Will You Need a Vaccine to Go on a Cruise? Cruise Line Requirements & Policies

Will I need a vaccine to cruise? - cruise line vaccine requirements and policies

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If you’re planning a cruise, you might be wondering if you need a vaccine to go on a cruise. While many cruise lines are requiring vaccines as cruises resume from various cruise ports, there isn’t one uniform answer to this question.

In this post, I’ll list the vaccination requirements on each cruise line, and ship, when relevant. As well, I’ll answer some frequently asked questions about vaccine policies for cruising.

Will Vaccines be Required to Cruise?

Do you need a vaccine to cruise
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Certain cruise lines are requiring vaccines without exception, while others are only requiring guests over 18 to be vaccinated. Still other cruise lines are allowing both vaccinated and non vaccinated guests to sail, with differing testing requirements.

In many cases, vaccine policies are being announced only once cruise ships are actually going to be sailing. 

Will Vaccinations be Required for Cruises Departing from the United States?

Norwegian cruise line resumes sailing this summer in Caribbean and Greece

There hasn’t been a confirmation on whether or not vaccines will be required for cruises leaving from the United States. For now, cruise lines do not have permission from the CDC to begin cruising from the US, although there is hope that this will soon change.

For now, cruise lines are bound by the CDC’s Conditional Sailing Order, which is still in Phase 2a of 4 phases. Since the Conditional Sailing Order was announced in October 2020, cruise lines point out that many of the CDC’s requirements are outdated. Cruise lines have asked that the Conditional Sailing Order be rescinded.

Circumstances changed and evolved, including the effectiveness of vaccines and an ease of travel restrictions in other sectors. As well, cruise lines have been sailing safely, with their health and safety measures for several months, in other countries. There are more than 50 cruise ships that will begin sailing outside of the United States between May and August 2021.

Hopefully, the CDC and cruise lines will come to an agreement for cruises to resume from the US shortly. Once this happens, cruise lines will let cruise passengers know if they will need a vaccine to cruise.

While vaccine requirements for cruises leaving from other countries can give us an idea, this doesn’t mean that it will be the same for cruises leaving from the United States as cruises resume.

Vaccine Requirements by Cruise Line and ship

vaccine requirements by cruise line - disney cruise ship

Here are the vaccine policies by cruise line. Please keep in mind that vaccine requirements can change and even differ depending on the cruise ship and region in which it sails.

Please check directly with your cruise line or travel agent for your specific booking.

Azamara

Vaccine policy: All passengers must show proof of vaccination.

Carnival Cruise Line

Vaccine policy: Vaccine requirements have not yet been announced.

Celebrity Cruises

Vaccine policy: Proof of vaccination is required for passengers over 18 years of age. Guests under 18 must show a negative Covid test result for the following sailings.

  • Celebrity Millenium – Departs from st. Marteen
  • Celebrity Apex – Departs from Greece
  • Celebrity Silhouette – Departs from U.K.

Crystal Cruises

Vaccine policy: All passengers must show proof of vaccination.

Cunard

Vaccine policy: All passengers must show proof of vaccination for the following sailings.

  • Queen Elizabeth – Departs from the U.K
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Disney Cruise Line

Vaccine policy: Proof of vaccination is required for passengers over 18 years of age. Guests under 18, as well as passengers who are fully vaccinated, must present a negative Covid test result prior to sailing. The vaccine policy applies to the following sailings.

  • Disney Magic – Departs from the U.K. roundtrip “staycations”

Holland America Line

Vaccine requirements have not yet been announced.

MSC Cruises

Vaccine policy: Passengers are not required to be vaccinated to cruise with MSC. Both those that are vaccinated and non vaccinated, including children are welcome.

Guests who are not fully vaccinated will be required to show proof of a negative test completed within 72 hours prior to embarkation. Guests who are vaccinated will be required to show proof of vaccination.

Related post: How Cruises Are Restarting; Safety Measures; Protocols MSC

Norwegian Cruise Line

Vaccine policy: All passengers must show proof of vaccination. There are no exceptions for guests under 18 years of age.

Latest Norwegian updates: Norwegian Cruise Line Submits Plan to CDC to Resume Cruising Beginning July 4

P & O Cruises

Vaccine policy: All passengers must show proof of vaccination. There are no exceptions for guests under 18 years of age for round trip U.K. sailings.

will vaccine policies for cruises change - Princess cruise

Princess Cruises

Vaccine policy: All passengers must show proof of vaccination for round trip U.K. sailings. 

Royal Caribbean

Vaccine policy: Proof of vaccination is required for passengers over 18 years of age. Guests under 18 must show a negative Covid test result for the following sailings.

  • Odyssey of the Seas – departs from Israel
  • Vision of the Seas – departs from Bermuda
  • Adventure of the Seas – departs from Bahamas
  • Jewel of the Seas – departs from Cyprus

Seabourn

Vaccine policy: All passengers must show proof of vaccination.

Silversea

Vaccine policy: All passengers must show proof of vaccination.

Viking Cruises

Vaccine policy: All passengers must show proof of vaccination.

Virgin Voyages

Vaccine policy: All passengers must show proof of vaccination.

Windstar Cruises

Vaccine policy: All passengers must show proof of vaccination.

will vaccine policies for cruises change

Will Vaccine Policies Change?

Cruise line vaccine policies will change and evolve, along with other health and safety protocols on cruise ships. Cruise lines will keep passengers informed about testing requirements, proof of vaccines and other information that’s needed before sailing. 

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If you have questions about vaccinations on cruises, or other requirements, please let me know in the comments below. If you have tips to share based on your experiences, please let us know. This is new for all of us and your experience will be helpful to other cruisers.

Happy cruising!

Ilana

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