Current Vaccine and Testing Requirements for All Major Cruise Lines
There’s a lot of new news surrounding the CDC’s recent ending of its COVID-19-related cruise requirements, and so far, plenty of cruise lines have been making amendments to their vaccination and testing requirements.
Check out the cruise lines below to learn about the current vaccine and testing requirements for each of the most popular cruise lines. Don’t hesitate to check out their individual websites for more detailed information, especially if you’ll be heading on a cruise soon!
Carnival Cruise Line amended its requirements on August 4. Fully vaccinated guests heading on cruises five nights or less no longer need to test prior to embarkation.
Unvaccinated guests over the age of two can cruise as long as they provide a recent negative medically or lab-administered COVID-19 test result.
There may be restrictions or exceptions to both rules depending on specific destinations.
Princess Cruises has different protocols for different regions of the world. Cruisers aged 12 and older sailing from North American ports with a stop in Canada at any point of the cruise must be fully vaccinated; additionally, the majority of guests on Princess’s other itineraries must also be fully vaccinated. These guests must provide a recent negative COVID-19 test upon embarkation.
The cruise line is currently offering 10 percent of its guest capacity for unvaccinated guests (excluding itineraries visiting Canada). Unvaccinated guests are subject to testing requirements.
Holland America Line’s itineraries in North America currently require travelers aged 12 and up to be fully vaccinated; all guests 2 and up to present a recent negative COVID-19 result upon embarkation. Travelers on cruises heading to Canada at any point in their journey must also complete the ArriveCAN app prior to embarkation.
Seabourn is requiring travelers to be fully vaccinated (as defined by the country of embarkation) and to provide a recent negative COVID-19 test result. Other rules include filling out the Passage Contract, COVID-19 Risk Acceptance and health questionnaires, as well as completing a pre-embarkation health screening.
Cunard Line requires guests aged 12 and over to be fully vaccinated (with a booster when applicable). These guests must present a recent negative COVID-19 test result taken prior to embarkation.
Unvaccinated children 5 to 11 years of age must adhere to the testing rules above, but may also be given another test during embarkation. Children aged four and under do not need to adhere to any rules.
Costa Cruises requires all travelers 2 and older to present a recent COVID-19 test result. They must also complete the self-declaration form in the MyCosta app, which includes sharing their vaccination status.
There are a few ways of satisfying the vaccine requirements: a guest can be fully vaccinated, provide proof of recent recovery from COVID-19 and at least one vaccine after recovery, have had at least one vaccine and then a recent recovery from COVID-19 after the initial vaccination, or have recently recovered from COVID-19.
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MSC Cruises
On August 8, MSC Cruises updated its testing and vaccination protocols for departures from U.S. ports. Unvaccinated travelers under the age of 12 can now cruise with the line provided they show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test.
Guests who are fully vaccinated must also adhere to the line’s testing requirements if they sail on an itinerary that is six days or longer. Vaccinated guests sailing on shorter cruises don’t need to present a test result. All guests 12 years and older are required to be fully vaccinated.
MSC Cruises’ testing and vaccination requirements vary according to the countries from which they sail, so make sure to check out the specific requirements of the region in question.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Inc.
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The three cruise lines under NCLH have also made amendments to their testing and vaccination policies.
Norwegian Cruise Line announced the greatest easing of vaccination requirements, effective August 11: all guests 12 and up will be required to either provide proof of full vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test result.
There will be, of course, some itineraries with different rules, due to specific destinations’ requirements, like Greece, Canada and Bermuda, which continue to require fully vaccinated guests.
Beginning September 3, Oceania Cruises will no longer require vaccinated travelers to test prior to embarkation. Unvaccinated travelers will be able to sail with a recently administered negative COVID-19 test result, with some exclusions.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises will also amend its testing and vaccination requirements beginning September 3. Fully vaccinated guests will no longer need to provide negative COVID-19 tests, while unvaccinated guests will be allowed onboard provided they test negative ahead of embarkation (both with some exceptions, such as cruises heading to Canada or Greece).
Travelers will also undergo a pre-embarkation health screening.
Royal Caribbean Group
Royal Caribbean International has changed its testing requirements for fully vaccinated travelers. Those who are fully vaccinated don’t need to test if they’re going on a cruise that is five nights or less. Exceptions include cruises with ports of call in Bermuda and Canada, as well as longer cruises.
Children who are unvaccinated no longer need to test again during embarkation; they only need to present the initial negative test taken before embarkation. The cruise line is sailing with 80 percent fully vaccinated guests, and 20 percent unvaccinated.
Celebrity Cruises amended its testing and vaccine requirements as of August 8 as well. They match those of Royal Caribbean but add no extra testing requirements for back-to-back cruises.
Silversea requires all travelers 12 and up to be fully vaccinated, including boosters if applicable. Fully vaccinated guests who have not received a booster dose are required to present a negative antigen or PCR test result taken no more than 2 days prior to boarding.
Vaccinated travelers with their recommended boosters are required to present a negative antigen or PCR test taken no more than 3 days prior to boarding.
All guests will also undergo daily temperature checks and must complete a health questionnaire.
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