Norwegian Cruise Line Drops COVID-19 Testing, Masking and More

Norwegian Cruise Line Drops COVID-19 Testing, Masking and More

Norwegian Jade Photo credit Spacejunkie2 (Flickr)

Norwegian Cruise Line announced that it has updated its global health and safety protocols by removing all COVID-19 testing, masking and vaccination requirements effective on October 4, 2022.

Given the significant, positive progress in the public health environment, the Cruise Line updated its health and safety guidelines, which are now more aligned with other global travel organizations, the company said in a press release.

"Health and safety are always our first priority; in fact, we were the health and safety leaders from the very start of the pandemic," said Harry Sommer, Norwegian Cruise Line president and chief executive officer. "Many travellers have been patiently waiting to take their long-awaited vacation at sea and we cannot wait to celebrate their return."

Costa Cruises Simplifies COVID-19 Protocols

Costa Cruises Simplifies COVID-19 Protocols

Costa Cruises is updating its COVID-19-related health protocols, making its vacations even more accessible, according to a press release.

Starting Oct. 8, new simple procedures will allow guests to enjoy onboard and shoreside activities without restrictions, the company said. 

The main changes concern the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and the United Arab Emirates, where fully vaccinated guests will no longer have to undergo pre-embarkation testing. In addition, in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, unvaccinated guests with negative pre-embarkation antigen tests will also be able to embark.

In Mediterranean (excluding Greece) and the Caribbean cruises lasting less than 14 nights, guests who have completed the COVID-19 vaccination will be able to embark on the ships without having to undergo any more pre-embarkation tests.

Guests who have not been vaccinated or cured from COVID-19 will also be able to travel with Costa to these destinations, simply showing at the embarkation an official certification of the negative result of an antigenic swab (or also RT-PCR molecular swab, at the guest's choice) performed within 48 hours of embarkation time.

All cruises calling in Greece will continue to be available only to fully vaccinated, partially vaccinated and recovered guests, and who have undergone antigen testing with a negative result within 48 hours of embarkation.

On cruises visiting Morocco, guests without full vaccination will be required to take an additional RT-PCR molecular test on board 48 hours prior to entry into the country. As for Caribbean cruises, shore leave of unvaccinated guests in Barbados, St. Vincent and St. Marteen is permitted only with a negative result of an antigen test performed 24 or 48 hours prior to the ship's arrival. These tests, as well as those scheduled prior to entering Morocco, can be done onboard Costa ships at a special price.

Cruises in the UAE, Oman and Qatar are currently available only to fully vaccinated guests, but with no pre-embarkation testing required.

Around-the-World, transatlantic cruises, and generally all cruises longer than 14 nights, require guests to be fully vaccinated and take an antigen test with a negative result within 48 hours of embarkation time. In addition, mask use onboard will be mandatory in public areas during the first seven days of the cruise, while in other destinations (Mediterranean, Caribbean, UAE) mask use is simply recommended.

Carnival Cruise Line Bookings Double After Relaxing Protocols

Carnival Cruise Line Bookings Double After Relaxing Protocols

Carnival Cruise Line said today that its booking activity for Monday, Aug. 15 was nearly double the level for the equivalent day in 2019, citing demand after announcing last Friday that it was revising pre-cruise vaccination and testing requirements will allow more guests to cruise.

Carnival announced simplified protocols last Friday that eliminated pre-cruise testing requirements for vaccinated guests and eliminated the exemption request process for unvaccinated guests, who now will only need to show a negative test result at embarkation – effective for cruises departing on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, or later on voyages less than 16 nights. 

"We have previously disclosed strong occupancy projections for the summer, and our bookings through the end of 2022 have also been very solid," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. "With the further alignment of protocols to other vacation choices, our guests are booking the remaining 2022 inventory and getting a head start planning for 2023. Mid-August is typically not a busy month for cruise bookings. Still, it's clear that pent-up demand for Carnival has not been satisfied and guests are responding very favourably to our updated protocols."

Duffy reiterated in a press release that Carnival remains committed to the health and safety of guests, crew, and the communities it visits, and will continue to work with medical experts and public health officials to refine its protocols responsibly.

Carnival Removes Pre-Cruise Testing for Vaccinated Guests, More Changes Announced

Carnival Removes Pre-Cruise Testing for Vaccinated Guests, More Changes Announced

Carnival Cruise Line today announced protocol updates for COVID-19.

\With these changes, Carnival said is making it easier for more guests to sail with simplified vaccination and testing guidelines, including no testing for vaccinated guests on sailings less than 16 nights, and eliminating the exemption request process for unvaccinated guests, who will only need to show a negative test result at embarkation.

All new guidelines are effective for cruises departing on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, or later, and include:

• Vaccinated guests must continue to provide evidence of their vaccination status prior to embarkation. Pre-cruise testing is no longer required, except for cruises to Canada, Bermuda, Greece and Australia (per local guidelines), and on voyages 16 nights or longer.
• Unvaccinated guests are welcome to sail and are no longer required to apply for a vaccine exemption, except for cruises in Australia or on voyages 16 nights and longer.
• Unvaccinated guests or those who do not provide proof of vaccination must present the results of a negative PCR or antigen test was taken within three days of embarkation.
• All policies are subject to local destination regulations.

Guests under the age of five years are exempt from vaccination and testing requirements from the United States and under the age of 12 from Australia, the company said.

Voyages 16 nights and longer will continue to have vaccination and testing requirements that are specific to the itinerary. Carnival's Have Fun offers requirements for long voyages and destination-specific protocols. Be Safe. page on Carnival.com

For guests who have a pending vaccine exemption application and are awaiting confirmation for cruises departing Sept. 6 or later, the booking is confirmed unless booked on a sailing that calls on Canada, Bermuda, Australia or if the voyage is 16 nights or longer.

“Our ships have been sailing very full all summer, but there is still room for more of our loyal guests, and these guidelines will make it a simpler process, and make cruising accessible for those who were not able to meet the protocols we were required to follow for much of the past 14 months,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

“We’ve got lots happening, with Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Celebration joining our fleet this November and more to come in 2023. Whatever the ship, homeport or itinerary that works for you, our great onboard team is ready to deliver a fun vacation – something we all look forward to even more nowadays!”

Duffy added that Carnival is in the process of updating its website, communications, and processes, and sharing more details with guests and travel advisor partners to reflect these new, simplified policies. “We appreciate the patience of our guests and travel advisor partners as we update all materials, but the end result is a very positive one for all who are looking forward to cruising with us,” she said.

Royal Caribbean to Ditch Covid Testing on Short Sailings.

Royal Caribbean to Ditch Covid Testing on Short Sailings.

Independence of the Seas in Southampton, Photo Credit Spacejunkie2

Royal Caribbean Group will ditch pre-embarkation testing for fully vaccinated guests on sailings of five days or less from 8 August, president and chief executive Jason Liberty has confirmed.

Speaking during Royal’s second quarterly results call on Thursday (July 28), Liberty said the change in policy would be “subject to local destination requirements” and unvaccinated passengers would still be tested.

 

“We also anticipate in the not-too-distant future that pre-embarkation testing for longer-duration voyages will be reduced,” he added.

 

Asked on the call when testing requirements for longer cruises might be lifted, Liberty predicted further easing could follow soon but did not rule out reintroducing measures if needed.

 

“So we’re starting off here by doing the five days or less and we’re going to look at that. But I think our expectation here, call it, in the next 45 days or so. And of course, following local requirements, which will somewhat dictate in some of our destinations, what those testing requirements will be that the majority of the testing requirements will be lifted, especially around the majority of our deployment,” he said.

“We might, depending on where the ships are going, take some additional protocols and of course, we’re going to continue to follow where Covid is in society and take the necessary actions.”

 

The update came as Royal announced a return to "positive operating cash flow" with the group’s entire fleet now back in service.

 

Average second-quarter (three months to 30 June) load factors ran to 82% and to nearly 90% in June, while the group expects third-quarter (three months to 30 September) load factors to average around 95% before "increasing to triple digits" by the end of the year.

 

Royal’s positivity came despite posting a US $500 million Q2 net loss, one the group said "exceeded the company’s expectations" and was "driven by better revenue and cost performance".

 

In its trading update, the company revealed that second-quarter bookings for sailings departing in the second half of the year remained "significantly higher" than those received in Q2 2019 for the latter half of 2019.

Virgin Voyages Eliminates Pre-Embarkation COVID-19 Testing for Cruises

Virgin Voyages Eliminates Pre-Embarkation COVID-19 Testing for Cruises

Virgin Voyages will remove the requirements for pre-embarkation testing, according to a press release.

Virgin Voyages has responded immediately to the CDC’s decision to discontinue their voluntary COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships and will mirror the rest of the travel industry in removing pre-embarkation testing for sailings from July 24 on EU sailings, and from July 27 on US sailings.

Vaccine requirements will remain in place for both Scarlet Lady, operating out of the US, and Valiant Lady in the EU. Virgin Voyages is currently evaluating this policy and will announce further updates in the near future, the company said. 

Passenger and crew well-being is the major focus and they continue to follow the advice of their expert medical team. To clarify these updates:

• From the dates mentioned above, passengers will no longer be required to complete a pre-embarkation COVID test, applicable across the fleet, including US and EU operations. 
• For US sailings, passenger vaccination requirements will now be marked at 90%. This opens the opportunity for passengers who are not vaccinated to contact Virgin Voyages' Sailor Services to book a sailing if these thresholds are met. 
• Ship crew on all US and EU sailings will maintain their fully vaccinated status.  

Denmark is Now Requiring Cruise Passengers to Get Tested to Go Ashore

From Aug. 24, cruise guests who want to go ashore in Denmark must get tested for coronavirus, the Danish authorities have announced according to CruiseCopenhagen. This applies to immune and vaccinated guests as well.

According to a press release, before disembarking a cruise in Denmark all guests must either take a PCR test within 72 hours before arrival or an antigen test within 48 hours before arrival. This also applies to those guests who are vaccinated or are immune due to an earlier infection with COVID-19.

Previously, since June 26, 2021, only cruise guests vaccinated with an EMA-accepted vaccine were allowed to go ashore in Denmark.

CruiseCopenhagen said that while they welcome the step allowing unvaccinated guests to explore the country, it believes that "the border entry rules for cruise guests should be equal to the rules of general tourism in this country."

"Even though cruising is the safest mode of vacationing, the Danish authorities are extremely cautious with letting our guests in as opposed to general tourism,“ said Claus Bødker, director of CruiseCopenhagen.