A number of cruise lines have come out saying that passengers will be required to be vaccinated before sailing. Cruise Passenger has provided the full list of lines.

British based Saga Cruises was the first line in January 2021 to announce that they will require vaccinations for all passengers and crew on overseas voyages.

And over the coming months, more lines followed suite.

An overwhelming number of Cruise Passenger readers believe vaccinations should be mandatory for both crew and guests.

But with Australia’s delayed vaccination roll out, cruise lines are rethinking the vaccination policy for sailings Down Under and in New Zealand.

Lines like Silversea have already indicated that while vaccinations will be required for cruisers overseas, Australians sailing on domestic itineraries will not need to be vaccinated.

Here are the cruise lines that require you to be vaccinated:

 

American Queen Steamboat Company

Who needs the vaccine: All guests and crew must be fully vaccinated (14 days after their final shot) for sailings starting 1 July.

Other safety measures in place: Before boarding, guests must check in to a pre-cruise hotel and get tested for COVID-19. Guests’ luggage is then disinfected before being brought onto the ship and staterooms cleaned with electrostatic fogging. Masks will be required when social distancing isn’t possible.

 

Celebrity Cruises

Who needs the vaccine: Guests 18 and older must be vaccinated at least two weeks before boarding. Those under 18 (and older than 2 years old) will be required to show proof of a negative RT-PCR test.

Other safety measures are in place: Celebrity has added more doctors and nurses to their ships along with critical care beds and rapid testing. Guests will only be allowed off the ship on a Celebrity shore excursion.

 

Crystal Cruises

Who needs the vaccine: Crystal Cruises will require guests to be vaccinated before boarding.

Other safety measures in place: Guests will have to test negative for COVID-19 and wear masks when appropriate. In the event someone gets sick, Crystal’s ships will be equipped with ventilators and PCR testing equipment.

 

Cunard

Who needs the vaccine: Cunard’s initial cruises will be open only to UK residents who are fully vaccinated at least seven days before boarding. The line has said that guests on voyages departing on the Queen Elizabeth after 2 October, departing on Queen Mary 2 after 13 November, and departing on Queen Victoria after 28 August will not carry the vaccine requirement.

Other safety measures in place: Cunard has enhanced their onboard ventilation systems and implemented mandatory mask-wearing policies. Crew will be tested regularly while on board. Guests who have certain pre-existing medical conditions, including those who are on supplementary oxygen, will not be allowed to board.

 

Norwegian Cruise Line

Who needs the vaccine: All guests will be required to be fully vaccinated at least two weeks before boarding for sailings through at least 31 October.

Other safety measures in place: Guests will also be required to undergo a rapid antigen test before boarding as well as a second rapid antigen test before disembarking. Guests will be required to wear face masks indoors as well as outdoors when social distancing isn’t possible. Each ship will have a dedicated Public Health Officer on board as well as an Infectious Disease Prevention Officer.

 

Oceania Cruises

Who needs the vaccine: All guests will be required to be fully vaccinated at least two weeks before their cruise.

Other safety measures in place: Guests will be required to undergo a rapid antigen test before boarding as well as a second rapid antigen test before disembarking. Initially, the company will “control the guest capacity onboard” as well as have a Public Health Officer and Infectious Disease Prevention Officer on board.

 

Royal Caribbean International

Who needs the vaccine: Guests 18 and older will be required to be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before boarding except for sailings in Singapore. Guests under 18 must show proof of a negative RT-PCR test.

Other safety measures in place: Royal Caribbean has upgraded the air filtration systems on its ships and uses electrostatic fogging to clean. Crew members must be vaccinated except for in Singapore.

Princess

Who needs the vaccine: All guests will be required to be fully vaccinated at least seven days before boarding a “Summer Seacations” cruise. There is currently no vaccination requirement for other Princess Cruises going forward.

Other safety measures in place: Crew members will undergo strict testing and quarantine, and guests will only be allowed on shore excursions that are “researched and organised by Princess Cruises.”

 

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Who needs the vaccine: All guests and crew must be fully vaccinated at least two weeks before boarding.

Other safety measures in place: In addition to vaccinations, all guests will be required to take a rapid antigen test before boarding as well as a second test before disembarking the ship. All staterooms will be cleaned with “intensive non-toxic microbial disinfection” each day.

Seabourn

Who needs the vaccine: All guests on the summer Greece sailings must be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before boarding.

Other safety measures in place: All guests will have to be tested before boarding and masks will be required when social distancing is not possible. Only shore excursions that “comply with our prescribed protocols” will be allowed.

 

Silversea

Who needs the vaccine: All guests and crew must be fully vaccinated before boarding, except for cruises departing from Australia.

What other safety measures are in place: All guests and crew will be tested before boarding a ship and those wishing to leave the ship will only be able to do so on a “verified shore excursion.” All ships have an Infection Control Officer.

 

UnCruise Adventures

Who needs the vaccine: All guests and crew 18 and older must be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before boarding for all itineraries, except the Galapagos. Those under 18 will be able to join a trip without the need to get vaccinated.

Other safety measures in place: All guests must show proof of a negative molecular COVID-19 test taken within four days of boarding. Mask wearing is mandatory when unable to social distance, and each ship can perform rapid molecular tests on board.

 

Viking

Who needs the vaccine: All guests must be fully vaccinated to board one of the summer cruises.

Other measures in place: In addition to vaccines, all guests will be required to undergo a saliva PCR test at embarkation as well as “frequent” testing throughout the journey. All staterooms are equipped with independent air handling units.

 

Virgin Voyages

Who needs the vaccine: All passengers will be required to be vaccinated at least two weeks before boarding the summer UK sailings.

Other safety measures in place: All luggage will be fogged down to clean it before bringing it on board and air purification systems that disinfect air have been installed.

 

Windstar Cruises

Who needs the vaccine: All guests will be required to be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before boarding one of Windstar’s yachts.

Other measures in place: All guests must also undergo a COVID-19 rapid antigen test at the pier before boarding, and electrostatic sprayers using hospital-grade, EPA-approved sanitising solutions will be used on surfaces and in public spaces on the ships. All crew will be tested with a PCR test each week. Guests who want to leave the ship will need to do so on a Windstar shore excursion. Windstar also offers the option of getting tested for a fee before disembarking in order to comply with border testing requirements.