But with the pandemic still ongoing, many cruise lines have implemented safety protocols, including the requirement to wear masks. With more and more cruise lines dropping all COVID-related travel requirements, its back to cruising as usual. For instance, Norwegian Cruise Line began waiving vaccination and testing requirements in October. However, the cruise line did recently relax testing requirements for vaccinated passengers, with a reference that vaccine rules could also drop sometime in the future: MSC Cruises will continue to monitor pandemic conditions and port requirements outside of the U.S., with a goal to relax testing and vaccination protocols to open cruising to all guests, while prioritizing the health and safety of its guests, crew and destinations.. In most cases, no. Who Needs to Be Vaccinated: All passengers, no exceptions, need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Guests who have certain pre-existing medical conditions . No. Disney Cruise Line, which recently welcomed . Policy: Masks are not required onboard, except in the medical center. In other words, this is not something you want to put off until the last minute. Thats been one of the biggest questions in a return to sailing. The changes are subject to local restrictions, such as those in Bermuda, Canada and Greece, and dont include voyages in Australia or trips that are 16 or more nights. Norwegian Cruise Line*, Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean* International, for example, are all headquartered in the US, which means they must follow the guidelines set out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention even when theyre sailing outside of the country. That creates a peace of mind you dont get on other types of vacations. If you dont have the shot, then cruise lines are easing rules in that you dont have to be vaccinated to sail in many cases. First-time cruisers:3 things to know before stepping foot on the ship, Recommended Reading: Cruise Capital Of The World. Vaccine requirements are starting to change, however. That meant they required just about everyone on board to have their shots, with few exceptions allowed for young children and people who cant be vaccinated due to medical conditions or religious beliefs. For more information about the Companys award-winning 18-ship fleet and worldwide itineraries, or to book a cruise, please call +1-888-NCL-CRUISE , contact a travel professional or visit www.ncl.com. MSC is a popular choice for passengers looking for relatively affordable fares. Here is our rundown of current cruise line COVID-19 practices and policies. Masks and Physical Distancing Requirements: Masks may be required in public areas on the ship . Carnival Cruise Line won't require masks on board starting next month, making the company the latest cruise line to ditch mandatory face coverings. For all country specific travel requirements, travelers should visit www.ncl.com/travel-requirements-by-country. However, before they cruise, those without the shot will need to have a negative test taken within three days of cruising . Massport, the organization behind Logan Airport and Flynn Cruise Port in Boston, said masks are no longer mandatory in their terminals: " Masks are optional. If you know a bit about which brands belong to which company, youll recognize that these are all cruise lines under the Carnival Corporation and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings umbrellas. Masks and Physical Distancing Requirements: Masks are not required. Starting in late February, Virgin Voyages adjusted its policies from requiring masks when indoors to going completely mask-free. Celebrity CruisesBeginning September 5, all passengers regardless of vaccination status can cruise from the U.K., Europe, and Los Angeles. The cruise line states some itineraries will require proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to travel, and that instructors will be sent out 30 days prior to travel. How long will the vaccine requirement be in place for cruise passengers? Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection welcomes all guests regardless of vaccination status. This simplifies the requirements to sail. Cruise lines make it clear that passengers must be fully vaccinated. Carnival Cruise Line only restarted Australia guest operations in the past several weeks, first with Carnival Splendor setting sail on October 1, followed by Carnival Luminosas first sailing on November 6. Otherwise, vaccines are required for passengers age 12 and up. In an abundance of caution in response to recent cases reported onboard cruise ships, Carnival Cruise Line has reintroduced mandatory mask wearing policies for the cruise lines sailings in Australia. For Australians, anyone currently looking to sail internationally will need to be fully vaccinated. Some cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, accept vaccines recommended or approved by the World Health Organization as well as the CDC. Keep in mind, however, that policies on testing and vaccination requirements vary from cruise line to cruise line, and that sailings to, from, or calling on ports in Canada, Bermuda, Greece, Australia and New Zealand will still require most passengers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In the fall of 2022, many popular cruise lines dropped the requirement for passengers to be up-to-date on Covid-19 vaccinations. Booster jabs are required where eligible and are considered effective immediately. Most major cruise lines still require passengers to be fully vaccinated, including having the relevant booster jabs. As well, even if not required, Royal Caribbean asks that you still bring proof of vaccination to your cruise. "There may, however, be certain venues and events where masks will be required," said the brand. The chance of getting COVID-19 on cruise ships is high because the virus spreads easily between people in close quarters aboard ships. Cruise Industry Recovery: Is It Time to Set Sail Again? Policy: In general, masks are not required onboard. Cruise vacations are a great way to explore the world and have a fun and relaxing time. MIAMI, Oct. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ Norwegian Cruise Line , the innovator in global cruise travel, today announced that it has updated its global health and safety protocols by removing all COVID-19 testing, masking and vaccination requirements effective Oct. 4, 2022. You can view Carnivals latest policies here. You may be required to arrive at your ship with a negative COVID-19 test result in hand or not. Virgin Voyages is known for being adults-only, which means it's easier to require vaccines. Connect with other cruisers before and after you set sail. There are, of course, also some passengers who have not sailed because they are not vaccinated or dont care to share their vaccination status with a cruise line. There is no definitive answer as to when a vaccine requirement to go on a cruise ship may go away, but at the very least it stands to reason not until the public health emergency ends. Vaccine requirements are starting to change, however. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. Keep in mind that even though face masks are no longer required for ships from the above cruise lines, they still may be required in specific venues such as the theater or kids clubs. Unvaccinated travellers need to present the results of a medically administered PCR or antigen test taken less than 72 hours before boarding. On ocean, lakes, and expedition ships that visit Canada, there is a free COVID-19 test at the precruise hotel check-in on the day prior to embarkation until further notice. These links are signposted with an asterisk. Will masks be required on cruise ships in 2022? View Best Prices on Carnival, Celebrity Cruises Starting on Monday, September 5, 2022, all guests will be able to sail on Celebrity cruise ships, even if not vaccinated. Is A Pierside, Pre-Embarkation COVID-19 Test Required?. Recommended Reading: When Can You Book Excursions On Disney Cruise. American Queen VoyagesOn this lines river, ocean, Great Lakes and expedition ships, all passengers are required to be vaccinated. Around the same time, Celebrity Cruises went the opposite direction, lowering the age at which passengers must be vaccinated to sail on its ships. American Queen VoyagesOn this lines river, ocean, Great Lakes and expedition ships, all passengers are required to be vaccinated. Masks continue to be required for unvaccinated guests in indoor public areas. The line also warns that masks could be required by some ports of call its ships visit. Carnival will now allow all passengers including those who are unvaccinated to sail freely as of September 6, 2022. 3 things to know before stepping foot on the ship, When Can You Book Excursions On Disney Cruise, Spirit Of Washington Dc Sunset Dinner Cruise With Buffet, Toyota Fj Cruiser Trail Teams Ultimate Edition For Sale. Celebrity is not requiring booster shots for any passengers at this time. Heres a rundown of the basic rules for some leading cruise lines. The three major cruise lines sailing from U.S. ports Royal Caribbean International Get Free Report, Carnival Cruise Lines CCL, and Norwegian Cruise Line NCLH still require pre-cruise covid tests taken no more than two days before your cruise and that all guests ages 12-and-over provide proof of vaccination. Others have eliminated both Covid vaccination requirements and testing requirements for some, but not all, passengers based on itineraries or cruise lengths. Be sure to review the latest requirements prior to boarding. Carnival Splendor setting sail on October 1, Carnival Luminosas first sailing on November 6, approximately 100 cases were reported onboard, Worlds Largest Cruise Ship Oversold for Spring Break, Carnival Cruise Ship Will Offer Transatlantic Voyage After Dry Dock, Photos Reveal Progress at Carnival Cruise Lines New Port. Cruise like a pro with expert tips from our editors. If you have received one of these shots, then you should be good to go. Guests can also visit www.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise/cruise-travel-documents for more information about the required travel documentation they will need for their NCL voyage. Children who are not old enough to be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine must present a negative antigen or PCR test result taken within 72 hours of embarkation. Carnival Cruise Line. For now, none of the cruise lines that have a vaccine requirement have announced any plans to rescind that rule in the future. Cruises from Florida and other ports of departure will still require the shot for those 12 and older in order to sail for the time being. Using the searchable directory at the International Society of Travel Medicinecan connect you with a provider based on your location or specific needs.When you book an appointment with a travel medicine clinic, theyll ask you for your specific itinerary and vaccination history, and can usually provide any necessary vaccines on-site. As of last week, masks arent required for vaccinated guests on Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean. Heres what the CDC currently recommends when it comes to vaccines. Since the Australian restart, however, several ships have reported large numbers of COVID-19 cases, including cases among both guests and crew members. Remember that cruise ports such as San Juan, Puerto Rico, and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, are actually part of the U.S. Bimini Cruise Port: Everything You Need To Know, Cruise News Recap | Week of February 5, 2023, Philippines Welcomes First International Cruise Ship in Three Years, Pre-Cruise Entertainment Reservations Now Available on Norwegian Cruise Line. Mask-wearing requirements were common on cruise ships through much of 2021 and into early 2022 as COVID-19 spread across the globe in several major waves. But most major cruise lines dropped mask mandates earlier this year as COVID-19 cases worldwide dropped significantly. Most lines only accept vaccines recognized and approved by the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Aug. 14, 2022 Four major cruise lines are dropping their COVID-19 vaccination requirements for some sailings next month, according to USA Today. For all sailings 6 nights or longer, vaccinated 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. We'll send you a weekly newsletter to your inbox. The good news is that given the vaccines, a milder variant, and prior cases, the amount of serious illness seems lower. Younger passengers are not subject to any vaccination requirements or testing protocols. As a result, people are able to get back to the things they love and cruises have had a successful restart with millions heading back to sea. Effective April 15, all guests five and older must be vaccinated to sail on Celebrity from the United States. CDC recommends all eligible travelers be up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccines. The restrictions requiring vaccines are dropping quickly. Who needs the vaccine: All guests and crew are required to be fully vaccinated with the booster shot. Carnival Cruise Line wont require unvaccinated guests to apply for an exemption to sail after Sept. 6. Costa Cruises will also allow unvaccinated travelers to board sailings 14 nights or shorter in the Caribbean and Mediterranean beginning Oct. 8. All products and brands mentioned in this article are selected by our writers and editors based on first-hand experience or customer feedback. Most major cruise lines do not require guests to be vaccinated unless they're traveling from or to a destination that requires it. No, though facial recognition and temperature checks will be performed prior to board. Its also important to know that while all adults in the US are now eligible for boosters, the definition of fully vaccinated hasnt changed and you dont need an extra shot to be considered fully vaccinated. Check with your specific cruise line for the latest information, keeping in mind that the rules can and do shift. Its understandable why many voyagers can get muddled on what they need to do in relation to COVID-19 vaccination requirements for their next cruise. We had somewhere in the neighborhood of 4000 passengers on board and I would venture to guess that less than 2% wore masks. Amateur zombie evangelist. As long as Covid-19 remains a pandemic, it seems unlikely cruise lines will change protocols. However, some cruise lines have recently revoked the obligation to wear masks on certain ships this summer. Currently, more than 120 countries have dropped all restrictions, including many popular cruise destinations in the Caribbean and Europe. Read Also: How Much Are Cruises Out Of Galveston. In you are an unvaccinated adult, some cruise lines will now let you sail, others will not. These Cruise Lines Are Requiring Passengers To Wear Masks Again All The Details. Some people waited to cruise until masks were no longer required while others wont step onboard until every covid-related protocol goes away. You May Like: Where To Find The Best Cruise Deals. For passengers who are 5 and older and fully vaccinated, a COVID test is not required, but proof of vaccination is needed. All passengers age 4 and up must take a prearrival test and show a negative result to board. Cruising is a popular way to explore the world, and many travelers are eager to get back on the open seas. Guests do not need to wear masks in their staterooms. For now, none of the cruise lines that have a vaccine requirement have announced any plans to rescind that rule in the future. Policy: Masks are not required onboard, except for in a few select indoor locations. Virgin does not allow children on its ships, so it was sailing with 100% vaccination rates. It was most recently updated and republished on June 17, 2022. Is A Pierside, Pre-Embarkation COVID-19 Test Required? Masks and Physical Distancing Requirements: Masks are not required. If youre flying to Caribbean islands like Barbados or the Bahamas, or Canadian homeports, such as Vancouver and Montreal, you will need to carry a passport. : Yes American Queen is even vaccinating its shoreside employees. Where they sail: Grand Circle Cruise Line sails small ships and river cruises all over the world, including an extensive list of European itineraries. 2. As the major cruise lines prepare to relaunch from U.S. ports this summer, they have not yet been as frank with unvaccinated passengers as they need to be about how their cruise experience will stack up next to that of their vaccinated cruise mates.