Which cruise lines require a vaccine? Here is your complete guide!
AmaWaterways
Vaccine required? No
Note: AmaWaterways is asking passengers to show proof of either a COVID-19 vaccine or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of boarding one of the line’s vessels.
American Cruise Lines
Vaccine required? No
Note: American Cruise Lines does not have an across-the-board vaccine requirement for passengers, but passengers on some itineraries in specific regions or over specific time periods may face COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements. The line says it will communicate directly with passengers about them.
American Queen Steamboat Company
Vaccine required? Yes
For whom: All passengers, effective for all sailings scheduled for July 1 and beyond. Due to Washington state guidance, vaccines have been required for sailings in the Pacific Northwest since the line resumed operations in the region on June 14.
Note: The line also is testing passengers for COVID-19 as they arrive for their cruises.
Avalon Waterways
Vaccine required? No
Alternate requirement: All passengers must show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination to sail or proof of a negative COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen) taken no more than 72 hours before travel. Alternately, passengers can show proof that they have recovered from a confirmed case of COVID-19 within three months of travel.
Carnival Cruise Line
Vaccine required? Yes
For whom: All passengers
Note: Carnival only has announced the vaccine requirement for eight ships restarting service in July and August out of Seattle; Galveston, Texas; Long Beach, California; and Miami and Port Canaveral in Florida. It has not announced a vaccine policy for other ships that might return to service in later months.
Celebrity Cruises
Vaccine required? Yes
For whom: All passengers who are 16 years of age or older (as of Aug. 1, the cutoff will drop to all passengers who are 12 or older). Younger passengers can sail with proof of a negative test for COVID-19.
Note: For Celebrity Silhouette sailings out of the U.K., the rule is that all passengers who are 18 years or older must be vaccinated. For sailings out of Florida, the line is asking passengers who are 16 years of age or older to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccine but not requiring it, in order to comply with Florida law. Passengers on Florida sailings who do not show proof of a COVID-19 vaccine will be subject to additional screening including COVID-19 testing at their own expense.
Celestyal Cruises
Vaccine required? No
Alternate requirement: All passengers will be required to show proof of a negative PCR test for COVID-19 taken a maximum of 72 hours before embarkation. They also will be required to undergo a rapid test prior to boarding.
Crystal Cruises
Vaccine required? Yes
For whom: All passengers
Cunard Line
Vaccine required? Yes
For whom: All passengers
Note: Cunard only has announced the vaccine requirement for its initial cruising restart schedule for this summer, which will involve cruises around the U.K. for U.K. residents only.
Disney Cruise Line
Vaccine required? Yes
For whom: All passengers who are 18 years of age or older. Passengers under the age of 18 can sail with proof of a negative PCR test for COVID-19.
Note: Disney only has announced the vaccine requirement for passengers taking part in its initial cruising restart scheduled for July in the U.K. The line has not announced whether or not it will require passengers to show proof of vaccination for other sailings.
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
Vaccine required? No
Alternate requirement: All passengers are required to show a negative COVID-19 test prior to boarding the vessel. There is also a mandatory screening by thermal cameras for guests before boarding and a daily temperature check on board. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises currently only sail with residents of Germany, Austria and Switzerland for now.
Holland America
Vaccine required? Yes
For whom: All passengers
Note: Holland America only has announced a vaccine requirement for sailings through the end of the year. These include initial sailings it plans to operate in the Mediterranean as well as voyages in the coming months out of Seattle, San Diego and Fort Lauderdale.
Lindblad Expeditions
Vaccine required? Yes
For whom: All passengers who are 16 or older
Additional requirements: In addition to proof of vaccination, all passengers must show proof of a negative PCR test for COVID-19 taken prior to leaving home for their cruise. The line also will test passengers arriving for cruises at the pier using a rapid antigen test.
MSC Cruises
Vaccine required? No
Alternate requirement: MSC Cruises has been requiring passengers to test negative for COVID-19 in advance of boarding.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Vaccine required? Yes
For whom: All passengers on departures through at least Oct. 31.
Note: Norwegian has not yet made a decision about whether passengers will be required to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccine on departures beyond Oct. 31.
Princess Cruises
Vaccine required? Yes
For whom: All passengers
Note: Princess only has announced a vaccine requirement for sailings through the end of the year. This includes sailings around the U.K. for U.K. residents only and cruises to Alaska scheduled for the summer as well as fall sailings out of Los Angeles, San Francisco and Fort Lauderdale.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Vaccine required? Yes
For whom: All passengers
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
Vaccine required? Under evaluation
Note: The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has not yet announced whether or not it will require passengers to show proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test for COVID-19 to sail.
“The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection continues to evaluate all of our options for protecting the wellbeing of our guests … and the communities to which we will sail,” the line said in a statement sent to TPG.
Riviera River Cruises
Vaccine requirement? No
Note: Riviera is requiring passengers to show proof of either a COVID-19 vaccine or a negative COVID-19 test. If there’s a cost for the COVID-19 test, Riviera will pay it.
Royal Caribbean
Vaccine required? Sometimes
Note: Royal Caribbean has implemented several different vaccine policies in different parts of the world. The line is requiring passengers 16 years old or older to have a COVID-19 vaccine on departures out of most U.S. ports including Seattle and Galveston, Texas. But passengers will not be required to be vaccinated for sailings out of Florida ports.
On most sailings departing from non-U.S. ports, passengers 18 years of age or older must have a COVID-19 vaccine. On sailings out of Nassau in the Bahamas, passengers 16 years of age or older are required to have been vaccinated.
Seabourn
Vaccine required? Yes
Note: Seabourn has announced a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for initial cruises it plans to operate out of Piraeus, Greece and Bridgetown, Barbados, starting in July. It hasn’t said yet whether it will have a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for other future sailings.
Silversea
Vaccine required? Yes
Note: Silversea says the requirement will apply to all upcoming Silversea voyages globally with the exclusion of sailings departing from Australia. The line says it still is evaluating health protocols for future Australia sailings.
UnCruise Adventures
Vaccine required? Yes
For whom: All passengers who are 18 years of age or older. Passengers under the age of 18 can sail with proof of a negative PCR test.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Vaccine required? No
Alternate requirement: Passengers can either show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test (either PCR or rapid) taken within 72 hours of sailing.
Victory Cruise Lines
Vaccine required? Yes
For whom: All passengers
Viking
Vaccine required? Yes
Note: Viking only has announced a vaccine requirement for its initial “welcome back voyages” planned taking place now through the summer in Europe and around Bermuda. The line hasn’t said what its longer-term policy will be. The line also is testing passengers for COVID-19 with a PCR test in advance of embarkation and regularly during sailings.
Virgin Voyages
Vaccine required? Yes
For whom: All passengers
Windstar Cruises
Vaccine required? Yes
For whom: All passengers
Please note that these guidelines are always changing, if you want to confirm exact guidelines for an upcoming cruise please contact your Travel Agent. Thank You.
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Article References: thepointsguy