The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way we travel, and cruise lines are no exception. With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) withdrawing its subscription guide for cruise lines, many are now allowing more unvaccinated passengers to sail. However, the rules may vary by country, as some lines require reinforcements for international departures due to local regulations, or for extra-long trips, such as ocean crossings, when port stopovers are scarce or non-existent. Passengers who have their thrusters are considered up to date, rather than simply fully vaccinated.
AmaWaterways requires proof of vaccination for all passengers, including children age 5 and older, until further notice. Passengers will be asked to upload proof of vaccination no later than 21 days before the start of the trip and to have it available when boarding. There is an exemption process that will allow a small number of unvaccinated passengers to sail, but the line has vaccination rates that are close to 100% in an attempt to comply with the regulations of all countries that visit its ships. American Cruise Lines does not have a general vaccination requirement for all passengers on all trips. However, cruise ships traveling on some itineraries in specific regions or for specific periods of time may need to be vaccinated.
Pre-cruise testing is no longer necessary. Atlas requires all passengers to demonstrate that they have received a full course of vaccination using one of the vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). In lieu of proof of vaccination, cruise ships can show a recovery certificate no longer than six months. Booster shots are necessary for anyone 18 years of age or older who received their last initial dose more than nine months before the departure date. Passengers must also submit negative results from a COVID-19 test performed no more than 24 hours before boarding for antigen tests and no more than 72 hours before PCR. The main exceptions to these policies are ocean crossings.
Passengers who book on these trips must provide proof of vaccination and show the negative results of a supervised test carried out no more than two days before the day of boarding. Celestyal requires all passengers over 12 years of age to demonstrate that they have received a full course of vaccination using one of the vaccines approved by the WHO. In lieu of proof of vaccination, cruise ships can show a recovery certificate no more than six months. Passengers must also submit negative results from a COVID-19 test performed no more than 24 hours before boarding for antigen tests and no more than 72 hours before PCR. Hapag-Lloyd travel is only available to fully vaccinated passengers age 12 and older until further notice.
All eligible passengers over 12 years of age must have their booster shots in order to sail. By default, the test requirements are adjusted to the rules of the area where the port of shipment is located. The line will send passengers more details. Norwegian regulations state that trips along the Norwegian coast do not include vaccination as a requirement for boarding. For other trips in Hurtigruten, the rules vary depending on the region of departure.
To and from the United States, cruise ships 5 years old and older must be fully vaccinated. To travel to Galapagos, all travelers over 3 years old must show proof of vaccination. For all other areas, guests 12 and older must be vaccinated and passengers aged 5 to 11 must show proof of at least one injection. Passengers 18 years of age or older who received the final dose of the vaccine more than 270 days before departure must also show proof of a booster. The Ponant website simply says that when you visit certain destinations, vaccines may be recommended.
The line also says it will alert passengers to their specific requirements after they have booked a trip. Tauck requires all travelers over 12 years of age to show complete proof of vaccination in order to embark on a trip with the brand. They also need to be up to date with their vaccines, which means they get a booster if their final starting dose was more than 270 days before the trip. Instead of an amplifier, the passenger can show a recovery certificate no more than 180 days old. Children younger than 12 years of age who are not vaccinated or are not boosted must have negative PCR test results who are no more than three days old to board. All UnCruise passengers must receive all applicable doses of an approved vaccine before they can sail.
Medical and religious exemptions are not allowed. Booster shots are also mandatory for all eligible passengers. Uniworld requires all passengers who qualify for vaccination must be vaccinated in order to sail with them. The testing requirements are determined by the countries that the ships visit; check the protocols for the locations on your itinerary for the most up-to-date information. Viking requires all passengers, whether sailing by river or sea, must be fully vaccinated and, although they do not require reinforcements, some countries that visit their ships do require them.
Test requirements vary by country and port of departure; most Viking Orion trips outside the U. S. UU. And Canada requires all passengers to take tests.
The Covid-19 pandemic has changed how we travel - including cruises - with many lines now allowing more unvaccinated passengers onboard under certain conditions. While pre-cruise testing is not required by most lines, many require proof of full vaccination or booster shots depending on destination and length of voyage; some even require negative PCR tests within 48 hours prior to boarding. It's important to check with your cruise line prior to booking your trip for up-to-date information on their Covid-19 policies.
