Several major cruise lines already—including Carnival Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Virgin Voyages and Azamara—have updated their COVID-19-related travel requirements, following updates by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Early this week, several other lines joined the fray, reducing their procedures. Here’s the latest:
Cunard
Cunard late last week updated COVID-19 protocols and guidelines, with adjusted pre-travel testing requirements. From Tuesday, September 6, self-testing prior to travel will change from "mandatory" to "highly recommended" for vaccinated guests on the vast majority of voyages.
Only guests sailing on longer, more complex itineraries will be required to have an observed or in person antigen or PCR test with a fit to travel certificate prior to departure. These include a number of sailings of 16 nights or more and other specific voyages.
These new guidelines apply to all Cunard itineraries sailing from Southampton, England, and all other departure points, with the exception of countries where government regulations and protocols may vary including Canada, Australia and Greece.
The vaccination policy for Cunard guests remains the same and full details can be found at www.cunard.com.
All the updated guidelines and protocols are subject to local regulations of applicable homeports and destinations.
Holland America Line
Holland America Line updated its “Travel Well” COVID-19 protocols and procedures, including requirements for vaccinations and pre-cruise testing that meet public health goals while recognizing the evolving nature of the COVID-19 situation. These changes will go into effect for cruises departing on or after September 6, 2022.
Under the simplified procedures, for most voyages up to 15 nights, vaccinated guests will no longer have to test before cruising and unvaccinated guests will be welcomed with a self-test within three days of sailing.
Key changes for cruises up to 15 nights (ages five and older, not including full Panama Canal transits, trans-ocean and designated remote voyages):
- Vaccinated guests must provide evidence of vaccination status prior to embarkation. Pre-cruise testing is no longer required.
- Unvaccinated guests are welcomed aboard and must provide results of a negative medically supervised or self-test taken within three days of embarkation.
Protocols for cruises 16 nights or longer (plus full Panama Canal transit, trans-ocean and designated remote voyages, ages five and older):
- All guests will be required to submit a medically supervised COVID-19 test with written negative result. The test must be taken within three days of embarkation.
- Guests must be vaccinated or request an exemption.
Guests on longer voyages will be provided additional information about protocols based on ports visited. Guests can continue to submit documents electronically ahead of embarkation for a simple and faster check-in process. Holland America Line recommends that guests visit the “Travel Well” section of the company’s website for updates prior to cruise departure, as well as instructions on how to provide results of a negative test.
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises on Friday announced updated COVID-19 protocols and guidelines, removing the vaccine requirement for most voyages of less than 16 days so that anyone can cruise, and adjusting pre-travel testing requirements to make it less complicated.
Starting September 6, vaccinated guests sailing on voyages of less than 16 days will no longer have to test before boarding and only need to upload proof of vaccination while getting “OceanReady.” Unvaccinated guests, or those who do not provide proof of vaccination, on those itineraries will self-test within three days of sailing and upload proof of a negative test before boarding.
Below are the key points for Princess’ updated “CruiseHealth” guidelines for embarkation:
- No pre-cruise testing for vaccinated guests on voyages of up to 15 nights (guests five and older) with the exception of full Panama Canal transits, trans-ocean and other special itineraries; unvaccinated guests must provide a negative self-test result taken within three days of embarkation (unvaccinated children under five years do not require pre-cruise testing)
- Guests sailing on voyages 16 nights or longer, or sailing on full Panama Canal transits, trans-ocean and other specific itineraries, need to take a supervised test within three days of embarkation (guests five and older). Guests on these types of voyages will be contacted directly by an Ocean Navigator to assist.
Visit www.princess.com.
Seabourn
Seabourn also updated its COVID-19 guest protocols and procedures, including requirements for vaccinations and pre-cruise testing; these changes will go into effect for cruises departing on or after September 6, 2022.
Under the new simplified procedures, for most cruises under 16 nights, fully vaccinated guests will no longer need to submit a pre-cruise COVID-19 test, and unvaccinated guests will only need to submit a self-administered test taken within three days of sailing.
Key changes for cruises up to 15 nights (ages five and older, not including full Panama Canal transits, trans-ocean and designated remote voyages):
- Vaccinated guests must provide evidence of vaccination status prior to embarkation. Pre-cruise testing is no longer required.
- Unvaccinated guests are welcomed aboard and must provide results of a negative medically supervised or self-test taken within three days of embarkation.
Key changes for cruises 16 nights or longer (plus full Panama Canal transit, trans-ocean and designated remote voyages, ages five and older):
- All guests will be required to submit a medically supervised COVID-19 test with a written negative result. The test must be taken within three days of embarkation.
- Guests must be vaccinated or request an exemption from Seabourn.
For the latest, visit www.seabourn.com.
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