Vaccine/Testing policy by cruise line – Updated on August 23
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Click the link to go to the cruise line’s Covid page
Princess Virgin Carnival Norwegian MSC USA MSC Europe Royal Caribbean Holland Costa Viking
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Vaccine mandate removed as of Sept 6.
With a few exceptions like the Panama canal and trans-ocean, vaccinated passengers no longer have to test before boarding. Just upload proof of vax to OceanReady.
Unvaxxed, self-test within 3 days of sailing, and upload negative test to OceanReady.
If you test positive, you will b given a FFC. In order to get a full refund, you need to have travel insurance.
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Virgin (No more testing for vaccinated; unvaxed must test but it’s easy and cheap.)
At the terminal: Sailors who are fully vaccinated are no longer required to undergo testing prior to embarkation.
**Unvaccinated Sailors may bring their own test taken within 24 hours of their voyage, or receive a test at the terminal for a fee of $30.
Before the voyage: If you test positive for COVID, or were exposed to COVID within 10 days of departure, Virgin Voyages will allow you to change your voyage date, or provide a full future voyage credit to use toward a booking at a later time. Taxes and fees and bookable amounts are refunded to the original form of payment.
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Disney – Instead of requiring vaccines for age 5 and up, beginning on sailings departing Sept 2 or later, only guests age 12 and up have to be vaccinated.
Disney’s pre-cruise testing requirement remains for everyone.
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• Vaccinated guests must continue to provide evidence of their vaccination status prior to embarkation. Pre-cruise testing is no longer required, except for cruises to Canada, Bermuda, Greece and Australia (per local guidelines), and on voyages 16 nights or longer.
• Unvaccinated guests are welcome to sail and are no longer required to apply for a vaccine exemption, except for cruises in Australia or on voyages 16 nights and longer.
• Unvaccinated guests or those who do not provide proof of vaccination must present the results of a negative PCR or antigen test was taken within three days of embarkation
.• Guests under the age of five years are exempt from vaccination and testing requirements from the United States and under the age of 12 from Australia.
• All policies are subject to local destination regulations.
• Voyages 16 nights and longer will continue to have vaccination and testing requirements that are specific to the itinerary.
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For Cruises Departing On or After September 5, 2022, From the U.S. or European Home Ports.
- Vaccination is not required. Unless the cruise goes to Canada or Bermuda.
For these sailings, documentation of vaccination is not required to board, but we will ask that you disclose your vaccination status prior to boarding (via the Royal Caribbean app, on our website, or at the terminal).
We recommend you bring your vaccination documentation with you, as local authorities or businesses in some destinations may request to see it for entrance.
- 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 day.
ROYAL Europe:
Some of the destinations we visit require guests to be “up to date” with their vaccination status to go ashore. Those who do not meet requirements to be considered “up to date” may require additional testing onboard prior to going ashore in certain ports.
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As of Sept 5, no vax is required on US and Europe departures that do not go to Canada or Bermuda.
But must meet testing requirements. Testing is still required of everyone age 5 and older!
Will accept a certificate of recovery.
Boosters are not required.
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For sailings embarking on September 3, 2022, and beyond:
Guests ages twelve and over will be allowed to board unvaccinated.
Unvaccinated guests age twelve and over will be required to show proof of a medically supervised negative PCR or Antigen test taken no more than 72 hours prior to embarkation.
For guests age 11 years or under, no additional protocols or testing requirements apply.
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MSC USA – still requires vaccine and testing
**Starting on August 29, Pre-cruise testing is dropped for some guests on cruises that are 5 nights or less, read exact details here “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 any children between 2 and 11 years old) on sailings that are six nights or longer.”
For U.S. and Puerto Rico residents departing on cruises from U.S. ports:
- Fully vaccinated guests are encouraged but not required to purchase travel insurance.
- If you choose not to purchase travel insurance, MSC Cruises provides COVID-19 assistance at no extra charge for U.S. and Puerto Rico residents who are fully vaccinated. Children under the required vaccination age based on the dates above, regardless of vaccination status, traveling with fully vaccinated parents/guardians (with proof of vaccination) also benefit from this assistance.
- If you test positive for COVID-19 within 14-days prior to your cruise, you and your traveling party will receive a full refund.
- If you test positive for COVID-19 at the terminal, you and your traveling party will receive a full refund and assistance, if required, with land-based quarantine.
- If you test positive for COVID-19 during your cruise, you and your traveling party will receive a pro-rated refund and assistance, if required, with onboard medical care and land-based quarantine.
- All guests over 2 years old must provide a negative test within 48 hours of the cruise.
- All guests over age 18 must be vaccinated, or have a certificate of recovery in the last 6 months.
- Guests going to Israel or Kusadasi need to fie out specific declaration forms.
- The original test results certificate or vaccination or recovery certificate must be presented at the terminal (paper or electronic format) and must be in one of the following languages: English, Italian, German, French or Spanish.
Holland – new rules go into effect on Sept 6.
- For most voyages of up to 15 nights, vaccinated guests no longer need to pre-cruise test as long as they provide proof of vaccination.
- Unvaxxed has to test within 3 days of departure.
- The vaccine is still required for Canada, Panama Canal transit, Australia and Greece.
Costa Still requires pre-cruise testing, and all guests age 12 and older have to fill out a self-declaration form saying they are vaccinated or have recovered from covid. But they don’t require proof of anything. Yet you will not be able to do online check-in and get a boarding pass until you do fill out this form stating you are vaccinated or recovered.
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Luxury and River cruise lines
Viking Ocean – all updated info will be at MyVikingJourney.com after you book. Currently, vaccines are still required, and testing is only recommended. Some destinations still require vaccines and testing.
Silversea – vaccine required for ages 12 and up; pre-cruise testing still required.
Regent – Effective Sept 3, no testing for vaxxed; unvaxxed must test within 3 days of departure. Exceptions for some destinations!
Ritz-Carlton Yachts – Vax required for all guests age 12 and up; no pre-cruise testing.
Seabourn – vaccine/testing changes as of Sept 6.
Seabourn Europe departures, vaccinated no longer have to pre-cruise test; unvaxxed must provide test taken within 3 days for departure. Exceptions for certain destinations which still require vaccines, longer voyages, etc.
Seabourn US departures – vax and pre-cruise testing still required!
Windstar – vaccine still required; after Sept 6 pre-cruise testing no longer required
Sea Dream Yacht Club – vaccine required for guests 12 and older; they administer tests at the pier.
Viking, vaccine required; booster not required; pre-cruise testing no longer required.
AmaWaterways – some vaccine exemptions will be granted, exempted must show a negative test or recovery letter. Some destinations require boosters!
Avalon – vaccine required through 2022; children can just pre-test.
Uniworld – vaccine required through 2022; children can pre-test within 72 hours of the cruise.
Tauck – still requires vaccine for ages 12 and older; testing for 11 and younger.