What Canadians Taking A U.S. Cruise Need to Know About COVID-19 Testing and Travel Requirements

Is it worth it for Canadians to fly to the United States for a cruise?

As the lone Canadian on Cruise Critic's editorial team, it's a question I am asked a lot. And the answer -- without question -- is an unequivocal 'YES!' screamed at the top of my lungs from a very tall mountain.

Having said that, however, there are some COVID-19 requirements and protocols that Canadians flying to the U.S. to embark that cruise getaway in the sun should be aware of this winter. These are subject to change; it is always best to check with your cruise line, airline and other resources for the most up-to-date information.

What Do Canadians Need to Get into the U.S. for a Cruise?

First of all, if you're over 12 years of age, you'll need proof of full vaccination to board any flight in Canada -- domestic, transborder or international. So don't forget to bring your proof of vaccination with you to the airport (though really, you should always have this with you, as you'll need it to embark your ship).

On December 2, 2021, the United States announced all international arrivals will be required to produce a negative test (antigen or PCR) taken one calendar day prior to arrival. This replaces the previous requirement which allowed for testing to take place up to 72 hours prior to arrival.

If anything, this is good news for Canadians traveling to the U.S. to cruise. With the CDC mandating that tests be taken no more than two calendar days ahead of schedule, Canadians can test before their flight and still stay one day pre-cruise and have their existing COVID-19 test remain valid for embarkation.

More good news: inexpensive rapid antigen tests are widely available, both from testing locations at major international airports to independent locations at local drugstores and even Wal-Mart locations.

International travelers over the age of 18 (including Canadians) will also need to be fully vaccinated in order to travel to the United States by air. Unvaccinated children under the age of 18 are currently exempt, but must adhere to masking requirements. (You'll want to check the vaccine requirements of your line before you book, however).

Passengers will also be required to sign an attestation form in order to enter the U.S. that states that COVID-19 is a risk. In the summer, this was a paper-and-pen exercise at check-in, but today most airlines, including Air Canada, have enabled passengers to digitally agree to this form via their app-based check-in process.

Even the process of getting into the U.S. is a bit different these days. Gone are the digital kiosks in Canada's preclearance airports, replaced instead with the in-person visits of old with a CBP officer.

Unlike the days of old, however, the CBP officials I've interacted with have been nothing but pleasant, friendly, and extremely professional. There was once a time where condescension, interrogation and indifference reigned supreme, but that seems to have disappeared. The CBP seems to be as happy for you to be entering the U.S. from Canada's airports as you are.

Canadian Cruisers Should Give Yourself More Time, and Get the Apps

Whether you're a smartphone power-user or not, you're going to need the app for your chosen airline these days. It's the best way to keep track of your documentation, paperwork, requirements, and flight information -- all in one spot.

And, in many cases, having checked-in on the app can save you time. Air Canada's app, for example, lets you upload your testing results, digitally approve your U.S. attestation form, and receive updated boarding passes.

It also keeps you abreast on changing requirements -- as most airline apps do these days, alerting you to last-minute changes you might need to be aware of.

One thing to keep in mind is that all of this -- verifying COVID-19 vaccination, negative test results, and other paperwork -- takes time. More time than you might be used to. And if you don't have frequent flier status of any kind, be prepared to spend more time queuing at airports.

My recent experiences flying to the U.S. with Air Canada (to Seattle and Fort Lauderdale via Vancouver and Toronto Pearson) were nothing but speedy and smooth. A recent flight from Calgary to Dallas on American Airlines, however, was anything but: despite checking-in online on the app, submitting my vaccination documentation and proof of negative antigen test, and entering it all into the third-party VeriFLY app, all passengers still had to queue up to check in a bag and have documentation verified.

Total time from curb to security: a boredom-inducing 80 minutes.

Get to the airport early -- like three hours prior to departure early.

What Do Canadian Cruisers Need to Get Back into Canada?

As of April 1, 2022, fully vaccinated travelers looking to enter Canada will no longer need to produce a negative test in order to do so. This is a real improvement for visitors and residents alike, compared with the past regime that required a negative PCR test to be taken no more than 72 hours prior to departure. That was later downgraded to an antigen test, but the costs -- particularly for a family of four fully-vaccinated travelers -- could really add up.

As of April 1, passengers will still be required to show proof of full vaccination, along with an ArriveCAN confimration -- more on that below. Random testing will still be conducted on incoming travelers at many of Canada's airports.

Canadian Cruisers: Don't Forget About ArriveCAN

Passengers arriving into Canada by air will also need to complete border formalities on the ArriveCAN app, or line on the ArriveCAN website -- and it's not optional.

Failure to provide information on ArriveCAN prior to arrival can result in being denied boarding for your flight to Canada, and puts you at risk of fines, additional questioning, and the revocation of your quarantine exemption. And no one wants that.

In the summer of 2021, ArriveCAN was clunky and hard to use. It has improved dramatically since then, and now stores your passport and vaccine information to easily use for future trips.

No border official has ever asked to see my ArriveCAN receipt, but presumably it is tied to your passport number.

Canadian Cruisers: Here Comes the Sun

If all of this sounds intimidating, take it from me: travel to the U.S. has gotten easier and more efficient since I first returned to travel this past July.

In July 2021, transborder travel was like the Wild West: no one really knew what to do. Canadian airports were deserted, lounges had capacity restrictions or were closed entirely, and coming back into Canada required you to complete an on-arrival test, collect your baggage, exit the secure area, re-check-in, and re-clear security. It was, to put it politely, a real pain in the aft.

The last time I flew home through both Toronto Pearson and Vancouver from the U.S, however, things had changed. Customs was streamlined. Baggage was checked through (at least on Air Canada). And customs formalities were completed in a separate part of the airport for connecting passengers.

Is it worth the hassle? Absolutely. Sailing past rows of palm trees in Miami through the Government Cut, bound for the sun-drenched shores of the Caribbean, beats the cold Canadian winters we all secretly love to loathe.

It's all worth it to get back out on the water. Just keep an eye on those travel restrictions, because they can change every day.