The British-based cruise line which caters to guests 50 years old and over was the first in the world to issue a vaccine mandate on January 20, 2021. This update includes fullPanama Canaltransit, trans-ocean, and designated remote voyages, for guests ages five and up. Furthermore, fully vaccinated guests will no longer need to pre-cruise test for any sailing less than nine nights, unless visiting a port of call in Bermuda or Canada. Updated: Feb. 28, 2023 at 3:58 PM PST. Pre-cruise testing might be required, depending on your port of embarkation. The chief executive of United Airlines has said he favors making the shots mandatory, and several cruise lines will ask their crews to be vaccinated before returning to work. Currently, Viking will require all guests to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at least 14 days prior to travel. On April 6, Qatar Airlines became the first airline to operate a fully vaccinated flight, carrying only vaccinated crew and passengers. Additionally, all eligible passengers 12 and older must have their booster shots in order to sail. Everything you need to know about Sky Princess. Coronavirus Cruise lines and Florida Gov. Starting from August 8, Celebrity Cruises will have its newly updated protocols in place. - Face masks are recommended, but not required, in the majority of venues, though they may be required in select venues or situations. For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPGs new cruise newsletter. Otherwise, passengers will be allowed to embark with only their initial doses. Check here before booking an award fare. The same policy counts for all cruises onboard MSC cruise ships sailing itineraries six days and longer from U.S. ports. As the largest cruise lines sailing from the U.S., Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian don't want to be the first to make major covid policy changes. The line will test passengers at the embarkation port, but recommend that guests test at home prior to travel. now welcome all travelers, regardless of vaccination status, and no longer This page was last updated on Feb. 15, 2023. Beginning September 6, 2022, Carnival will allow unvaccinated passengers to sail on voyages of fewer than 16 nights without requesting exemptions. Effective on September 6, 2022, Princess Cruises will remove all of its vaccine requirements for most voyages less than 16 days long. "We want you to be more. Guests MUST bring their test result to the port in order to board because testing is not available at the terminal. Testing requirements vary by country. Testing will be required in line with the rules of the countries from which Emerald's vessels depart. COVID-19 vaccination may not be required to board domestic flights, however; Delta's CEO, Ed Bastian, told the Today show that may be something exclusive to international travel, "whether the airlines do it or international authorities do it.". Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Testing requirements vary by location. On August 1, 2022, MSC Cruises announced that starting from August 8, fully vaccinated guests sailing on a cruise of five nights or shorter will no longer be required to provide a negative test result before sailing. Through November 30, 2022, all passengers, ages 12 and older, must be inoculated to cruise with Azamara, and proof is required. - On Paul Gauguin Cruises sailings departing from Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Noumea and Auckland to French Polynesia, COVID-19 tests for vaccinated travelers are no longer required, but vaccines and a booster (in some cases) are still required for guests 12 and older. - Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings'brands Disney Cruise Line adheres to local laws, regulations and protocols in place at all homeports and ports of call . - Only on certain itineraries in select regions will enhanced protocols and testing be required, as can be discovered using an online tool. Royal Caribbeans CocoCay versus MSCs Ocean Cay, which is better? - As of Dec. 1, 2022, guests traveling with Azamara no longer need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 on sailings starting and ending in the U.S. or Europe. Virgin Voyages, Richard Branson's forthcoming adult-only cruise line, will require both passengers and crew to have been vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to boarding. Please have your itinerary number available and one of our agents will assist you. Although, as of April 7, 2023, proof of inoculation will no longer be needed. Princess Cruisesremoved the vaccine requirement for most sailings of less than 16 days so that anyone can cruise. - Currently, masks are optional onboard, but may be required at certain times on the ship, based on conditions at the time of travel. |. There's a lot to consider when planning a cruise vacation. Despite the law, two of the biggest cruise lines, Carnival and Norwegian have decided to impose proof-of-vaccination requirements, according to information published on their websites.. Boosters are recommended but not required. Vaccinated guestswill need to provide proof of vaccination (two-dose or single dose taken at least 14 days prior to departure), and unvaccinated guestswill need to provide negative antigen test results administered by a verified testing agency, taken no more than one day prior to sailing date. Until then, though, passengers must still be fully inoculated against COVID-19. All policies are subject to local destination regulations. Exclusions include voyages of 16 nights or more; itineraries that the line labels as "complex"; and sailings that begin in, end in or visit Australia, Canada and other countries with testing requirements. Vaccines are required for all passengers until further notice, and proof must be provided prior to boarding. This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more. NCL will continue to follow the travel requirements of the destinations it visits, such as Greece which still requires a negative Covid-19test for vaccinated and unvaccinated passengers 12 and older, or a certificate of recovery. Unvaccinated children ages 5 and younger do not need to test on sailings from the U.S. (again, Bermuda and Canada cruises are the exceptions); on voyages from Europe, unvaccinated passengers 12 and younger do not need to test. Alternatively, unvaccinated travelers can pay $75 to be tested at the port on the day of boarding. When asked how the cruise lines will verify COVID-19 vaccinations among its guests, a Celebrity Cruises spokesperson said that adult guests over the age of 18 will be asked at boarding to show the . Atlas Ocean Voyages Vaccine required? . Starting Aug. 1, that age . However, lines that planned to welcome unvaccinated adults have had to get stricter about vaccine requirements to adhere to new government policies. A spokesperson for the cruise line . require testing (may vary depending on vaccination status) nor masking, except COVID-19 shots are compulsory for all passengers cruising with Atlas, with proof of inoculation required before embarkation. Sailings on September 6, 2022,vaccinated guestswill no longer need to present a negative pre-cruise COVID-19 test in order to set sail. Updated December 19, 2022 - Multiple cruise lines have announced they will eliminate COVID-19 vaccine requirements and pre-cruise COVID testing requirements later this summer as a part of their health and safety protocols. Passengers will be asked to upload proof of vaccination no later than 21 days prior to beginning travel and have proof available at embarkation. All passengers eligible to be vaccinated must be inoculated in order to cruise with Uniworld. Unvaccinated kids under five are permitted to. Starting September 5, 2022, all guests can sail, regardless of vaccination status. Whether youre road-tripping or globetrotting, the suite life is always better. Guests aged three and older may embark without testing or vaccination, if providing documentation that he/she has recovered from COVID-19 between ten to 90 days prior to the departure date (not counting departure date), presenting a positive test result from a dated CDC-approved testing facility. All Cunard passengers, regardless of age, must be fully vaccinated and provide proof before boarding. Erica Silverstein is a cruise and family travel expert, who has been covering the industry for more than 15 years. Copyright 2023 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. and New Orleans. Testing requirements in Europe still distinguish between Up-to-Date, Fully Vaccinated and Unvaccinated status. COVID-19 shots are a requirement for all travelers, regardless of age, who are cruising with Emerald. Royal Caribbean reportedly removed its mixed vaccine policy from its website over the weekend,. Proof must be provided, preferably in the form of an original vaccine card. And face coverings are not required onboard now. Even COVID-19 testing requirements, Bastian said in January, would be burdensome for domestic . Currently, all three major U.S. cruise lines require all passengers to provide proof of a negative covid test taken no more than two days before their cruise and all passengers ages 12. Unvaccinated cruisers will need to self-test no more than three days prior to embarkation and show proof of negative results. Unvaccinated guests will need to provide a negative self-test result taken within three days of embarkation, but unvaccinated children under five years old will not be required to pre-cruise test. Travelers 12 and older from countries outside the U.S. will still need to be fully immunized, and all passengers 2 and older, regardless of vaccination status, will still need to provide negative test results before embarking. Unvaccinated passengers can cruise with negative results from any commercially available test, including self-tests. COVID-19 tests are still given so everyone may cruise without social distancing or wearing a mask. Guests who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical, religious, or other personal reasons may once again cruise with Holland America Line on sailings shorter than 16 nights. However, keep in mind that the rules may vary by country, with some lines requiring boosters for international departures due to local regulations, or for extra-long sailings like ocean crossings, when port calls are few or nonexistent. Effective for Holland America Line cruises departing on or afterSeptember 6, 2022, most voyages up to 15 nights (excluding certain specified itineraries), vaccinated guests must show proof of vaccination prior to embarking but will no longer have to test before cruising. Fully vaccinated travelers are no longer mandated to test prior to sailing. For all sailings from U.S. homeports with no stops in Bermuda or Canada, fully vaccinated guests must bring a negative PCR or antigen test result taken within the three days before boarding on sailings that aresix nights or longer only, but testing is not required for fully vaccinated guests on shorter itineraries. - Only on cruises of 16 nights or more might adult guests be required to be vaccinated and boosted (or all passengers tested). What happens if I miss my cruise due to a flight cancellation? Fully vaccinated travelers will still be required to show proof of inoculation at embarkation, and those who are unvaccinated will need to provide a negative PCR test result that's no more than three days old. Proof of a negative test can be the printed or digital results, a clear photo of your self-test result, or your actual self-test in hand. However, the cruise lines are still "exploring. The European Union is conforming plans to open borders for vaccinated visitors this summer. Find the right card for you. COVID-19 shots are compulsory for all passengers cruising with Atlas, with proof of inoculation required before embarkation. - Prior to boarding, guests sailing on any of Sea Clouds three ships must take an antigen COVID-19 test within 48 hours of embarkation. - Masks are encouraged in onboard public areas, but not required. As of July 22, 2022, Margaritaville at Sea no longer requires testing for vaccinated guests. Guests that are unable to show proof of vaccination are considered unvaccinated and must follow Unvaccinated Guests requirements outlined below). Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH-1.12%) announced on Tuesday that it is canceling all . With multiple cruise lines relaxing requirements step-by-step, cruisers can expect further updates to come. Published on March 16, 2021. $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Booster shots are recommended for those who are eligible. Through September 22, 2022, cruisers who have their shots will have to provide negative results from a PCR or proctored antigen test taken no more than 48 hours before embarkation; unvaccinated guests must provide negative results from a PCR test taken no more than 72 hours prior to boarding and take a second test at the pier before boarding. Generally, proof of inoculation must include your name, the type of vaccine you received and the dates on which you received all required doses. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. - Pre-cruise testing is no longer required. Norwegian Cruise Line is sailing from US ports again with a 100% vaccination policy, no exceptions. Need Help Planning the Perfect Vacation? - Face masks are no longer required onboard or in enclosed spaces. All sailings will accept any commercially available test, including self-tests, with the exception of Greece Greece will not accept self-tests. For other Hurtigruten sailings, rules vary according to departure region. to satisfy this requirement. On back-to-back voyages that are 16 days or longer, guests will have to undergo a test between cruises. - Guests no longer have to be vaccinated nor tested on mostPrincess Cruisessailings,save for certain voyages where passengers can use an online tool to discover any other requirements. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). Children under 12 years of age do not need to test prior to boarding. TPG values it at $1,600. Given that Celestyal operates out of Greece, which still has stringent protocols, all passengers will be required to provide negative results from a PCR test no more than 72 hours old. Beginning 11 March 2023, sailings departing from and returning to Europe do not require COVID-19 vaccination. Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. If you don't remember you personal data, use button "Forgot Password". Many U.S.-based cruise lines restarted cruises with mainly vaccinated guests, and the vaccination requirement remains in place for these lines. One CDC study found that adults who received the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 . Beginning September 18, 2022, on Valiant Lady and September 21, 2022, on Scarlet Lady, Virgin Voyages will allow everyone to sail, regardless of vaccination status. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. Cruisers 11 and younger are exempt from both providing proof of vaccination and from testing. Other exceptions to these waivers include sailings that call on or sail to/from Australia, Bermuda, Canada and Greece. - As of July 25, 2022, the line no longer requires pre-cruise testing unless required by the destination. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. Per Norways regulations, Norwegian coastal voyages do not list vaccination as a requirement for boarding. Margaritaville at Sea Paradise welcomes all guests onboard regardless of vaccination status. -As of Sept. 1, 2022, Lindblad Expeditions passengers over 4 years old are required to be vaccinated prior to sailing, and boosters are recommended but no longer mandated, except for on extended voyages. What is the average capacity of a cruise ship? Some lines make exceptions for young children and people who can't be vaccinated due to medical conditions or religious beliefs. However, for cruises that depart or visit Canada, Greece and Bermuda, protocols may be more strict due to local requirements in place. Some major cruise lines will now require pre-boarding testing and masks to be worn in certain indoor areas -- even for . Cruise lines are aiming to allow all guests to sail and align with other travel sectors. Here's the latest on the cruise industry amid the pandemic. The new guidelines are: Due to local regulations, sailings to or from Australia, Bermuda, Canada or Singapore still require guests to be vaccinated. Unvaccinated guests aged 5 and older must present a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 3 days of our sail date. - Sister brands Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Emerald Cruises will no longer require vaccinations or testing as of March 1, 2023. Unvaccinated guests can cruise with negative results from any commercially available test, including self-tests. All Rights Reserved. Everything we know so far about Celebrity Cruises newest ship: Celebrity Ascent, You can book a day pass to this exclusive beach club in the Bahamas for $185, and its every bit as dreamy as you can imagine, 30 cruise ship embarkation tips and tricks. Several other cruise lines aren't recognizing those with a mix of AstraZeneca and an mRNA vaccine. Unvaccinated cruisers 16 and older will be required to test negative for COVID-19 with a PCR test within 72 hours of their cruise, take an antigen test at the pier, take another antigen test on . Passengers on cruises of 16 nights or more who are eligible for boosters must have received them. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. Start with these stories: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Virgin Voyages. The line also says it will alert passengers to their specific requirements after they have booked a voyage. The answer is quickly changing, but it depends. Royal Caribbean has announced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for guests. - Facial coverings are recommended but are no longer required. Here's what it said. Starting Sept. 6, no pre-cruise testing for vaccinated guests on voyages of up to 15 nights (guests 5 and older) with the exception of full Panama Canal transits, trans-ocean and other special itineraries. Effective September 1, 2022, U.S. passengers sailing with MSC Cruises are no longer required to be vaccinated before sailing to the Caribbean or Bahamas. Beginning September 2, 2022, Disney Cruise Line requires all passengers 12 and older to provide proof of full inoculation as a condition of sailing. Still, there are exceptions. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. The company has relaxed its protocols more than any other, with vaccinated guests aged 12 and over no longer having to undergo any pre-cruise requirements. Additional testing might be required, based on guidelines of individual countries visited. The major cruise line previously mandated the covid vaccine for crew members only. Learn more. Beginning Oct. 4, 2022, the line will no longer require testing for cruisers who don't show proof of vaccination. As of June 14, 2022, select voyages on theViking Orionand theViking Octantisin the United States and Canada will continue to require a pre-departure test. They must also be up to date on their shots, meaning theyve been boosted if their final initial dose was more than 270 days prior to the voyage. - Passengers no longer need to provide pre-cruise test results in most countries, unless required by the destination. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. If you are sailing on a cruise that departs on or before April 30, 2023, you will receive: 100% cruise fare refund for you and your Travelling Party, if any of you test positive for COVID-19 within 10 days . Cruise lines that dont require Covid vaccines. - As of the winter 2022 Caribbean and Central America season, Star Clippers no longer requires COVID-19 vaccinations for passengers. The CEO of Norwegian Cruise . Children 11 and younger can sail with either full vaccination or additional pre-cruise testing. Starting from departures on September 6, 2022, Carnival Cruise Line removes the pre-cruise testing requirement for vaccinated guests, with limitations for specific destinations such as cruises to Canada, Bermuda, Greece and Australia (per local guidelines), and on voyages 16 nights or longer. Anyone who does not produce a vaccination card will need to show negative results from either a self-test or a proctored test taken no more than 72 hours before embarkation. The vaccine requirement on cruises out of Galveston, Los Angeles, New Orleans, and homeports in Europe will be dropped. - Guests no longer have to be vaccinated nor tested to join Carnival Cruise Line sailings under 16 days in length. Yes. We highly recommend that all Guests become fully vaccinated before sailing and encourage unvaccinated Guests to take a COVID-19 test 2 days prior to their cruise. However, guests do still have to undergo a pre-cruise test when departing from ports that still have that requirement in place. Also, you can contact with customer support and ask them for help. Related: Cruise ship contact tracing: How the worlds major lines are tracking COVID-19 exposure. Guests on these types of voyages will be contacted directly by an Ocean Navigator to assist. Read Also: Oceania Cruises Releases Updated Cruise Requirements. Please contact us at 1-866-277-8452 to make changes to your cruise vacation.*. Note: In order to be considered "fully vaccinated," passengers must have received their final shot (not including boosters) at least 15 days prior to embarkation. All guests 12 years and older must be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before sailing with all required COVID-19 vaccine . This update does not apply to sailings in Australia or on voyages 16 nights and longer. It's Finally Time to BREAK FREE Let's get cruising! - Kids aged 4 and below are not required to be vaccinated, boosted nor tested. - All other cruises still require proof of initial vaccination and a booster until further notice. Free expert cruise tips and news from Cruise Hive! Children 11 and younger are exempt from both inoculation and testing protocols. -Guests no longer need to be vaccinated nor tested on Celebrity Cruisesfor most sailings. Holland America Line and Carnival Cruise Line also currently have similar policies in place. Currently, major cruise lines are re-evaluating their Covid protocols, including requiring passengers to be vaccinated. All passengers eligible to receive boosters are also required to have at least one. What to Know About Riding on the Alaska Railroad, 14 of the Best New Cruise Ships Launching in 2023, Katmandu Park Punta Cana Is Opening March 15, The Top Hotels in Mexico for a Romantic Getaway. For now, none of the cruise lines that have a vaccine requirement have announced any plans to rescind that rule in the future. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip.