Four Cruise Lines to Drop COVID Vaccination Requirements

Aug. 14, 2022 — Four main cruise strains are dropping their COVID-19 vaccination necessities for some sailings subsequent month, in keeping with USA Today.

Carnival Cruise Line gained’t require unvaccinated friends to use for an exemption to sail after Sept. 6. The modifications are topic to native restrictions, resembling these in Bermuda, Canada and Greece, and don’t embrace voyages in Australia or journeys which might be 16 or extra nights.

Princess Cruises will take away vaccination necessities on Sept. 6 for many voyages which might be lower than 16 days. The cruise line presently requires unvaccinated friends to have a vaccine exemption earlier than they sail.

Royal Caribbean Group, which incorporates Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises, will welcome all vacationers no matter vaccination standing starting Sept. 5 “as long as testing requirements are met,” a spokesperson instructed USA Today.

For Royal Caribbean, the modifications embrace sailings from Los Angeles, New Orleans, Galveston and Europe. For Celebrity, meaning cruises leaving from Los Angeles, the U.Okay. and Europe — however not Ireland. Bahamas and Caribbean cruises that depart from Florida ports nonetheless have vaccine guidelines in place.

The bulletins got here on Friday after Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises mentioned Monday that unvaccinated passengers could be allowed on many cruises beginning Sept. 3, in keeping with The Washington Post. The cruise strains, that are a part of the identical guardian firm, additionally dropped all pre-cruise necessities for vaccinated passengers. Those who’re unvaccinated nonetheless want to check inside 72 hours earlier than boarding.

Testing guidelines have been rolled again on many cruise strains as nicely. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity require testing for unvaccinated passengers however solely require vaccinated folks to check on sailings which might be six nights or longer. Carnival, MSC Cruises and Silversea Cruises have made comparable modifications for the reason that CDC ended its COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships. At the time this system ended final month, practically each ship that reported information to the CDC was underneath commentary for COVID-19 circumstances, The Post reported.

Starting Sept. 6, Princess Cruises would require passengers on sailings of 16 nights or longer to take a check inside three days of leaving, in addition to these on full Panama Canal transits. Unvaccinated passengers might be required to indicate a destructive check for all journeys.

Cruise corporations mentioned they count on to additional cut back a few of their restrictions in coming days, which got here in response to the CDC loosening its coronavirus suggestions for screening and testing in most settings on Thursday, the newspaper reported.

“We will continue to work closely with our partners around the world to develop updated protocols that provide for the continued safety of our guests and the communities we visit, better align with the travel and hospitality sector, and meet destination regulations,” Royal Caribbean mentioned. “This means we’re transitioning to the point where everyone will be able to vacation with us.”