As the Covid-19 pandemic is slowly coming to an end, the travel industry has been on a rebound! One sector that is now on the rebound is Cruise Lines. Over the past two years, Cruise Lines have slowly been restarting operating and are now loosening Covid-related restrictions now more than ever to stay in line with the hospitality industry worldwide.
If you are interested in exploring a cruise, here is the most up to date list of COVID-19 related restrictions that Cruise Lines are
imposing -
1. Carnival
Carnival Cruise Line is pleased to announce new guidelines effective for cruises departing on September 6, 2022 or later, which will make it easier for more guests to sail with simplified vaccination and testing guidelines. Guests aged 5 and older who do not meet the definition of fully vaccinated will need to present the results of a negative PCR or antigen test taken within three days of embarkation, or as required by destinations on the itinerary. For cruises 15 nights or shorter, unvaccinated guests are permitted to present a self test, unless location specifies otherwise. Vaccinated guests are not required to take a pre cruise test except on cruises of 16 nights or longer or when they are required by a destination.
Guests are considered fully vaccinated if they have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to the sailing date. Boosters may be required for specific voyages based on duration or testing requirements. You can learn more about Carnival’s COVID-19 protocols and local requirements on their website.
2. Royal Caribbean International
For Royal Caribbean cruises departing on or after September 5, 2022, from U.S. Homeports, including San Juan, Puerto Rico, with no stops in Canada or Bermuda, a COVID-19 vaccination is not required for sailings. Royal Caribbean still strongly recommends that guests are fully vaccinated, if eligible, with the final dose administered within at least 14 days before sailing. 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 10 nights or longer. Testing is not required for fully vaccinated guests on shorter itineraries. Guests who are not fully vaccinated will need to bring a negative test result for any COVID-19 test taken within the 3 days before boarding regardless of the duration of their cruise. You can read more about it here.
3. Princess
If you are traveling on Princess Cruise Line and you are fully vaccinated - meaning you received the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines with your final dose 14 days before embarkation - testing will not be required on board. If you are not vaccinated, you are welcome to cruise, and will need a self-administered antigen or medically assisted PCR test within 3 days before boarding. If your cruise includes a Canadian port, an additional medical exemption is needed if you are not fully vaccinated. Kids under 5 do not require pre-travel testing. Local restrictions may vary, you can learn more on Princess’s website.
4. MSC Cruises
All guests 12 and older must be fully vaccinated to board a MSC cruise. All crew are fully vaccinated and regularly tested. Beginning August 29th, a negative test is required for unvaccinated guests (between 2 and 11 years old) on all sailings and for all vaccinated guests (12 and older and for children aged 2 to 11) for sailings that are six nights or longer. MSC has a flexible booking policy, so if something comes up, you can easily change your cruise date, free of charge, up to 48 hours prior to sail date. You can read more on MSC Cruises website.
5. Norwegian Cruise Line
Beginning September 3, 2022, all passengers are invited to sail on Norwegian Cruise Lines regardless of their vaccination status. Unvaccinated guests aged 12 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 age 11 years or under, no additional protocols or testing requirements apply. Local regulations may have different requirements to enter certain countries, so make sure to check out the travel requirements by country to understand country specific requirements. You can read more about Norwegian’s COVID-19 protocol and local restrictions on their website.
6. Celebrity Cruises
Beginning September 5, 2022, all travelers regardless of vaccination status can cruise on sailings departing from U.S. and European ports (excluding sailings that visit Canada). They will begin accepting self-tests on sailings from US ports that don't visit Canada and Bermuda and on many European sailings . For sailings 9 nights or less, vaccinated guests will no longer need to test to board one of the ships, and will have 3 days prior to boarding to test for sailings 10 nights or longer. Unvaccinated guests ages 5 and older will need to test 3 days prior to boarding U.S. sailings (excluding Canada and Bermuda); and ages 12 and older for select Europe sailings. Local restrictions may vary, you can learn more about the specifics on their website.
7. Disney Cruise Line
Beginning September 2, 2022, Disney Cruise Line is updating its COVID-19 vaccination requirements to include only guests ages 12 and over. Fully vaccinated guests on sailings departing from US and Canadian ports must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result taken one to 2 days before sailing. Guests who are not fully vaccinated must provide a negative COVID-19 test taken one to 3 days before the sailing date and 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. A second test will be conducted at the terminal on embarkation day for guests who are not fully vaccinated (paid for by Disney Cruise Line). You can read more on Disney Cruise Line’s website.
The relaxation of global protocols and travel requirements makes it easier for guests to return to sea.
An easing of COVID-19 related restrictions has been long awaited in the cruise industry! If you have been waiting for the right time to book your next trip, now just might be the time for you! If you have any questions about local restrictions at your destinations, as they vary country to county, feel free to contact us and one of our trusted Travel Agents will be delighted to assist you further in the booking process.
Also, if you have any interest in becoming a travel agent, be sure to check out the application page of our website! We are always looking for travel agents to join the team.
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