Three of the world’s largest cruise lines have decided to stop enforcing the vaccination requirement for some itineraries

Next month, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Princess Cruises will no longer require vaccinations for some sailings. Starting September 6, Princess Cruises will no longer require vaccinations for “most voyages of less than 16 days,” so that anyone can go on a cruise.

 

Princess’s website says that guests who haven’t been vaccinated must have a vaccine exemption before they can sail. The changes may not be possible in some places.

 

Starting September 5, Royal Caribbean will let all travellers on cruises from Los Angeles, New Orleans, Galveston, Texas, and Europe “as long as testing requirements are met,” a spokeswoman told USA TODAY in an email.

 

“We are working with local governments all over the Caribbean to make sure that we all agree on the vaccination requirements for new routes,” the spokesperson said.

 

Royal Caribbean’s website says that people who are 12 or older and want to sail from North America must show proof that they have been vaccinated.

 

Celebrity Cruises’ website says that starting on the same date, all passengers who follow testing rules will be able to sail from Los Angeles, the UK, and Europe (except Iceland), as long as they follow the rules.

 

The changes were made after Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. said that it would also change its COVID-19 rules to let all passengers board.

After the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships ended this month, Royal Caribbean Group, which owns Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity, also lowered its testing requirements. Passengers who have been vaccinated only have to take a test if their trip is six nights or longer. However, passengers who have not been vaccinated still have to take a test on all trips.

 

Many other cruise lines and brands, like Carnival Cruise Line and MSC Cruises, also made changes like these.

 

When do we still need to test?

 

From August 4, Carnival Cruise Line will only test vaccinated passengers who are 2 years old or older and on trips that last six days or longer. Up to three days before their trip, guests can take a test.

 

Passengers 2 years and older who haven’t been vaccinated will need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of embarkation for any trip.

If they are 5 or older, they will also need a vaccine exemption.

 

A news release says that as of September 3, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. will no longer require people 12 and older who have been vaccinated to show proof of it before they can go on a cruise.

 

Guests over 12 who aren’t vaccinated or can’t show proof of being vaccinated will still have to take a test within 72 hours of boarding. The company said that it “continues to strongly recommend that all guests be up-to-date on vaccination protocols and test at their convenience before travelling.” Changes are also based on what is needed in the area.

 

A press release says that on sailings from the U.S., MSC Cruises requires tests for vaccinated passengers on trips of six nights or more and for unvaccinated passengers age 2 and up, no matter how long the trip is. The tests have to be taken within three days of departure. The cruise line suggests that people take a test no more than one day before the trip.

 

Starting Sept. 6, Princess Cruises will require passengers on trips of 16 nights or more and certain other trips to “take a supervised test within three days of embarkation (guests 5 and older).”

 

Passengers who aren’t vaccinated must show that they aren’t sick by taking a self-test within three days of their trip. Children under 5 who aren’t vaccinated are exempt from this rule.

 

Before a trip with Holland America Line, everyone over the age of 2 has to take a test. The cruise line’s website says that everyone over the age of 12 must be vaccinated. Passengers between the ages of 5 and 11 can also not be vaccinated, but they will need an exemption.

 

Guests who are up-to-date on their vaccines and have gotten a booster shot when they were supposed to can take the test up to three days before they leave. If they have been vaccinated but are not up to date, they will need to test within two days.