Three major cruise lines have announced they will accept self-administered tests for COVID-19 in many cases where requests remain.
Carnival Cruise Line said the line will accept self-administered tests in addition to lab-administered tests from unvaccinated guests on voyages that are 15 nights or shorter starting Sept. 6, according to a news release.
However, some destinations, including Bermuda and Canada, require self-testing to be medically supervised.
Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises also announced a similar change. Royal Caribbean will allow guests on U.S. cruises to take a test at home or one “professionally administered by a health professional” starting Sept. 5, according to its website, as well as Celebrity, starting on the same date. These changes are also subject to local restrictions.
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The changes come as lines have dropped vaccine requirements and reinstated testing rules for many voyages after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ended its cruise ship COVID-19 program.
Major cruise lines have reduced vaccine requirements
Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity announced this month that they will welcome all passengers regardless of vaccination status on many cruises. Other major cruise lines have made similar announcements, including Holland America Line and Princess Cruises.
Some exceptions apply, so passengers should check their cruise line’s policy. Carnival, for example, will allow unvaccinated passengers to board without vaccine exemptions — which are currently “limited to a small number of guests (ages five and older),” according to its website — starting from September 6. But this does not include cruises of 16 nights or more, and change is subject to local regulations.
Major cruise lines have also lifted testing rules for vaccinated passengers, but testing is still required in a number of cases.
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When do cruise lines still require testing?
► Carnival cruise line will require pre-cruise testing for vaccinated passengers only on voyages 16 nights or longer or when local regulations mandate it, such as on cruises to Canada and Bermuda, starting Sept. 6, according to a press release.
Passengers who are unvaccinated or do not show proof of vaccination will still have to “submit the results of a negative PCR or antigen test obtained within three days of departure.” Those under 5 are exempt from vaccine and testing requirements in the US
► Royal Caribbean will require vaccinated guests age 5 and older to take a pre-cruise test on U.S. cruises of 10 nights or longer within three days of departure, starting Sept. 5, according to its website. Unvaccinated guests 5 years of age and older must take a test within three days of their departure on all cruises. Changes are subject to local regulations.
► Celebrity Cruises will require vaccinated passengers to test only on voyages of 10 nights or more within three days of sailing starting Sept. 5, according to its website, where local regulations allow. Unvaccinated travelers age 5 and older must take a test within three days before boarding US cruises.
► Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. will lift all pre-cruise vaccination requirements for passengers age 12 and older effective Sept. 3, according to a news release.
Visitors aged 12 and over who are unvaccinated or do not show proof of vaccination will still need to be tested within 72 hours before boarding the aircraft. The company said it “continues to strongly recommend all guests stay up-to-date on vaccination protocols and test at their convenience prior to travel.” Changes are subject to local requirements.
► On sailings from the U.S., MSC Cruises requires tests for fully vaccinated passengers sailing on voyages of six nights or more and for all unvaccinated passengers age 2 and older, regardless of the length of the voyage, according to a news release. Tests must be completed within three days of departure. The cruise line recommends guests test within a day of travel when possible.
► Princess Cruises will require passengers sailing on voyages of 16 nights or more to “take a supervised test within three days of departure (guests 5 and older) starting September 6, as well as those who are in full transit on the Panama Canal and several other voyages.
Unvaccinated passengers must show a negative result from a self-test done within three days of their journey on cruises of 15 nights or less, although unvaccinated children under 5 are exempt.
► Holland America Line will no longer require pre-cruise testing for vaccinated guests on cruises of 15 nights or less, according to a news release. Unvaccinated guests 5 years of age and older must show a negative result from a medically supervised test or self-test done within three days of sailing.
On cruises of 16 nights or more, all guests 5 years of age and older must provide “a supervised medical test for COVID-19 with a negative written result.” Passengers must be tested within three days of departure and unvaccinated travelers will still need an exemption.
