November 3, 2026
One-way cruisers face a new CDC attestation before flying home
Starting tonight at 11:59 p.m. ET, every U.S.-bound flight requires a signed CDC attestation confirming the traveler has not been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the past 21 days. Travelers without one can be denied boarding.
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention order signed October 22, 2026, and amended October 28, requires every person boarding an international flight into or connecting through the United States to sign an attestation that they have not been present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the 21 days before boarding. The requirement applies to flights departing a foreign country at or after 11:59 p.m. ET on November 3, 2026, and runs through December 18, 2026, unless the CDC changes it sooner. Transit through a Congolese airport counts as being present, even without leaving the terminal, and airlines must deny boarding to anyone who has not completed the attestation.
The rule matters most for guests on one-way cruises, who typically fly home from a foreign port after disembarking. Major airlines have added the attestation to their check-in process, and the CDC accepts a paper signature, an authenticated digital signature, or an electronic attestation checkbox. One traveler may complete the declaration for their party.
What it means for your sailing: if you are on a one-way Royal Caribbean sailing and flying home from abroad on or after tonight, complete the attestation through your airline before you get to the airport and allow extra time at check-in. If you have been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the past 21 days, including a transit stop there, you cannot board a U.S.-bound flight without a U.S. government exemption, so check your itinerary and your airline's instructions before travel day.
