Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises to drop vaccination requirements for select sailings
Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises are dropping their vaccination requirements for select sailings next month, the cruise lines said.
Royal Caribbean will welcome all travelers, regardless of vaccination status, on sailings from Los Angeles, New Orleans, Galveston, Texas, and Europe beginning Sept. 5 “as long as testing requirements are met,” a spokesperson told USA TODAY via email Thursday.
The rules are subject to local restrictions.
“We are collaborating with local governments throughout the Caribbean to align on vaccination requirements for additional itineraries,” the spokesperson added.
Royal Caribbean currently requires guests 12 and older to show proof of vaccination in order to sail from North America, according to its website.
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Starting on the same date, Celebrity Cruises will also welcome all passengers who follow testing rules on sailings from Los Angeles, the United Kingdom, and Europe – excluding Iceland – per its website.
The changes come after Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. announced plans to adjust its COVID-19 rules as well, allowing all passengers to embark.
Many cruise lines have rolled back testing rules
Royal Caribbean Group, parent company of Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity, also rolled back its testing requirements this month, following the end of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships. The company requires vaccinated passengers to take a test only on sailings six nights or longer, but testing is still required for unvaccinated passengers on all sailings.
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When do cruise lines still require COVID-19 testing?
► Carnival Cruise Line will require testing for vaccinated passengers 2 years and older only on sailings six days or longer as of Aug. 4, according to its website. Guests can test up to three days before their voyage.
Unvaccinated passengers 2 years and older will need to provide proof of negative test results from a test taken within three days of embarkation for any sailing. They will also need to have a vaccine exemption if they are age 5 and older.
► Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. will drop all pre-cruise requirements for vaccinated passengers age 12 and over as of Sept. 3, according to a news release.
Guests age 12 and older who are unvaccinated or do not show proof of vaccination will still need to test within 72 hours before boarding. The company said it “continues to strongly recommend all guests be up to date on vaccination protocols and test at their convenience prior to travel.” Changes are also subject to local requirements.
► On sailings from the U.S., MSC Cruises requires tests for fully vaccinated passengers sailing on trips six nights or longer and for all unvaccinated passengers age 2 or older, regardless of trip length, according to a press release. Tests must be taken within three days of embarkation. The cruise line recommends guests test within one day of the trip when possible.
► Princess Cruises requires fully vaccinated passengers age 5 and older to take an antigen test within two days of their trip, or a PCR test within three days, according to the cruise line’s website. Passengers who have also received booster doses can take an antigen test within three days or a PCR test within the same time frame.
Passengers who are not fully vaccinated will need a PCR test within three days of sailing, as well as an antigen test at the terminal and a vaccine exemption.
► Holland America Line requires all guests age 2 and older to test before their trip. All guests 12 and up must be vaccinated, according to the cruise line’s website. Passengers between 5 and 11 can also be unvaccinated but will need an exemption.
Guests who are up to date on their vaccines and have received a booster when eligible can test within three days before sailing. If they are vaccinated but not up to date, they will need to test within two days.