DCL-Disney Cruise Line received approval to start test cruises at the end of June 2021.
According to Thomas Mazloum, President, Disney Signature Experiences, the USA's CDC agency has given the line permission to do test sailings.
The announcement of DCL's test cruises signals that the line will not go with the mandate of having at least 95% vaccinated guests and 98% vaccinated crew in order to bypass test sailings. Like Royal Caribbean, the number of children onboard means too many passengers would be unvaccinated, and as a result, test sailings are required.
The test voyages will start on June 29 from Port Canaveral (Orlando Florida) and include only volunteers acting as guests. The first cruise will run through July 1 aboard Disney Dream.
Disney is the second cruise line to get approval to start test sailings, following the announcement of RCI-Royal Caribbean last week.
Vaccine requirements are not mandatory for test cruises per the CDC's Framework for Conditional Sailing Order.
Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and if they are not vaccinated, they must have written documentation from a health care provider or must self certify that they are not at a heightened risk for COVID.