the approval.

I am disappointed that they are using the 8 week window between shots. That was appropriate when vaccines were scarce 6 months ago but there is no scarcity now that would necessitate moving away from the recommended 3 week interval.

 

[Kwami]

My TA called DCL today about cancelling our inaugural Wish cruise. DCL told him explicitly that the vax mandate was only in effect til May 2022 and would not effect our June Wish sailing. I have not been able to find this in writing anywhere. Can anyone else confirm this ?

The cancel without penalties bit applies for cruises through May 2022. Disney hasn't publicly said anything about the vaccine requirements going away in May 2022. I'd be very surprised if that happened.

 

[mab2012]

Pediatric vaccines will be in Ontario by Sunday and, depending on where you are, your local health district should be ready to start vaccination clinics almost immediately as the pediatric vaccine ancillary supplies have been in place for weeks waiting for the approval.

Yup.

I am disappointed that they are using the 8 week window between shots. That was appropriate when vaccines were scarce 6 months ago but there is no scarcity now that would necessitate moving away from the recommended 3 week interval.

I believe it's due to evidence that a longer interval both produces a more durable immune response and may reduce the myocarditis risk. The UK has only just started allowing second doses for 16-17 year-olds, and are requiring a minimum 12 week interval. Frustrating for those who have a specific reason to get it done sooner - like a cruise - or for those of us who just want to be done with this, already. But the reasoning is pretty solid.

 

[kathleena]

My brother and his girlfriend went in Octoboer. It was only his 2nd time. Years ago we brought him
with us to visit and he said never again. He thought it was too crowded too many kids strollers etc.

Fast forward his gf thought it would be a nice surprise since he is big Star Wars fans to go for a
week. To my surprise he really had a good time and kept texting me how he felt it was a different
"vibe". They actually added another week to stay. They are what a new term is going around on
Disunplugged..."DINK". DOUBLE INCOME NO KIDS. So they were spending freely. I have seen the
writing on the wall for a while and kinda sad. My best memories are taking my kids when they
small.

Oh ya I was a DINK in the 80s too. We called it Dual Income No Kids. It's not really double, I was making way more than him!

 

[bcwife76]

Can you post the result? I was told to phone DCL to get an extension, too, but I don't know how much good it will do. Canada still has a "do not cruise" travel warning which essentially nullifies any insurance. I'm covered if I go to Florida, but if I get on a ship, I'm not covered unless that warning is dropped down a level (or two).

Apparently Manulife is now offering insurance for cruising that will cover Covid related issues.Worth looking into

 

[dcassetta]

My TA called DCL today about cancelling our inaugural Wish cruise. DCL told him explicitly that the vax mandate was only in effect til May 2022 and would not effect our June Wish sailing. I have not been able to find this in writing anywhere. Can anyone else confirm this ?

There is no way for DCL to know this right now. If the locations they are sailing to require cruise passengers to be vaccinated then DCL will have to require it also. No one in the Caribbean, Europe, or Canada has stated that vaccines will no longer be mandated. I think the CM answering the phone was mistaken.

 

[Babars_Wife]

We are booking our first DCL for January now that the vaccine mandate is in place. Our kids will be fully vaccinated by then. Very excited to try it out! Now I need “DCL for dummies” to make sure I know what I’m doing.

 

[mousefan73]

I wish they would institute this policy for their parks, as well. Our local Six Flags park requires proof of vaccination. Why not Disney? We might cancel our trip next year if the Covid situation in Florida isn't good. I'm sure we're not the only ones.

I was at Walt Disney World during the Florida peak in Aug And three weeks later at Disneyland Paris. Disneyland Paris back then you couldn’t get in if you weren’t vaccinated or tested. I may be wrong but the way Europe is right now it could even be that you have to be vaxxed to get in now. Let me tell you from the point of you of someone who is concerned about Covid that made the world of a difference. And the health pass line makes zero difference in getting into the parks. It was just one additional check that took one second before your reach security.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

Greece has been pretty open to cruise ships. You probably have a better shot than a Baltic cruise.

Not so much worried about getting to Greece etc. Testing to fly home etc. is a concern to my travel party as well as flying all the way to Rome, having to test and not be able to get on the ship.