Latest Cruise Testing & Vaccination Rules

How Do Changes Impact Your Vacation Plans?

this post serves as an anchor for all updates

Last Update:  October 26, 2022

As of July 18, 2022, CDC’s COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships is no longer in effect. CDC will continue to publish guidance to help cruise ships continue to provide a safer and healthier environment for passengers, crew and communities going forward.  Since that time the cruise lines have been working with medical consultants and the various ports of calls to establish new protocols and other guidelines for safe travel.

In early August the cruise lines began announcing their plans and some have already adjusted those further.   We continue to meet with the various cruise lines and get weekly (sometimes daily) updates on the latest protocols, testing, and vaccination requirements.  Here is a summary of the latest information.

Most changes go into effect in early September.

Canada (updated September 28, 2022)

Canada has dropped their travel requirements effective October 1, 2022.   Read More

Cruise Line Announcements

Carnival Corporation

(Carnival, Cunard, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises)   

Updated:  October 26, 2022

Carnival Cruise Line is informing guests and travel agents of additional updates to its pre-cruise testing protocols for guests on voyages 15 nights or less. These changes are consistent with the evolving public health guidelines and will be acceptable for arriving cruise guests effective immediately. 

Updated: October 21, 2022

Princess Cruise Lines has lifted all protocols for most voyages.

Statement

Beginning October 21, protocols to cruising have been lifted. This means that for most voyages there are no longer vaccination or testing requirements. This applies to itineraries to all destinations except where government regulations may vary like Australia and on a few enhanced guidelines voyages that have their own vaccination and testing requirements. 

Updated:  August 24, 2022

Carnival Corporation announced protocol updates that meet public health goals but recognize the evolving nature of COVID-19. With these changes, we are making it easier for more guests to sail with simplified vaccination and testing guidelines, including no testing for vaccinated guests on sailings less than 16 nights, and eliminating the exemption request process for unvaccinated guests, who will only need to show a negative test result at embarkation. 

All new guidelines are effective for cruises departing on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022 or later.  Read More

Royal Caribbean & Celebrity Cruises

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity have shared vaccination and pre-cruise testing updates for cruises departing from Los Angeles, Galveston, New Orleans, and European ports. They continue to work with local governments in the Eastern Caribbean to align on vaccination requirements for more itineraries. Read More

August 30, 2022 Update

Celebrity Cruises announced new testing & vaccination rules - particularly of note are changes for Trans-Atlantic sailings which will be coming up shortly.  Read More

Royal Caribbean made similar changes to their sailings.  Read More

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings

October 4, 2022  - Norwegian Cruise Line announced it will eliminate COVID-19 requirements … Read More

September 27, 2022 - Norwegian Cruise Line has updated its health & safety requirements.

(Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises)

The day that many of our customers have been waiting for is here! Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) which includes Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises have updated their SailSAFE program with new vaccine requirements to allow unvaccinated guests to sail.   

Disney Cruise Line 

September 27, 2022 - Disney Cruise Line has updated its health & safety requirements.

Today, August 15, Disney Cruise Line announced an update to our Health and Safety Protocols regarding vaccination requirements.  Read More

Windstar 

Small ship line Windstar Cruises has dropped its pre-cruise testing requirements. The line is still requiring that all of its guests be vaccinated to sail.

Azamara  (September 1, 2022)

Azamara has updated their vaccination protocols for Caribbean and European sailings beginning December 1, 2022.  Read More

MSC & Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection (September 2, 2022)

MSC and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection have relaxed their vaccination and testing protocols for U.S. residents sailing from U.S. ports to the Caribbean and The Bahamas. Read More

Virgin Voyages (September 9, 2022)

In keeping in line with the rest of the travel industry, Virgin Voyages updated their guidelines to make all voyages open to everyone — including Sailors who are unvaccinated.  Read More

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Caribbean Islands (Florida & Other U.S. departures)

Expect to see more changes in the days ahead.  Discussions are underway with the various island countries.   Those ports of call dictate the requirements for various itineraries.  Here are some notable highlights from the various Caribbean countries:

• Starting August 22, 2022, unvaccinated travelers will again be able to visit Bermuda.
• St. Kitts and Nevis has Ended  COVID-19 Restrictions  
• The Cayman Islands government has announced it is dropping all its remaining travel-related COVID restrictions

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Bermuda

Bermuda has announced that they will no longer require testing for cruise passengers beginning October 25, 2022. Health insurance requirements will remain the same. Read More: Bermuda Drops Testing Requirements

Protocols are subject to change at any time. Communications to guests will vary by cruise line and by destination.  Please consult your travel advisor or cruise line website for your specific sailing.

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