Covid-19 Rapid Testing
The image on the right may look familiar to many of you who have cruised during 2022. It is the Abbot Labs self-test kit accepted by the majority of cruise lines as a valid proctored rapid test.
While there hasn't been any formal declaration of an end to the pandemic, there have been some positive trends which has prompted the cruise lines to relax some of their Covid-19 protocols. The latest round of updates includes the lifting of testing requirements with certain exceptions.
We just returned from our Transatlantic cruise on Celebrity Beyond. This image was actually captured when we did our pre-cruise test at the airport.
Our particular cruise was one of the exceptions requiring passengers to be fully vaccinated, and to have a proctored PCR or Antigen test with negative results presented in order to board the ship.
Here are the latest updates from the cruise lines regarding testing requirements. It is best to consult your cruise lines' health and safety page prior to sailing as requirements fluctuate frequently.
Royal Caribbean
and Disney have announced that they are lifting testing protocols for sailings
departing from the United States with some exceptions. Check out all the
details below.
Royal
Caribbean
Summary
Royal Caribbean has already made the decision to
welcome all guests, regardless of vaccination status, onboard their
itineraries. Now, effective November 2, 2022, travelers on U.S.,
Barbados, or Singapore sailings — regardless of vaccination status — will no
longer require pre-departure testing, with a few exclusions outlined below.
What You Need To Know
Vaccination
Recommended:
- We recommend that guests be fully vaccinated and boostered against COVID‐19.
- While vaccination is not required,
we kindly ask guests disclose their status during check-in.
Testing:
- Effective November
2, 2022, all travelers — regardless of vaccination status — will
no longer require pre-departure testing.
- Exclusions apply to sailings to Colombia, Haiti,
Honduras, Transatlantic and Australia sailings.
- The Barbados Customs &
Immigration form is no longer required for entry into Barbados.
U.S.
& Barbados Departures visiting Colombia, Haiti, & Honduras:
- All unvaccinated guests
ages 12 years and older must present a negative COVID-19 test result
taken within 3 days prior to sailing.
- Fully vaccinated guests
and guests ages 11 years and younger are exempt from this test.
Resources
Disney
Cruise Line
Statement
Beginning
November 14, 2022, for sailings departing from the United States, Disney Cruise Line will no
longer require Guests (regardless of vaccination status) to provide proof of a
negative COVID-19 test prior to sailing. Disney
Cruise Line continues to highly recommend that all Guests be fully
vaccinated and encourages unvaccinated Guests to take a COVID-19 test two days
prior to sailing.
Resources
Celebrity Cruise Line
Celebrity
Cruise Line has announced that they are lifting testing protocols for sailings
departing from the United States with some exceptions. Check out all the
details below.
Statement
Beginning with
departures on November 2, 2022: All travelers, regardless of vaccination
status, are welcome to cruise with us and will no longer be required to provide
proof of pre-departure testing, except for specific sailings where vaccination
or testing are required by law.
What
You Need to Know
Exceptions
currently include:
Resources
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise
Line has updated their pre-cruise testing protocols. Please see the details
below.
Statement
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. Vaccines, proof of
vaccination, and testing for unvaccinated guests are no longer required on
cruises of 15 nights or less. However, Carnival encourages all guests 5 years
and older to be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines, when eligible, carry
proof of vaccination, and get tested before embarkation.
What
You Need to Know
- Cruises
of 15 nights or less: Although not required for either vaccinated or
unvaccinated guests, Carnival encourages all guests 5 years and older to
take a pre-cruise test within three days of their cruise.
- Cruises
of 16 nights or more: Guests age 5 years and older have to present a
PCR or antigen test taken within 3 days before sailing (unsupervised
self-tests are not accepted).
- A VeriFLY pass
is no longer necessary for check-in.
Resources
Princess Cruises
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.
Resources
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.
Please be
mindful that at this time, not all cruise lines websites are updated with the
below information. It is important to continue referencing the cruise line
websites for specific health and safety guidelines.
Statement
All Cruise
travellers arriving October 25, 2022, onwards will no longer
require a pre-travel test, arrival test or a day 4 test. Unvaccinated
non-resident travellers will still be required to upload valid proof of travel
health insurance to enter Bermuda.
Resources
- Apply
for a Bermuda
Travel Authorisation
- Click here for
Bermuda’s definition of fully vaccinated
- Click here for the
requirements for valid proof of travel health insurance
- Click here for the
requirements for a valid pre-travel test.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Today,
Norwegian Cruise Line announced it will eliminate COVID-19 requirements …
What You Need To Know
- Norwegian
Cruise Line announced that it has updated its global health and safety
protocols by removing all COVID-19 requirements effective October 4,
2022 including:
- Testing
- Masking
- Vaccination
- With
the easing of the Cruise Line’s health and safety protocols, NCL will
continue to follow the travel guidelines as required by the destinations
it visits.
- Please
see the resources below for more detailed information about the country
requirements.
Resources
I recently completed extensive training and have become Travel Safety Verified. As your dedicated Travel Advisor, your safety is our priority, and it's our job to ensure you have the necessary information you need to give you confidence and peace of mind when making your future travel plans. Click the link to review our Travel Safety program with valuable resources that will answer many of your questions.
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