Do the new COVID-19 testing rules apply to cruisers?
The Biden Administration on Thursday announced a more stringent COVID-19 testing requirement for travelers entering the U.S. from foreign countries.
But the new rule doesn't apply to all travelers.
As in the past, cruisers will be exempt from the testing requirement if they arrive in the U.S. by ship.
The new rule, which takes effect on Monday, Dec. 6, only applies to travelers flying into the U.S. In addition to travelers arriving by ship, travelers arriving by car and other vehicles at border crossings with Canada and Mexico also will be exempt from the rule.
This means that some -- but not all -- cruisers will be unaffected by the changing testing rules. Here, everything you need to know about the new COVID-19 testing requirement if you have a soon-to-depart cruise in the works:
How is the COVID-19 testing rule changing?
Starting on Monday, Dec. 6, all travelers flying to the U.S. from a foreign country, whether they are vaccinated or not, must produce a negative COVID-19 test taken within one calendar day of their departure.
This includes international visitors as well as U.S. citizens and residents returning home. This is a significant change from the current policy, which allows a three-day window for fully vaccinated individuals to get a pre-travel COVID-19 test before flying to the U.S.
The change comes just days after the new omicron variant of COVID-19 was deemed a “variant of concern” (the most severe category) by the World Health Organization.
Will I need to take a COVID-19 test to enter the US by cruise ship?
No. Since the testing requirement announced on Thursday only will apply to travelers arriving in the U.S. by airplane, travelers arriving in the U.S. by cruise ship will not need a negative result on a COVID-19 test to enter the country.
In other words, if you cruise out of a U.S. port such as PortMiami to such international ports as Cozumel in Mexico or Nassau, in the Bahamas, you won't need a COVID-19 test before disembarking at the end of the voyage.
But that doesn't mean cruisers won't have to take any COVID-19 tests in connection with such a sailing.
In keeping with U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, cruise lines operating out of U.S. ports currently are requiring passengers to test negative for COVID-19 before boarding ships. Passengers typically have to test negative for COVID-19 within two or three days of arriving at a ship.
How does the new rule affect me if I'm sailing on a cruise overseas?
In this case, the testing rule for cruisers is changing.
Cruisers who fly from the U.S. to catch a sailing in, say, Europe or South America, will now need to get a COVID-19 test (and test negative) no more than one day before they fly back home from the cruise.
Until now, they've had a three-day window before flying back home to get such a test.
Most cruise lines have been offering onboard COVID-19 tests to passengers in such situations either for free or for a modest fee in the day or two before the end of a sailing. This means that cruisers typically have been able to walk off ships at the end of overseas sailings with the paperwork they need to fly home to the U.S. that same day.
What kind of COVID-19 test will I need to fly home from an overseas cruise?
As in the past, travelers entering the U.S. by airplane can show a negative result from either an antigen or PCR test for COVID-19.
There was talk in recent days of the Biden Administration requiring the more-involved PCR test. But that was not part of the final rule. This is good news for cruisers worried about getting results of a COVID-19 test back in the new, tighter one-day window, as antigen test results normally come back very fast.
The only change to the rule is that the COVID-19 test must now be performed no more than one day in advance of flying home instead of up to three days in advance.
Can I use an at-home COVID-19 antigen test to return from an overseas cruise?
It appears so. But only supervised at-home tests will qualify. The CDC earlier this year said passengers could use proctored at-home tests to meet the testing requirement for flights to the U.S., and the new rule announced Thursday did not mention a change to this policy.
The at-home tests that have been allowed (on a supervised basis) for entry into the U.S. have included the Abbott BinaxNow COVID-19 Home Test and Ellume’s COVID-19 Home Test.
Are there exceptions to the new COVID-19 testing rule?
Travelers who are 2 years of age and younger are exempt from the new rule, as with the original rule.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.