Cruise travelers: check out Anvisa's guidelines
Incomplete vaccination against Covid-19 and not respecting the recommended time for human body immune response after the last dose: those factors can stop you from traveling.
The immunization period recommended worldwide comprises 14 days, also according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This deadline is supported by several clinical studies. The institutions use this time as a reference to achieve protection with the immunizing agent. However, there may be some variation among vaccines. Those must be well described in the drug package insert. For example, Pfizer Comirnaty® vaccine package insert states that someone who has been vaccinated with that drug will be protected seven days after the second dose.
After the Interministerial Ordinance 658/2021, the cruise season in Brazil has recently resumed. As a consequence, Anvisa had to define the sanitary protocols for the cruise-related activity. The goal of those protocols is to reduce the risk of contamination and the spread of Covid-19 during cruises.
Therefore all travelers must pay careful attention to the rules, documents and deadlines required for boarding authorization. This is given by cruise companies, which are responsible for ensuring the compliance with the rules. For that reason, you should read the cruise traveler guidance very carefully.
Here are the main requirements for cruise boarding and during the trip:
1 – Full vaccination against Covid-19. This means the traveler must have taken the second dose – or a single dose, depending on the vaccine – at least 14 days before the departure date or according to the information in the package insert. For the purposes of proof, it is necessary to show the Brazilian National Certificate of Vaccination against Covid-19.
2 - A negative RT-PCR test. This must be taken up to 72 hours before boarding. An antigen test is also accepted. In this case, it must be taken up to 24 hours before boarding.
3 - Filling in a form containing some information about the traveler's health conditions. This form must be showed by all passengers, including minors, as well as the crew. The person who is responsible for the vessel will evaluate the information provided and may deny boarding.
4 - Daily testing of 10% of all passengers on board and 10% of the crew. Positive tests cannot be ruled out by a second test (retest).
5 – The maximum capacity of the vessel is limited to 75% of the passenger capacity.
6 – The spacing on board must be respected: 1.5 meters between groups of travelers (e.g. family group or group of people traveling together).
7 - Weekly testing of the entire crew on board.
8 - Separate cabins to isolate suspected cases on board.
9 – Anvisa’s prior approval of the vessel protocols.
10 - Daily notification of the health situation in the vessel.