Good news many have been waiting for - cruise line vaccination and testing policies are being lifted

For the first time in 2 years, cruise lines are relaxing their stringent Covid-19 vaccination and testing policies.

Currently, most cruise line protocols include a vaccine requirement for guests and crew as well as a Covid-19 test or even booster. However, beginning in September, many of the major lines will be dropping some or even all or some of their current requirements.

Here are the updated requirements for the major cruise lines.* Could a cruise be in your future?

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES

Vaccination – Beginning September 6, vaccinated guests must continue to provide evidence of their vaccination status before embarkation.

Unvaccinated travelers will no longer need to obtain a vaccination exemption to board cruises that last less than 16 nights. NOTE: These travelers will still need to apply for an exemption on cruises to Australia and longer voyages.

Testing – Pre-cruise testing is no longer required, except for cruises to Canada, Bermuda, Greece, and Australia (per local guidelines) and on voyages 16 nights or longer.

Unvaccinated guests will no longer be required to apply for a vaccine exemption, except for cruises in Australia or on voyages 16 nights or longer.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE LINES

Vaccination – Starting September 5, all travelers regardless of vaccination status can cruise from select itineraries from the following ports: Los Angeles, CA; Galveston, TX; New Orleans, LA; cruises from a European homeport.

Testing and Sailing from US Home Ports – Fully vaccinated guests must bring a negative test result for a COVID-19 antigen or PCR test taken within the 3 days before boarding day on sailings that are 6 nights or longer only. Testing is not required for fully vaccinated guests on shorter itineraries.

Guests ages 2-11 who are not fully vaccinated must bring a negative test result for COVID-19 antigen or PCR test taken within 3 days prior to sailing day, regardless of the duration of the cruise. These guests will no longer be required to take a second test at the terminal.

Testing and Sailing from US Home Ports with a Stop in Bermuda or Canada –Before arriving on boarding day, you’ll need to take a COVID-19 test on your own, at your own expense.

Vaccinated guests must show a negative test result for a PCR or antigen test taken no more than 2 days before boarding day. NOTE: Kids age 11 and younger who have been vaccinated may follow the testing protocols for vaccinated guests.

Unvaccinated kids aged 2 to 11 must show a negative test result for a PCR test (not antigen) taken no more than 3 days before boarding day. Unvaccinated kids’ pre-cruise test cannot be taken on boarding day, because that may affect the sample taken during the kids’ test at the terminal.

Sailings longer than 10 nights may have additional onboard testing requirements. Contact One World Family Travel, LLC for requirements if you are sailing from a European port or participating in an Alaska Cruisetour.

CELEBRITY CRUISES

Vaccination – As of September 5, 2022, all travelers regardless of vaccination status will be able to cruise on the all sailings departing from the UK and Europe (except for Iceland) and all sailings departing from Los Angeles.

Guests 12 and over must be fully vaccinated with all initial doses administered at least 14 days prior to sailing for cruises departing from other US ports.

Testing – Vaccinated guests are no longer required to test before boarding their ship for sailings of 5 nights or less.

For sailings 6 nights or longer, unvaccinated guests must present a digital or physical copy of a supervised and negative COVID-19 test result from a test taken within 3 days prior to sailing.

DISNEY CRUISE LINE

Vaccination – Beginning September 2 for all sailings departing US and Canadian ports, Disney Cruise Line will require Guests ages 12 and older to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time of sailing, as defined by the CDC. In consideration of CDC guidance, Disney Cruise Line highly recommends that Guests ages 11 and younger be fully vaccinated before sailing.

Testing – Fully vaccinated Guests on sailings departing US and Canadian ports must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result (paid for by the Guest) taken one to 2 days before setting sail to be exempt from embarkation testing at the terminal. Completing pre-trip testing prior to embarkation day enhances the efficiency of boarding and confirms that you are negative for COVID-19 prior to traveling to the terminal. Pre-trip test results must be uploaded into the Inspire Diagnostics Safe Passage website by midnight prior to embarkation day.

Antigen tests must be completed using a proctored in-person or telehealth service and come with digital results that can be uploaded to the Safe Passage website. A nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) or PCR test also is acceptable.

Fully vaccinated Guests who upload their pre-trip test results to the Safe Passage website by midnight prior to embarkation day will be exempt from embarkation testing. Fully vaccinated Guests who do not upload test results by midnight prior to embarkation day must be tested at the terminal on embarkation day before boarding the ship and will be charged for the cost of the test.

Guests who are not fully vaccinated must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken one to 3 days before the sail date. The test should be a Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT), a rapid PCR test or a lab-based PCR test. Rapid antigen tests are not accepted. This will be the first of 2 tests required for Guests not fully vaccinated; the second test will be conducted at the terminal on embarkation day.

Guests who are not fully vaccinated are required to complete a COVID-19 test at the terminal prior to boarding on embarkation day (paid for by Disney Cruise Line). Guests with positive COVID-19 test results are required to complete a second confirmatory test. Guests with confirmed positive test results—as well as those sharing the same stateroom and other close contacts—will be denied boarding.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE

Vaccination – Beginning September 3, guests ages twelve and over will be allowed to board unvaccinated. Unvaccinated guests age twelve and over will be required to show proof of a medically supervised negative PCR or Antigen test taken no more than 72 hours before embarkation.

For guests aged 11 years or under, no additional protocols or testing requirements apply.

Local regulations may have different requirements to enter certain countries. Guests may be denied boarding if all country-specific requirements are not met.

Testing – After September 2, vaccinated passengers will not need to test before boarding.

Unvaccinated passengers over the age of 11 will need to provide proof of a medically supervised negative PCR or Antigen test taken no more than 72 hours before embarkation.

VIRGIN VOYAGES

This is an adult-only cruise line so all rules automatically apply to guests 18+.

Vaccination – 90% of the guests must be vaccinated.

Only 10% of the passengers must be vaccinated to sail. Please contact One World Family Travel, LLC

Testing – Vaccinated guests are not required to test prior to boarding.

Unvaccinated guests are required to bring a negative COVID-19 test taken within 24 hours, or at the terminal for a fee of $30 on their embarkation date.

PRINCESS CRUISES

Vaccination – Starting September 6, unvaccinated passengers may sail. If the cruise includes a Canadian port, an additional medical exemption is needed.

Testing – Vaccinated passengers will not be required to test prior to boarding. Please note that guests will still be subject to the rules and regulations of the individual ports and countries visited which could affect the ability to board the ship or go ashore.

Unvaccinated passengers will need to get a PCR test or perform a home rapid antigen test within three days of sailing and upload proof of that negative test before boarding. On longer sailings, they will have to get a PCR or medically-assisted rapid antigen test taken within three days of embarkation.

Some Princess voyages will have Enhanced Guidelines for vaccinated passengers that require a test. Those voyages include full Panama Canal transits, Trans-Ocean crossings, special voyages, Greek guidelines (voyages departing, arriving, or visiting Greece), Canadian guidelines (voyages arriving or visiting Canada).

All of the above apply primarily to cruises departing from the United States. Other countries have their own regulations so whether or not you need to test or be vaccinated just depends where you are traveling from or the ports you are visiting. As your trusted travel advisor, I can help you navigate through all of these complex regulations so you always know you are getting the best advice.

Don’t see a cruise line you’re interested in? That’s ok? I can help you with the luxury and river cruise lines as well. Just ask.

So are you ready to book your next cruise? Let’s talk!