Updated Cruise Line COVID-19 Vaccination, Booster, & Testing Requirements

In response to changing policies around the world, including the CDC ending its cruise ship monitoring program, several cruise lines have changed their COVID-19 policies including opening up more exemptions for unvaccinated cruisers and dropping pre-cruise testing requirements. Others that offer more itineraries in Europe have started requiring boosters to comply with local regulations.

To help travel advisors keep track of what is and is not required, we’ve compiled a list of up-to-date COVID-19 policies for ocean and river cruise lines. Policies are as of August 2, 2022, and are subject to change. Advisors and their clients should check the individual requirements for each country on a cruise itinerary as some countries have separate protocols, which we may not have listed below.

AmaWaterways
Vaccinations: Required for all guests. A small number of exemptions are available but must be applied for.

Boosters: Booster requirements vary by itinerary. For instance, guests on sailings visiting the Netherlands or Luxembourg must have had a booster shot if their second shot was more than 270 days prior to sailing.

Testing: Vaccinated guests visiting Spain and France who have not had a booster dose must present a negative COVID-19 test in order to enter the country and board their river ship. Guests exempted from the vaccine requirement must show proof of a negative PCR or Antigen test taken no more than 48 hours prior to embarkation, or a COVID-19 recovery letter no older than 60 days prior to embarkation.

American Cruise Lines
Vaccinations: Not required.

Boosters: Not required.

Testing: Not required.

American Queen Voyages
Vaccinations: Required for all guests.

Boosters: Not required.

Testing: Not required on river cruises. All lakes, oceans and expedition sailings are required to take a free COVID-19 antigen test at their pre-cruise hotel one day prior to embarkation. They must also provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test by an accredited third-party taken within two days of embarkation.

Atlas Ocean Voyages
Vaccinations: Required for all guests.

Boosters: Not required, unless by a destination visited on the itinerary.

Testing: All guests must present a negative molecular PCR test taken no more than 72 hours prior to embarkation or a negative antigen test taken no more than 24 hours prior to embarkation.

Avalon Waterways
Vaccinations: Required for all guests.

Boosters: Booster requirements vary by itinerary.

Testing: Testing requirements vary by itinerary.

Boosters: All guests 12 and older must get a booster dose once they become eligible to do so.

Testing: Azamara no longer requires pre-cruise COVID-19 testing, except when visiting ports where pre-travel testing is still required.

Carnival Cruise Line
Vaccinations: Required for all guests ages 12 and older.

Vaccine exemptions are limited to a small number of guests (ages five and above) and are capacity-controlled based on the total number of vaccinated guests projected to be onboard. Exemptions must be applied for. On Panama Canal cruises of 16 days or longer, vaccine exemptions will not be granted for minors under 12.

Boosters: Not required, except on 2022 departures of Carnival Pride and Carnival Celebration in Europe, and on the Sept. 6 23-day Transpacific sailing of Carnival Splendor. For these sailings, vaccinated guests, ages 12 and older who are more than six months past their last initial vaccine series must present proof of booster shot.

Testing: Effective with sailings departing August 4, 2022, there will be no pre-cruise testing for fully vaccinated guests on cruises with itineraries of five days or less.

Guests on sailings of six days or longer must present proof of a negative PCR or lab-administered or supervised self-administered antigen COVID-19 test conducted within three days before departure.

All unvaccinated guests ages 2 and older must provide proof of a negative lab-administered or supervised self-administered antigen COVID-19 test taken within three days before embarkation.  On cruises longer than four days, guests will be tested again within 24 hours of debarkation. Guests traveling on back-to-back cruises will need to be tested in between voyages.

Except for Bermuda cruises, guests who have recovered from COVID-19 within three months of their sail date do not need the required pre-cruise test if they are at least 10 days past their positive test result date, have no symptoms, and produce a document of recovery from COVID-19.

Bermuda & Canada Cruises: Fully vaccinated cruisers traveling to Bermuda and Canada – on any length of sailing – can take either a PCR test within 72 hours prior to sailing, or an antigen test taken no earlier than two days prior to sailing.

Boosters: Not required.

Testing: Starting with August 8, 2022, U.S. departures, vaccinated guests on sailings of five nights or less do not need to present a negative COVID-19 test before boarding their ship.

Vaccinated guests on sailings of six nights or longer must continue to present proof of a negative PCR or antigen test COVID-19 test taken within two days of boarding their ship.

All unvaccinated guests, ages 2 and older, must present a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of embarkation, but not on embarkation day, in order to board irrespective of sailing length. These guests will also be given an additional COVID-19 antigen test at the terminal prior to boarding.

For cruises in Europe, testing timelines may vary for unvaccinated cruisers. All unvaccinated guests on cruises in Greece will also be required to take a mid-cruise test, while those in Spain will need to take a test before debarking.

Guests who have recently recovered from COVID-19 may present a Certificate of Recovery and proof of the positive PCR or antigen test result taken between 11-90 days prior to the sail date in order to board without testing.

Celestyal Cruises
Vaccinations: Required for all guests ages 12 and older.

Boosters: Required for anyone whose last initial vaccine was more than 270 days before embarkation.

Testing: All guests ages 6 and older must present a negative supervised COVID-19 antigen test taken within 24 hours prior to embarkation.

Cunard Line
Vaccinations: Required for all guests ages 12 and older. A limited number of vaccine exemptions are available, are subject to capacity control and must be pre-approved. Guests under 5 years of age are automatically exempt from vaccination requirements.

Boosters: Required for all guests ages 16 and older who are eligible for a booster; must be administered a minimum of seven days prior to travel.

Testing: Required for all guests ages 5 and up.

For departures from Southampton and European ports, all guests aged 5 and older must take a COVID-19 antigen test and receive a negative result within two days of departure. However, they will no longer be required to provide test results.

For departures from U.S. ports, all vaccinated guests will need to provide proof of a negative proctored antigen test taken two days prior to embarkation.

For departures from Canada ports, all vaccinated guests will need to provide proof of an observed PCR test taken 72 hours prior to embarkation or a proctored antigen test taken one day prior to embarkation.

Boosters: Not required for U.S.-based cruises, but may be required on some European itineraries.

Testing: Fully-vaccinated guests on sailings departing U.S. and Canadian ports must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 proctored antigen test or PCR test taken no more than two days before setting sail. (Fully-vaccinated guests on sailings departing European ports must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than one to two days before setting sail.)

Guests who have recovered from COVID-19 within 11 to 90 days of their sail date may submit appropriate documentation to be exempt from the testing requirement.

Children, ages 4 and under, must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result taken no more than three days before sail date. The test must be a Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT), a rapid PCR test or a lab-based PCR test. Rapid antigen tests are not accepted. Kids ages 4 and under must also complete a test at the terminal prior to embarkation.

Fully-vaccinated guests who do not upload pre-trip test results to the Safe Passage website by midnight prior to embarkation day will be tested at the terminal before boarding and charged for the cost of the test.

All unvaccinated guests on cruises of five nights or longer are required to take a COVID-19 antigen test on the ship the day before debarking.

All guests on consecutive, back-to-back sailings, regardless of age and vaccination status, must undergo a COVID-19 test at the terminal after debarking the ship following their first cruise.

Emerald Cruises
Vaccination: Required for all guests.

Booster: Required for any guests eligible for a booster except on itineraries visiting countries where a booster dose is not mandatory.

Testing: No testing is required for Emerald’s river cruises. However, guests should check the requirements for the country in which they will be embarking their cruise. Guests sailing on Emerald Azzurra may be required to take a rapid antigen test upon embarkation.

Booster: Not required for U.S.- and Canada-based sailings. Guests ages 18 and older sailing in Europe are required to have a booster if the last dosage of their initial vaccine series was more than 270 days before sailing.

Testing: All guests 2 and older must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of sailing if they are up-to-date with their vaccines (ie have had booster if they are eligible for it) or within two days if they are not up-to-date with their vaccines.

Guests who have recovered from COVID-19 within three months of their embarkation do not need a test before embarkation if they are at least 10 days past their infection, have no symptoms and produce appropriate documentation of recovery.

Guests aged 2 and older embarking in a Canadian port or a U.S. port that includes Canada in the itinerary must take either an antigen test within two days of embarkation of a PCR test within 72 hours prior to embarkation.

Lindblad Expeditions
Vaccinations: Required for all ages 5 years and older. Effective October 1, 2022, all guests 6 months and older must present proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

Boosters: All guests ages 12 and older who completed their primary vaccinations series more than 5 months prior to sailing must submit proof of a booster shot.

Testing: All guests must submit to a COVID-19 test just prior to embarkation and must test negative to board. (Some destinations may also require testing for entry.)

Margaritaville at Sea
Vaccinations: Required for all guests 2 and older. The only exception is for unvaccinated guests aged 3 and older who can provide documentation of recovery from COVID-19 not more than 90 days old and not less than 10 days prior to the departure date (not including departure date).

Boosters: Not required.

Testing: Not required for vaccinated guests. Unvaccinated guests must provide proof of a negative antigen test taken no more than one day prior to sailing.

Guests 3 years and older may embark and sail without testing if they provide documentation of recovery from COVID-19 not more than 90 days old and not less than 10 days prior to the departure date (not counting departure date).

MSC Cruises
Vaccinations: Required for all guests aged 12 and older.

Boosters: Not required.

Testing: Unvaccinated guests 2 years and older must show proof of a lab-administered negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of embarkation for all cruises from U.S. ports.

Fully-vaccinated guests sailing on cruises of six nights or longer from U.S. ports must also show proof of a lab-administered negative COVID-19 test taken with three days of embarkation.

Fully-vaccinated guests on sailings of five nights or less from U.S. ports do not need to test for COVID-19.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Vaccinations: Starting September 3, vaccinations are only required for cruises visiting destinations that require it such as Canada, Bermuda and Greece. Guests aged 11 and under will not be subject to vaccination requirements or testing protocols of any kind

Boosters: On sailings that require vaccinations, vaccinated guests must meet the definition of “fully vaccinated” based on the destination they are embarking and/or traveling to and must provide proof of vaccination.

Testing: Starting September 3, testing is not required for vaccinated guests of any age. Unvaccinated guests, aged 12 and older, or those who cannot or decline to provide proof of vaccination, will need to present a negative medically administered PCR or Antigen COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours prior to boarding

Boosters: On sailings that require vaccinations, vaccinated guests must meet the definition of “fully vaccinated” based on the destination they are embarking and/or traveling to and must provide proof of vaccination.

Testing: Proof of a negative COVID-19 test not older than 72 hours at the time of embarkation is required for all children under the age of 5. Not required for guests 5 and older unless specified by a destination on the itinerary, except on cruises from the U.S., Canada, and Greece.

Starting September 3, testing is not required for vaccinated guests of any age. Unvaccinated guests, aged 12 and older, or those who cannot or decline to provide proof of vaccination, will need to present a negative medically administered PCR or Antigen COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours prior to boarding.

For cruises departing from Canada, guests must present proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken not more than 72 hours prior to sailing or a negative antigen test taken not more than two days prior to embarkation.

For cruises departing from Greece, guests must present proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR or antigen test taken not more than 72 hours prior to boarding for PCR tests and not more than 48 hours prior to boarding for antigen tests.

Princess Cruises
Vaccinations: Required for all guests ages 12 and older. Exemptions are available on U.S.-based sailings that don’t visit Canada, must be applied for (first come, first served) and are capacity controlled (up to 10% of guests on any given sailing). Children under 5 years of age are not required to apply for an exemption.

Some exemptions are available on Europe and U.K. cruises. In Canada, only medical exemptions are permitted with appropriate documentation submitted and approved ahead of sailing.

In Europe (but not U.K.), children ages 5 to 11 are permitted to sail without a vaccine and without an exemption if they show proof of a negative PCR test taken within three days of embarkation.

Boosters: Only for cruises departing from Europe, a booster dose is required for anyone over 18 years of age if the last dose of the primary vaccine series was more than 270 days prior to the date of disembarkation.

Testing: All guests, ages 5 and older, require proof of a negative medically-observed COVID-19 test taken within two days for antigen tests and within three days for PCR tests.

On sailings in the U.S. and Canada, children, ages 2 to 4, must present proof of vaccination or must present a negative PCR test taken within three days and take an antigen test at the terminal.

In Europe, children under 5 are not required to take a pre-cruise COVID-19 test.

Any unvaccinated guests on Europe sailings ages 5 and older will need an embarkation day COVID-19 test performed at the terminal in addition to their pre-cruise PCR test.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Vaccinations: Required for all guests through September 3, when the vaccination requirement will be dropped except on itineraries that visit countries that require it, such as Canada, Bermuda and Greece.

Boosters: On sailings that require vaccinations, vaccinated guests must meet the definition of “fully vaccinated” based on the destination they are embarking and/or traveling to and must provide proof of vaccination.

Testing: Required on cruises departing from Canada, Greece, and the U.S.

Starting September 3, except where required (such as Canada, Bermuda and Greece), pre-cruise testing is not needed for vaccinated guests of any age. Unvaccinated guests, aged 12 and older, or those who cannot or decline to provide proof of vaccination, will need to present a negative medically administered PCR or Antigen COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours prior to boarding.

For cruises beginning in Canada or Greece, all guests are required to complete a PCR test within 72 hours of embarkation or an antigen test within 48 hours of embarkation. In Greece, only test results from certified laboratories are accepted.

Booster: Not required, except on some European cruises for which a booster is required for guests ages 12 and up (6 and up for Italy ports) if the last shot in their primary vaccine series was more than 270 days before sailing. Guests without a booster on European cruises will require additional testing to board their ship and while onboard in order to get off in some ports.

Testing: Not required for vaccinated guests on U.S.-based cruises of five days or less.

On sailings of six-nights or longer, all guests, ages 2 and older must provide proof of a negative PCR or antigen COVID-19 test taken no more than two days before boarding.

On sailings of any length, unvaccinated kids ages 2 to 11 must show a negative test result for a PCR test (not antigen) taken no more than three days before boarding, but not taken on embarkation day. They will also need to take an antigen test at the terminal, as well as an antigen test before their cruise ends (on cruises of five nights and longer).

On European cruises, vaccinated guests who are up to date (have had a booster) must show a negative result for a PCR or antigen test taken no more than two days before boarding. Vaccinated guests who are not up to date will have a one-day window to take this test. Unvaccinated children ages 2 to 11 must show a negative result for a PCR or antigen test taken no more than one day before boarding.  Guests 12 and up that are not up-to-date with their vaccinations will also need to take an antigen test within one day of disembarking.

Scenic
Vaccinations: Required for all guests.

Boosters: Required for all guests that are eligible for a booster, unless not mandatory in all countries visited.

Testing: Not required on river cruises. For ocean cruises, a pre-cruise test is not needed but guests may be required to take a rapid antigen test during embarkation.

Seabourn
Vaccinations: Required for all guests ages 12 and older. Children between 5 and 11 years of age may be unvaccinated but need to go through an exemption process, which is subject to capacity controls. Vaccinations and exemptions are not required for children under 5 years of age. On cruises with Canadian ports, only medical exemptions are permitted.

Boosters: Not required on U.S. and Canada cruises. On most European cruises, a booster is required for guests 18 and older if the last dose of the initial vaccinations series was more than 270 days prior to sailing.

Testing: Proof of a negative pre-cruise COVID-19 test is required for all guests ages 2 and older on U.S. and Canada cruises. In the U.S., a medically-observed PCR or antigen test must be taken within three days prior to sailing. If a guest if not up-to-date with their vaccines (ie eligible for a booster but has not received one), they must take their pre-cruise antigen or PCR test within two days prior to sailing.

Guests sailing on an itinerary that includes a Canadian port must take a medically-observed antigen test within two days of embarkation or a PCR test within 72 hours of embarkation.

On European cruises, all guests ages 5 and older must present proof of a negative PCR or antigen test taken within three days of embarkation, except in Greece, which requires antigen tests to be taken within two days; a PCR test may be taken within a three-day time period.

Children with approved vaccination exemptions will also need to take an embarkation-day COVID-19 test at the terminal.

Silversea
Vaccinations: Required for all guests aged 12 years and older.

Boosters: Required on most European itineraries for guests whose last dose of their primary vaccine series is more than 270 days prior sailing.

Testing: Requirements vary by destination.

For sailings including Canadian ports, guests must present proof of a pre-cruise COVID-19 PCR test conducted within 72 hours of embarkation or an antigen test conducted within 48 hours of embarkation. Unvaccinated children ages 12 or younger must present proof of a negative pre-cruise PCR test conducted within 72 hours of embarkation and a negative antigen test conducted within 24 hours of embarkation. Guests 2 years of age and younger are exempted from testing.

On European sailings, guests with a valid vaccine certificate (including booster if eligible) must present proof of a negative antigen test performed within 72 hours of embarkation. (Most Northern European countries require tests to be taken within 48 hours of embarkation.)

Unvaccinated children 12 years and younger and guests who are not up-to-date with their vaccine booster must present proof of a negative antigen test performed within 24 hours of embarkation.

For cruises embarking in Piraeus, guests must present proof of a valid negative antigen test performed within 48 hours of embarkation. Unvaccinated children 12 years and younger must present proof of a negative antigen test performed within 24 hours of embarkation.

Tauck
Vaccinations: Required for all guests ages 12 and older. (Sailings onboard Ponant ships require all guests ages 6 and up to be vaccinated, while sailings on Windstar ships require all guests to be vaccinated regardless of age.)

Boosters: Required for all guests whose last dose in their primary vaccine series was more than 270 days prior to sailing. No booster is required for guests who can show proof of having recovered from COVID-19 within 180 days of travel.

Testing: Varies by destination, but is generally required for unvaccinated children under the age of 12; a negative PCR test must be taken within three days of sailing, while a negative antigen test must have been taken within two days of sailing.

All guests sailing with Tauck onboard a Ponant ship must present a negative PCR test taken no more than three days prior to embarkation or an antigen test taken no more than one day prior to embarkation.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Vaccinations: Required for all guests.

Boosters: May be required based on destinations visited.

Testing: Not required for sailing, but may be required depending on destinations visited.

Viking Cruises
Vaccinations: Required for all guests.

Boosters: May be required by come countries visited during a cruise.

Testing: When required by a destination visited, a PCR test will be required the day of embarkation for all guests.  This includes on select ocean voyages on Viking Orion and expedition voyages on Viking Octantis in the U.S. and Canada.

Virgin Voyages
Vaccinations: Required for all guests. A limited number of exemptions (up to 10% per journey) are available and must be applied for.

Boosters: Not required.

Testing: Not required.

Boosters: For some countries in Europe and in Tahiti, a booster is required if the last shot in their initial vaccine series was more than 270 days prior to sailing.

Testing: Required for all guests. Antigen tests must be taken within two days of boarding, while a PCR test must be taken within three days of boarding. Proctored at-home tests are not accepted.

Source: travelmarketreport.com

To get the most up-to-date cruise requirements and book your next voyage, please contact YYZ Travel cruise specialists.