Will the new COVID-19 testing regulations affect cruisers?

On Thursday, the Biden Administration revealed a tougher COVID-19 testing mandate for travelers arriving in the U.S. from abroad.

However, this new regulation doesn't apply to every traveler.

Cruisers will continue to be exempt from testing if they arrive in the U.S. by ship, just as before.

Starting Monday, Dec. 6, the new rule will be limited to air travelers entering the U.S. Additionally, those crossing into the U.S. by car or other vehicles from Canada and Mexico will also be exempt.

This indicates that while some cruisers may remain unaffected by the evolving testing regulations, others will need to pay attention. Here's everything you need to know about the new COVID-19 testing requirement for your upcoming cruise:

What changes are being made to the COVID-19 testing regulations?

Effective Monday, Dec. 6, all travelers heading to the U.S. from abroad, regardless of vaccination status, must present a negative COVID-19 test taken within one day of their departure.

This requirement applies to international visitors, as well as U.S. citizens and residents returning to the country. This marks a significant shift from the current policy, which permits a three-day testing window for fully vaccinated travelers before flying to the U.S.

This update follows shortly after the World Health Organization classified the new omicron variant of COVID-19 as a "variant of concern," the highest alert level.

Will I need to undergo a COVID-19 test to board a cruise ship to the U.S.?

No. The testing requirement announced on Thursday applies only to those arriving in the U.S. by air, meaning travelers arriving by cruise ship will not be required to present a negative COVID-19 test to enter the country.

In simpler terms, if you embark on a cruise from a U.S. port like PortMiami to international destinations such as Cozumel in Mexico or Nassau in the Bahamas, you won't have to take a COVID-19 test before disembarking at the end of your trip.

However, this doesn't imply that cruisers are completely exempt from COVID-19 testing related to their voyage.

Following the guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cruise lines departing from U.S. ports currently require passengers to show a negative COVID-19 test result before boarding. Typically, this means testing negative within two or three days prior to boarding the ship.

What impact does the new rule have on me if I'm cruising abroad?

In this situation, the testing requirement for cruisers is indeed changing.

Cruisers flying from the U.S. to catch a cruise in destinations like Europe or South America will now be required to take a COVID-19 test (and obtain a negative result) no more than one day prior to their return flight home after the cruise.

Previously, they had a three-day window to complete this testing before heading back home.

Most cruise lines have been providing onboard COVID-19 testing for passengers in these circumstances, either at no cost or for a small fee, in the days leading up to the end of a voyage. This allows cruisers to disembark from ships at the end of international cruises with the necessary documentation to return to the U.S. on the same day.

What type of COVID-19 test will I need to take to fly back home from an international cruise?

As before, travelers arriving in the U.S. by air can present a negative result from either an antigen or PCR COVID-19 test.

There were recent discussions about the Biden Administration mandating the more complex PCR test, but this was not included in the final rule. This is a relief for cruisers concerned about obtaining COVID-19 test results within the tighter one-day requirement, as antigen tests usually provide results much more quickly.

The only modification to the rule is that the COVID-19 test must now be taken no more than one day prior to your return flight, instead of the previous three-day window.

Is it permissible to use an at-home COVID-19 antigen test for my return from an overseas cruise?

It seems so. However, only supervised at-home tests will be accepted. Earlier this year, the CDC stated that passengers could utilize proctored at-home tests to satisfy the testing requirement for flights to the U.S., and the new rule announced on Thursday did not indicate any changes to this policy.

The at-home tests that have been permitted (under supervision) for entry into the U.S. include the ​Abbott BinaxNow COVID-19 Home Test and Ellume's COVID-19 Home Test.

Are there any exceptions to the new COVID-19 testing requirements?

Travelers aged 2 years and younger are exempt from the new rule, just as they were with the previous regulations.