(CNN) — Disney Cruise Line announced Monday that it is dropping its vaccination requirement for children under 12 years old.
Effective September 2, guests ages 5-11 years of age on cruises departing from ports in the United States and Canada will no longer be required to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
The cruise line’s previous rule, which still extends to cruises through September 1, required guests aged 5 and over to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Covid vaccines for children as young as 6 months, the cruise line had not extended its requirements to the youngest children.
With the change, vaccination is still mandatory for all guests aged 12 and over. The cruise line advises that vaccinations are recommended for younger travelers.
“In light of CDC guidelines, Disney Cruise Line strongly recommends that guests ages 11 and younger be fully vaccinated prior to sailing,” reads Disney Cruise Line’s 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 prior to sailing are exempt from testing at the cruise terminal. Fully vaccinated guests who fail to provide the required negative test results will be required to undergo testing at the cruise terminal, for which testing will be charged.
Guests who are not fully vaccinated must present a negative test result prior to travel and undergo a second test at the terminal prior to embarkation, paid for by Disney.
CNN Travel has reached out to Disney Cruise Line for comment on the revised policy.
More cruise ships are relaxing the Covid rules
Disney isn’t the only cruise line relaxing Covid-19 rules, and several cruise lines are going further in relaxing protocols.
Beginning September 5, Royal Caribbean will allow all travelers, regardless of vaccination status, to sail from multiple US ports as well as European homeports. Celebrity Cruises has also announced plans to ease vaccination requirements when traveling from some ports beginning September 5. And Carnival Cruise Line plans to allow unvaccinated guests to sail on most cruises beginning September 6.
The moves come after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suspended its cruise ship surveillance program in mid-July.
The agency said it will continue to provide testing recommendations to cruise lines and ships will continue to report Covid cases to the CDC.
The CDC said cruise lines have the tools and guidance to manage their own Covid mitigation.
“Additionally, cruise travelers have access to recommendations that enable them to make informed decisions about cruise travel,” the CDC said.
Pictured above: The Disney Fantasy is pictured in Port Canaveral, Florida on January 2, 2022. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP)