which cruise lines do not require masks

But now, little more than a year later, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has withdrawn its opt-in guidance for cruise lines, and many are now allowing more unvaccinated passengers to sail. On sailings departing Singapore, masks are mandatory on the ship when indoors. As the United States has opened up again following the worst of the pandemic, many people have returned to a normal way of life. VERIFY: Do cruise passengers have to show proof of vaccination? The revenue generated will help us to support the content of this website and to continue to invest in our award-winning journalism. Vaccinated passengers dont need to test unless visiting Canada, Bermuda, Greece or Australia and on trips of 16 nights or longer. Its almost unheard of for a vaccinated person to get seriously ill with Covid-19, she said in an email. "Effective with sailings departing March 1 . The CDC says cruise lines can't allow "self-guided or independent exploration" at ports, and tour companies must still follow COVID-19 protocols like mask-wearing and social distancing. The question for Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian becomes which changes will lead to the most passengers on their ships? Typical bacon geek. Otherwise, vaccines are required for passengers age 12 and up. Carnival will now allow all passengers including those who are unvaccinated to sail freely as of September 6, 2022. The Travel Off Path Community FB group has all the latest reopening news, conversations, and Q& As happening daily! Where they sail: Grand Circle Cruise Line sails small ships and river cruises all over the world, including an extensive list of European itineraries. Recommended Reading: When Can You Book Excursions On Disney Cruise. Major cruise lines that continue to have a masking policy in place for indoor public areas of their ships include Azamara, Cunard, Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, and Viking. Cruising in the Time of COVID: Are Cruise Lines Still Sailing? It was most recently updated and republished on June 17, 2022. Also Check: Best Hotels Near Miami Cruise Port. What was true for your friend who took a Viking cruise in fall 2022 may not apply to the cruise you booked for a 2023 voyage on Carnival. Cruises from Florida and other ports of departure will still require the shot for those 12 and older in order to sail for the time being. Guests can also visit www.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise/cruise-travel-documents for more information about the required travel documentation they will need for their NCL voyage. Cruise lines have begun to get rid of their COVID-19 vaccine requirement that they have mandated over the past 15 months since cruises have restarted. Which Cruise Lines Require Passengers to Wear Masks? - Cruise Critic Carnival Cruise Line won't require masks on board starting next month, making the company the latest cruise line to ditch mandatory face coverings. For now, none of the cruise lines that have a vaccine requirement have announced any plans to rescind that rule in the future. Also, fully vaccinated passengers now no longer need to provide a negative COVID-19 test prior to setting sail on many voyages. Given the significant, positive progress in the public health environment, the Cruise Line updated its health and safety guidelines, which are now more aligned with other global travel organizations. I do not want to take a cruise where I am required to wear a mask the entire time I am indoors because that would not be a happy place for me. And you may have to be vaccinated or not. For example, approximately 100 cases were reported onboard Coral Princess in early July during one of the first restart cruises, while more recently, local news services have reported more than 800 cases aboard Majestic Princess. Some lines, however, may still require one or more protocols to be adhered to, either on a voyage-by-voyage basis or on a destination-basis. MSCs policy toward vaccination for sailing from the United States is that while kids under 12 years old are allowed to sail unvaccinated, those older than that must have the shot. Also Check: 7 Night Western Mediterranean Cruise. Booster jabs are required where eligible and are considered effective immediately. Currently, more than 120 countries have dropped all restrictions, including many popular cruise destinations in the Caribbean and Europe. Children age 12 to 15 must have received two initial doses of the vaccination. Masks will now be required in all indoor public spaces or in any crowded venue, indoors or outdoors, regardless of vaccination status. As always, your safety is our first priority, so we will continue with our other protocols to keep you well while enjoying your relaxing vacation, the cruise line shared in the email. The policy now reads, out of an abundance of caution, for the time being, masks are required in public indoor spaces.. Norwegian Cruise Line takes Florida to court over vaccine mandate ban, Celebrity Cruise Lines will not require proof of vaccination. Norwegian Cruise Line*, Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean* International, for example, are all headquartered in the US, which means they must follow the guidelines set out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention even when theyre sailing outside of the country. Carnival Cruise Line wont require unvaccinated guests to apply for an exemption to sail after Sept. 6. Guests may also provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test by an accredited third-party with results from within two days of embarkation, if they choose. In addition to staying up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines, the CDC recommends that people who plan to cruise do the following: Dont Miss: Which Cruise Line Gives The Best Military Discount. Aug. 14, 2022 Four major cruise lines are dropping their COVID-19 vaccination requirements for some sailings next month, according to USA Today. Cruises from Australia or those 16 nights or longer do still require a passenger be vaccinated to sail. How long will the vaccine requirement be in place for cruise passengers? Disney rolled back its COVID vaccine requirement for passengers aged 5 to 11 in early September. Carnival Cruise Line Reintroduces Masks for Some Sailings Some of its current passengers have chosen to sail because every adult onboard has been tested and vaccinated. Guests are strongly recommended to set sail fully vaccinated, if they are eligible, said Royal Caribbeans news release. VERIFY: Do cruise passengers have to show proof of vaccination? As of last week, masks arent required for vaccinated guests on Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean. What Cruise Lines Don't Require Vaccinations Until recently, Virgin Voyages had a simple policy. Health and safety are always our first priority in fact, we were the health and safety leaders from the very start of the pandemic, said Harry Sommer, Norwegian Cruise Line president and chief executive officer. Disney Cruise Lines joins Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, and Holland America Line, which no longer require vaccinations on most sailings. Prospective guests of any cruise lines with upcoming sailings in Australia should stay in close contact with their cruise line for health and safety protocol updates and requirements. Pre-boarding tests are not required for vaccinated guests. Many other cruise line operators and brands made similar protocol changes, including Carnival Cruise Line and MSC Cruises. That means receiving a final primary dose and an updated booster shot, which became available for people older than 12 on September 2, 2022. Remember that cruise ports such as San Juan, Puerto Rico, and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, are actually part of the U.S. On voyages that visit Greece or Italy, they are required on the ship when indoors. While some cruise lines have relaxed their mask policies, others may still require them. Check out our recap of youth immunization policies for details on cruise vaccination requirements for kids. This article contains links which are ads and if you click on a link and buy a product we will earn revenue. Otherwise, vaccines are required for passengers age 12 and up. There are exceptions, however, such as dining venues, where guests can eat and drink without face . While most cruise lines require adults to be vaccinated right now, unvaccinated readers want to know when the vaccine mandate may go away. Check your airlines protocols around testing, mask-wearing, vaccination, or quarantining if youre flying before or after the cruise. American Queen VoyagesOn this lines river, ocean, Great Lakes and expedition ships, all passengers are required to be vaccinated. However, the cruise line did recently relax testing requirements for vaccinated passengers, with a reference that vaccine rules could also drop sometime in the future: MSC Cruises will continue to monitor pandemic conditions and port requirements outside of the U.S., with a goal to relax testing and vaccination protocols to open cruising to all guests, while prioritizing the health and safety of its guests, crew and destinations.. Also Check: Best Hotels Near Miami Cruise Port Virgin Voyages Vaccine Policy All guests, regardless of vaccination status, should expect to be tested for COVID-19 prior to boarding a cruise ship. Because the policy reads for the time being it is likely a temporary measure and will be redacted when possible. Go to Boards. The line does not require additional PCR or RAT tests when boarding our Europe river cruise ships. Which Cruise Lines Require COVID-19 Vaccines to Sail? There is no definitive answer as to when a vaccine requirement to go on a cruise ship may go away, but at the very least it stands to reason not until the public health emergency ends. This isnt an easy decision, because its partially about peoples health and partially about keeping your business healthy. The company shared that information in an email that was sent to people booked on upcoming sailings. In most cases, no. CunardAll guests age 16 and up must be vaccinated, including with booster shots. Is A Pre-Arrival COVID-19 Test Required? While cruising restarted in other regions in mid-2021, Australia only reopened for cruises in mid-2022. Amateur web practitioner. Mask-wearing requirements were common on cruise ships through much of 2021 and into early 2022 as COVID-19 spread across the globe in several major waves. The changes are also subject to local requirements, and full vaccination requirements apply to passengers 12 and up while testing rules apply to those 5 and older. First and foremost, unvaccinated passengers of any age are allowed to sail the cruise line without having to first apply for an exemption as was previously required. On Royal Caribbean, theyre also required for all kids two and older (regardless of vaccination status) in the Adventure Ocean kids program. Most major cruise lines require proof of vaccination for all passengers age 12 and up, and some require them for kids as young as 5 years old . Disney Cruise Line, which recently welcomed a new ship to its fleet, requires unvaccinated children to wear their masks when using the shared youth centers on board, and also asks all travelers to wear a mask at all times when at the cruise terminal. These Cruise Lines Are Requiring Passengers To Wear Masks Again All The Details. And, as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to evolve, vaccination requirements shift as well. This article contains links which are ads and if you click on a link and buy a product we will earn revenue. Vaccine requirements are starting to change, however. Carnival Cruise Line Carnival has joined the CDC programme so, effective with cruises departing March 1, masks on board will be recommended but not required on US sailings. Norwegian, which requires guests to bring proof of vaccination, responded to inquiries with a link to its latest press release from early June about its upcoming U.S. voyages. Around the same time, Celebrity Cruises went the opposite direction, lowering the age at which passengers must be vaccinated to sail on its ships. Australia has been one of the more strict regions of the world with respect to pandemic cruise travel restrictions. Monitor yourself for symptoms after the trip, and isolate yourself if you have a positive test or develop symptoms. Policy: Masks are not required onboard, except for in a few select indoor locations. These Cruise Lines Will Still Require Face Masks This Summer - Travel Off Path, Mask mandate: Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean set to drop masks, Cruise Lines Mandating Vaccines: What You Need to Know, Cruise Lines Reopening: What You Need to Know. MSC currently offers cruises to the Caribbean and Bahamas from Florida. Crew Vaccinated? However, some cruise lines have recently revoked the obligation to wear masks on certain ships this summer. It seems most cruise lines are following the CDCs definition of fully vaccinated, which means two weeks have passed since your second shot of Pfizer or Moderna, or since your one-dose Johnson & Johnson shot. Costa Cruises will also allow unvaccinated travelers to board sailings 14 nights or shorter in the Caribbean and Mediterranean beginning Oct. 8. That creates a peace of mind you dont get on other types of vacations. Do Non-US Citizens Need to Be Vaccinated to Enter the US During the COVID-19 Pandemic. MSC is a popular choice for passengers looking for relatively affordable fares. MSC is a popular choice for passengers looking for relatively affordable fares. Azamara. There are, of course, also some passengers who have not sailed because they are not vaccinated or dont care to share their vaccination status with a cruise line. Disney said that changes to the policies are subject to local rules. Most lines only accept vaccines recognized and approved by the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccines, Masks and Testing: What Cruise Lines Require Now (2022) And, I would say that nobody wearing or not wearing masks were ever made to feel uncomfortable. Dont Miss: What Cruise Lines Go To Tahiti. The company plans to start sailing again in August, including to Greece, Turkey, and Italy. Last week, Disney Cruise Line became the first cruise line to require passengers as young as 5 to be vaccinated for sailings starting Jan. 13. Who needs the vaccine: All guests and crew are required to be fully vaccinated with the booster shot. Dont Forget Travel Insurance For Your Next Trip! The governor is dictatorially imposing his will on Florida businesses trying to protect their customers, including cruise lines on whom our agriculture industry depends for millions in food sales, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said in a statement to NBC News. Testing is required on sailings of six nights or more. In fact, apart from vaccines and testing, the onboard experience has returned to exactly what it was before the pandemic. Masks on NCL? - Norwegian Cruise Line - Cruise Critic Community Democrats have denounced the new law and accused DeSantis of undermining both public health and the cruise industry. Vaccines, Masks and Testing: What Cruise Lines Require Now (2022) The chance of getting COVID-19 on cruise ships is high because the virus spreads easily between people in close quarters aboard ships. Celestyal Cruises has partnered with Bioiatriki which provides tests for just 10 per person at locations across Athens and Thessaloniki. Do cruise ships require masks? Face mask policies revealed Generally, proof of inoculation must include your name, the type of vaccine you received and the dates on which you received all required doses. We had somewhere in the neighborhood of 4000 passengers on board and I would venture to guess that less than 2% wore masks. Award-winning beer ninja. Vaccinated and unvaccinated passengers can go on all other cruises, with unvaccinated guests showing proof of a negative PCR or antigen test taken within three days of embarkation. If Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian allow for unvaccinated adults but keep the 90% vaccinated number that could limit how many families can book cruises on those lines, which are marketed as family cruise lines. In addition, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian sail to a lot more ports than Virgin Voyages does, and cruise ships must also comply with local rules (and some destinations require vaccinations for anyone ages 12 and over even if they dont get off the ship. Celebrity CruisesBeginning September 5, all passengers regardless of vaccination status can cruise from the U.K., Europe, and Los Angeles. Fully vaccinated passengers do not have to test prior to sailing. You can keep up with her on Instagram at @IAmSarahJaneB. We expect approximately 90 percent of our guests will be vaccinated. To avoid the chance of you missing your next cruise, whether domestic or international, we suggest being fully vaccinated. These links are signposted with an asterisk. MSCs policy toward vaccination for sailing from the United States is that while kids under 12 years old are allowed to sail unvaccinated, those older than that must have the shot. Starting Sept. 6, Princess Cruises will require passengers on sailings of 16 nights or longer to take a test within three days of leaving, as well as those on full Panama Canal transits. Were still requiring that the majority of Sailors be vaccinated, but were opening up our voyages for a limited number of unvaccinated Sailors to join us. We feature properties from a specially selected list of trusted operators who are of a standard that we believe our readers expect. When is the Best Time to Book a Cruise and Get the Best Deals? A precruise test is no longer required on the river ships. Cruise lines are gradually easing restrictions and resuming operations, with some already allowing unvaccinated passengers to disembark. As the COVID-19 pandemic slows down, eight cruise lines have just dropped their mask policies as of yesterday, February 28, and today, March 1, 2022. Some cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, accept vaccines recommended or approved by the World Health Organization as well as the CDC. 3 things to know before stepping foot on the ship, When Can You Book Excursions On Disney Cruise, Spirit Of Washington Dc Sunset Dinner Cruise With Buffet, Toyota Fj Cruiser Trail Teams Ultimate Edition For Sale. Be Safe protocols for Australia sailings on November 17, 2022, reintroducing mandatory mask wearing. The cruise line states some itineraries will require proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to travel, and that instructors will be sent out 30 days prior to travel. Cruise like a pro with expert tips from our editors. You May Like: How Big Are The Disney Cruise Ships. Most major cruise lines do not require guests to be vaccinated unless theyre traveling from or to a destination that requires it. However, before they cruise, those without the shot will need to have a negative test taken within three days of cruising . Others have eliminated both Covid vaccination requirements and testing requirements for some, but not all, passengers based on itineraries or cruise lengths. The restrictions requiring vaccines are dropping quickly. 8 Cruise Lines Drop Their Face Mask Requirements - Cruise Radio Carnival has also removed the mask mandate from its ships. Carnival Cruise LineOnly passengers on sailings to Canada, Bermuda, Greece and Australia, plus cruises of 16 nights or more, need to be fully vaccinated. Top 5 Travel Insurance Plans For 2023 Starting At $10 Per Week. If you know a bit about which brands belong to which company, youll recognize that these are all cruise lines under the Carnival Corporation and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings umbrellas. This new polic went into effect yesterday, September 3, 2022. Norwegian, which mandates 100% of guests and crew be vaccinated to sail and did not previously require masks be worn, will now mandate face coverings for sailings through Dec. 19, according to the . And the good news for many people? Have no fear, we provide all the relevant links and information you need for all of the major cruise lines below. Norwegian Cruise Line , the innovator in global cruise travel, today announced that it has updated its global health and safety protocols by removing all COVID-19 testing, masking and vaccination requirements effective Oct. 4, 2022.