Cruising Vaccine Requirement Guide: A List of Vaccine Requirements on all Cruise Lines

With the CDC and cruise lines edging closer and closer to a U.S. sailing restart, future guests want to know if they will need to be vaccinated to come on board. So far each cruise line has a different answer to this, and some are yet to decide at all.

But never fear, we are here to help you out with an alphabetized cruise line-by-cruise line guide of the 20 major cruise companies who visit U.S. ports, explaining who is demanding what from their guests (valid as at May 20, 2021-please note that this list will be ever evolving)

American Cruise Lines- No vaccine required…ish.

American Cruise Lines hasn’t given a clear cut directive for guests, but rather says they will communicate with guests on an itinerary by itinerary basis. Some locations may require the guests to present negative Covid tests, others may require a fully vaccinated guest log.

Azamara- Vaccine required for all guests.

All passengers sailing with Azamara, the sister, boutique line to Celebrity and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines will need proof of both vaccine shots (or the single Johnson and Johnson shot). The last shot must be administered a minimum of two weeks prior to sailing.

Carnival Cruise Line- Vaccine requirement still undecided.

Carnival has not yet made a hard and fast decision about requiring a vaccine and would hate to have to exclude children from sailing. This has cruisers divided with anti-vaxxers heralding the line as visionaries and the other side of the aisle fearing they would not be safe cruising on the line. We are keeping our eye on this one.

Celebrity Cruises– Vaccine required for passengers 16+.

Guests 16 and older need their two (or one if J&J) jabs administered two weeks before embarking minimum. Guests under 16 are not required to be vaccinated but if they are, they will follow guidance for fully vaccinated guests.

Children and guests unable to be vaccinated will need to adhere to the strictest testing guidelines. For UK residents sailing from Southampton or Greece, the vaccine requirement ups to 18+

Crystal Cruises- Vaccine required for all guests.

Crystal has a hard and fast rule for all guests to be fully vaccinated (a minimum of 14 days before sailing)

Cunard – Vaccine required for all guests on initial sailings but not afterwards.

Cunard’s 2021 Summer at Sea voyages for UK guests will be requiring their guests to have been fully vaccinated at least 7 days prior to sailing.

For further cruises currently on sale, guests will undergo a Covid test in the terminal and must test negative to sail.

All guests will also be required to complete a health declaration form.

Disney Cruise Line

Vaccine required for Guests 18+ for initial U.K. sailings. No decision made for U.S. sailings.

Guests 18 and over will require both jobs to sail on the line’s initial U.K. sailings. Those under 18 can sail with proof of a negative PCR test.

Vaccine policies are still undecided for cruises from the U.S. or other European homeports. Watch this space!

Holland America

Vaccine required for all guests for initial European sailing. No decision made for future cruises.

All guests will need to be fully vaccinated to cruise on Holland America’s initial cruises from Greece staring in August. We will update with an announcement when it comes in regards to all other sailings.

MSC Cruises– Vaccines not required.

MSC Cruises has only been requiring passengers to test negative with a molecular or antigen test in advance of boarding.

For departures from Italy the test must be taken within 96 hours for Italian residents and within 48 hours for guests entering into Italian territory from abroad. A Passenger Locator Form also needs be filled in before entering Italy (for foreigners) and needs to be presented to MSC

For departures from Germany guests need to have taken their test within 48 hours of embarking and for departures from other European countries, within 72 hours.

Norwegian Cruise Line– Vaccine required for all guests so far.

All passengers sailing on departures until at least October 31 will need to be fully vaccinated. No word yet on November and onwards sailings.

Oceania Cruises– Vaccine required for all guests.

All passengers on Oceania need proof of full vaccination.

P&O Cruises– Vaccine required for all guests.

Like Oceania, P & O’s guests all require full vaccination proof.

Princess Cruises– Vaccine required for all guests on initial U.K Sailings.

Just like Cunard, Disney and Holland America, only the initial sailing dates have hard and fast rules on vaccinations. This is another line we will be watching for further announcements

Regent Seven Seas Cruises– Vaccine required for all guests.

Regent Seven Seas is offering sailings to fully vaccinated guests only.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line– Vaccine required so far for guests 18+.

All initial sailings on Royal Caribbean require guests 18+ to be fully vaccinated. Under 18s need proof of a negative PCR test. The line has not yet committed to continue this requirement after their worldwide June sailings.

Seabourn– Vaccine required for all guests so far.

Initial Seabourn sailings will require all guests to be full vaccinated. Like Royal Caribbean, they have not made a statement on how long they will make this a necessity to sail.

Silversea– Vaccine required for all guests in most homeports.

Silversea says their vaccine requirement will apply to all global upcoming Silversea voyage with the exception of sailings departing from Australia where they are evaluating health protocols currently. An announcement regarding Australian sailing is forthcoming.

Viking– Vaccine required for all guests so far.

Viking announcement of a vaccine requirement is for its initial “welcome back voyages” May, June and July sailing from the U.K., Bermuda and Iceland. Their long-term policy Is still to be determined. All passengers will also be tested in the home port regularly during their sailing.

Virgin Voyages– Vaccine required for all guests.

The brand new line will require all passengers to be fully jabbed as it takes its maiden voyage and beyond.

Windstar Cruises– Vaccine required for all guests.

All passengers on Windstar need to have been fully vaccinated 14 days or more prior to embarkation.

Stay tuned for more announcements from these major lines so you can be up to date before booking your cruise!

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