Disney Cruise Line has contacted all passengers who are booked on any of the Disney Wonder sailings from Australia regarding the current health protocols for Covid Testing and Vaccination.
All passengers aged 12 and over must be fully vaccinated to board and all aged 2 and over must provide a negative Covid test before boarding.
Note that sailings from New Zealand are not covered by this protocol.
It is very important that anyone who is booked on these cruises understands the current protocols and should visit
There is nothing new about these regulations as they have been in place for some time and have been available to see on the DCL website.
However, with the payment in full dates fast approaching for these cruises, DCL has sent an email to all those booked on the cruises that are affected, and extended cruise payment in full deadlines for select cruises.
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements on Cruises Sailing from Australia
All passengers 12 years of age and older must be fully vaccinated to board a cruise ship.
Australia considered a person ‘fully vaccinated’ if the person has had at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine approved or recognized by the Therapeutic Goods Association (excluding COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen (Janssen) which may be only one dose).
It’s strongly recommended that all eligible passengers (including children) are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations prior to travel.
Passengers with a medical exemption are permitted to travel without COVID-19 vaccination.
COVID-19 Testing on Sailings from Australia
All passengers, regardless of vaccination status, 2 years of age and older must take a PCR test within 48 hours before boarding, or a self-administered rapid antigen test within 24 hours before boarding. Guests under 2 years of age do not require testing.
The specifics of how guests will document this and provide proof to Disney Cruise Line have not been released at this time, but all guests will be updated as soon as this is in place.
Mask Wearing and Covid Testing
Here are the Eastern Seaboard and Western Australian cruise protocols documents issued by the Australian government with regard to mask-wearing and testing protocols.
Here are the requirements for a Tier 1 Baseline Sailing. What is this?
Threshold: 0-3% COVID-19 positive
There are protocols with additional requirements when the threshold is higher.
Extension of Final Payment for Your Cruise
If you are booked on a Disney Wonder sailing from October 13, 2023, through November 16, 2023, DCL are temporarily extending final payment until 60 days prior to sailing for Guests booked in unrestricted stateroom categories.
If you are booked between these dates your payment in full date has been extended until 60 days prior to sailing.
You will not be able to book onboard cruise activities until you have paid in full for your cruise regardless of your Castaway Club status.
You must also check if you are responsible for any third-party fees and cancellation fees as these are not covered by Disney Cruise Line. It is very important that you check all third-party suppliers, for example, travel agents, airlines, hotels, and travel insurance to see what non-refundable charges may be applicable.
You must cancel prior to August 8, 2023 for these conditions to apply.
Standard cancellation policies and terms and conditions apply for any cancellation or modification requests received on or after August 8, 2023.
Sailings from New Zealand
At this time, COVID-19 vaccination and testing is not required for Disney Magic at Sea sailings from New Zealand.
Email Sent by DCL
This is a copy of the email that is being sent by Disney Cruise Line:
07/25/2023
Dear ,
?All of us at Disney Cruise Line look forward to welcoming you aboard the Disney Wonder. We are reaching out with important information about your sailing.
Please be aware that guests traveling on a cruise ship visiting Australia must comply with the Eastern Seaboard and Western Australian Cruise Protocols. The current Eastern Seaboard and Western Australian Cruise Protocols require the following:
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements All passengers 12 years of age and older must be fully vaccinated to board a cruise ship. Australia considered a person ‘fully vaccinated’ if the person has had at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine approved or recognized by the Therapeutic Goods Association (excluding COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen (Janssen) which may be only one dose). It’s strongly recommended that all eligible passengers (including children) are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations prior to travel. Passengers with a medical exemption are permitted to travel without COVID-19 vaccination.
COVID-19 Testing All passengers, regardless of vaccination status, 2 years of age and older must take a PCR test within 48 hours before boarding, or a self-administered rapid antigen test within 24 hours before boarding. Guests under 2 years of age do not require testing.
Cruise health and safety protocols vary among countries and continue to evolve. There is a possibility that COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements may change or be eliminated by the Australian government before your sailing.
In the coming months, we will provide more information on the process for submitting your proof of COVID-19 vaccination and testing, and how to file for a medical exemption. We encourage you to visit the Know Before You Go section of our website for the latest information about health and safety requirements for Disney Cruise Line sailings in Australia.
For sailings aboard the Disney Wonder from October 13, 2023, through November 16, 2023, we are temporarily extending final payment until 60 days prior to sailing for Guests booked in unrestricted stateroom categories. This means that those Guests who have not yet reached their final payment due date can wait until up to 60 days prior to sailing to pay any remaining balance due for their cruise vacation. Onboard cruise activities can be scheduled within your Castaway Club booking window once final payment is received.
Guests booked on the Disney Wonder October 13, 2023, through November 16, 2023, may modify their sail date or cancel their sailing without any Disney-imposed cancellation fees by contacting our reservations team before August 8, 2023, at 1800-718-515 (AU), 0508-765-433 (NZ), and 1-866-325-6685 or 407-566-7797 from all other countries. Please note that change fees and cancellation fees imposed by third-party suppliers, such as airlines and hotels, as well as travel insurance, are not refundable. Refunds will be processed back to the original form of payment. Standard cancellation policies and terms and conditions apply for any cancellation or modification requests received on or after August 8, 2023.
It is extremely important that if you are booked on a Disney Cruise sailing from Australia and New Zealand, or thinking of booking one, that you keep up to date with the current protocols.
Having sailed many times myself when similar regulations were in place for cruses from the US, I know that keeping up with, and dealing with testing, vaccination and mask wearing protocols can be stressful.
I also know that whilst sailing with similar protocols can be challenging, you can still have a magical cruise experience.
If you have any doubt about the protocols it is very important that you contact Disney Cruise Line at 1800-718-515 (AU), 0508-765-433 (NZ), and 1-866-325-6685 or 407-566-7797 from all other countries.
Disney says on their website:
Disney Cruise Line’s focus remains on creating magic for all on board while operating the ships in a responsible manner. The health and safety of the Crew Members and Guests are top of mind. While protocols may change at any time, Disney Cruise Line adheres to the local laws, regulations and protocols in place—including those related to health and safety—at all homeports and ports of call. Guests should review and stay up to date with any cruise-specific requirements, restrictions or recommendations that may be in place for travel to these destinations.
Make sure that you visit and bookmark DCL Know Before You Go Page if you are booked or thinking of booking a Disney Cruise from Australia.
Alison Meacham is the founder of EverythingMouse Disney Blog. For over 15 years she has shared her love of Disney Parks, Disney Cruises and Universal Orlando. In over 30 years of Disney Travel she has spent countless months in Disney Parks and has sailed on over 45 cruises. A British native and now a United States resident she splits her time between California, Florida and the UK. And spends a serious amount of time sailing the seven seas. She helps over 200,000 people per month follow their Disney travel dreams.
