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(CNN) — Disney Cruise Line said Monday it was dropping the vaccination requirement for children under the age of 12.
As of September 2, the requirement to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 will no longer apply to guests aged 5 to 11 for sailings leaving US and Canadian ports.
The cruise line’s previous rule, which still applies to sailings departing until September 1, required guests ages 5 and older to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
Although the US Food and Drug Administration has approved Covid vaccines for children as young as 6 months, the cruise line had not extended its requirement to the youngest children.
“In view of CDC guidelines, Disney Cruise Line strongly recommends that guests aged 11 and under be fully vaccinated before sailing,” according to the Disney Cruise Line website.
Covid-19 testing is required for all guests, with different requirements for vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers.
Fully vaccinated guests who present a negative Covid-19 test result one to two days before departure are exempt from testing at the cruise terminal. Fully vaccinated guests who fail to provide the required negative test results will be required to take a test at the cruise terminal and will be charged for those tests.
Guests who have not been fully vaccinated must present a negative test result before travel and take a second test at the embarkation terminal, which is paid for by Disney.
CNN Travel has reached out to Disney Cruise Line for comment on the revised policy.
More cruise lines are easing Covid rules
Disney is not the only cruise line easing Covid-19 rules, and several cruise lines are moving forward in easing protocols.
The measures come after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention halted their cruise ship monitoring program in mid-July.
The agency said it would continue to issue testing recommendations to cruise lines and ships would still report Covid cases to the CDC.
The CDC said cruise lines have the tools and guidance to manage their own Covid mitigation.
“In addition, cruise travelers have access to recommendations that help them make informed decisions about cruise ship travel,” the CDC said.
Top image: The Disney Fantasy is pictured January 2, 2022 in Port Canaveral, Florida. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP)
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