This page was last updated on Aug. 15, 2022.
COVID-19 policies for ocean and river cruise lines differ; bookmark this page to keep track of the following companies’ vaccination policies — it will be updated regularly as regulations change.
AmaWaterways
- AmaWaterways requires guests to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to their river cruise.
- Travel entry requirements apply to accompanied minors.
- The criteria for being “fully vaccinated” may vary from country to country; guests are responsible for ensuring they meet the entry requirements of each port country.
American Cruise Lines and Pearl Seas Cruises
- American Cruise Lines guests are required to complete a pre-embarkation health declaration certifying their COVID-19 vaccination status. To be considered fully vaccinated, guests must have received the full regimen of required doses for their vaccine, and provide proof of vaccination. Vaccination requirements may vary depending on the state and region of travel.
- Unvaccinated guests may be subject to additional testing and quarantine requirements.
- Corporate cousin Pearl Seas Cruises requires guests to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination and complete a pre-embarkation health declaration certifying their vaccination status.
- Currently, Pearl Mist is the only passenger-carrying vessel designated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as “Vaccination Standard of Excellence.”
American Queen Voyages
- American Queen Voyages (formerly American Queen Steamboat Company and Victory Cruise Lines) were first to indicate that they would be requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for guests.
- COVID-19 vaccinations are required for both guests and crew.
- Guests must provide vaccination documentation prior to boarding.
- Face coverings are optional for guests and crew onboard, but masks are required for symptomatic guests and crew waiting for COVID-19 test results.
Atlas Ocean Voyages
- Atlas Ocean Voyages requires guests and crew to be fully vaccinated.
- Fully vaccinated passengers must also provide a negative PCR test up to 72 hours prior to embarking or a negative antigen test up to 48 hours before boarding. Crew will also perform an additional COVID-19 antigen test on guests at embarkation. Antigen tests will also be conducted for all guests starting on day three of the voyage and at the end of the voyage ahead of disembarkation.
- Staff and crew must be fully vaccinated, must wear face masks onboard and must present a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of embarkation.
- Ships are operating at 75% capacity or less.
- According to the line, “the cruise brand continues to monitor the ever-changing international travel requirements and will adjust its health and safety protocols as appropriate."
Aurora Expeditions
- Aurora Expeditions updated its Health & Safety Program to include mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for guests and crew prior to sailing.
- Booster shots will be required if more than five months have passed after the primary COVID-19 vaccination (and two months after a Johnson & Johnson vaccination).
- Vaccines must be World Health Organization (WHO)-approved and administered at least four weeks prior to sailing date.
Avalon Waterways
- Avalon Waterways will require its guests to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination as part of the health protocols stipulated by its parent company, Globus Family of Brands.
- Requirements may also include a booster shot if it keeps vaccination status current.
- Passengers, except for ineligible children, must complete their inoculations at least 14 days prior to embarkation. The requirement, which applies to all brands within the Globus Family of Brands, will be effective for travel through 2022.
Azamara
- Guests and crew traveling onboard Azamara must be vaccinated against COVID-19 with a WHO-approved vaccine no later than 14 days prior to departure.
- Booster shots will also be required if guests are eligible for them.
- Crew members are fully vaccinated, boosted and frequently tested.
- As of July 25, the line no longer requires pre-cruise testing unless required by the destination.
Carnival Cruise Line
- As of Sept. 6, 2022, guests no longer have to be vaccinated on Carnival Cruise Line sailings under 16 days in length, except for cruises in Australia.
- Passengers who are vaccinated, with uploaded documentation, are not required to test before boarding, except for voyages to Canada, Bermuda, Greece and Australia.
- Only unvaccinated guests, or those who do not provide proof of inoculation, need to test for COVID-19 within 72 hours of sailing.
Celebrity Cruises
- As of Sept. 5, 2022, guests no longer need to be vaccinated on Celebrity Cruises departing from Los Angeles, the U.K. and Europe (with the exception of Iceland).
- For cruises departing U.S. ports as of Aug. 8, pre-cruise testing for fully vaccinated guests is only required for those booked on voyages of six nights or longer.
- Passengers must follow the protocols of each homeport country.
- Face masks are optional.
Cunard Line
- Guests 16 years and older must be fully vaccinated and boosted (if the most recent shot was given more than 270 days prior) to sail with Cunard Line.
- Children above the age of 5 must be fully vaccinated; boosters are not required.
- As of Sept. 6, 2022, pre-cruise self-testing is now only “highly recommended” and no longer “mandatory,” except where destinations dictate otherwise (such as Canada and Australia).
- Masks are recommended but not required onboard, except in the theater, cinema and medical center, where they remain mandatory.
Disney Cruise Line
- Disney Cruise Line - Disney Cruise Line guests ages 5 and over must be fully vaccinated.
- Guests who are not vaccine eligible due to age must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result taken no more than three days before the sail date. (An additional test at the port is also required of unvaccinated guests.)
- Vaccinated passengers no longer need to test at the pier, but must test negative no more than two days prior to sailing.
- Physical distancing and face coverings are no longer required in most instances. Unvaccinated guests under 5 years old must still wear masks in youth activity spaces and at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.
Hapag-Lloyd
- Cruisers must fill out a health questionnaire prior to cruising with Hapag-Lloyd.
- Guests must also provide proof of full vaccination (boosters included) for all cruises, and show that the basic immunization against COVID-19 was at least three months prior to embarkation.
- The line requires clients to present negative COVID-19 tests and follow country-specific regulations.
Holland America Line
- As of Sept. 6, 2022, guests no longer have to be vaccinated on Holland America Line voyages under 16 days in length, except for those in destinations where regulations differ (such as Canada, Greece and Australia).
-Passengers who are vaccinated, with uploaded documentation, are not required to test before boarding. Only unvaccinated guests, or those who do not provide proof of inoculation, need to test for COVID-19 within 72 hours of sailing.
- Mask-wearing became optional as of March 1, 2022. There may be certain venues and events where face coverings are required.
Lindblad Expeditions
- All passengers on Lindblad Expeditions will be required to be vaccinated prior to sailing (regardless of age).
- Guests 12 and older who completed their primary inoculation series more than five months prior to embarkation will need to show proof of a booster, as well. Boosters can be received any time before boarding.
- Face coverings are required onboard all ships.
- Passengers must also present two negative COVID-19 tests (one taken no less than 72 hours before the cruise; the other taken just prior to boarding).
MSC Cruises
- All guests ages 12 and older sailing with MSC Cruises on ships departing from U.S. ports must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
- As of Aug. 8, the line no longer requires pre-cruise testing for fully vaccinated guests booked on voyages of five nights or less from U.S. ports. Pre-cruise testing for sailings of six nights or longer can be conducted within three days of departure.
- Wearing masks and social distancing onboard ships that depart from U.S. ports is optional for fully vaccinated guests. For unvaccinated children, it is recommended but not required.
- Mask-wearing is optional in MSC terminals unless required by local regulations, which guests must follow at public ports of call.
- Before booking a cruise, guests must confirm they are allowed to embark, according to their country of residence.
Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises
- Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings' brands will welcome unvaccinated visitors beginning Sept. 3, 2022.
- Fully vaccinated cruisers above the age of 12 will no longer need to comply with pre-cruise protocols. Guests under the age of 12 will not have any vaccination or testing requirements.
- Unvaccinated guests must provide a negative PCR or antigen test taken at least 72 hours prior to embarkation.
Princess Cruises
- As of Sept. 6, 2022, guests no longer have to be vaccinated on most Princess Cruises sailings under 16 days in length.
-Passengers who are vaccinated, with uploaded documentation, are not required to test before boarding. Only unvaccinated guests, or those who do not provide proof of inoculation, need to test within 72 hours of sailing.
- Face masks are recommended, but not required, in the majority of venues, though they may be required in select venues or situations.
Ponant
- Ponant’s sailing requirements mandate that all passengers ages 16 and over must be fully vaccinated prior to sailing, and must show proof of a negative PCR test conducted within 72 hours of boarding. A booster is recommended at least seven days prior to departure.
- Guests will also be asked to do a health check and screening before boarding.
- Facial coverings are recommended for all guests when outside their staterooms, but are no longer required. Social distancing will be enforced when possible. There may be mask requirements for shore excursions.
Paul Gauguin Cruises
- On Paul Gauguin Cruises sailings departing from Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Noumea and Auckland to French Polynesia, COVID-19 tests for vaccinated travelers are no longer required, although tests are still required for all travelers with a stopover or transit in the U.S.
- Boosters are required for all guests over 18 years old if their last dose is 9 months old or more.
Riviera River Cruises
- All passengers sailing with Riviera River Cruises are required to be fully vaccinated before embarkation (i.e., two doses, with the second dose a minimum of seven days prior to travel). Guests will confirm accordingly via a pre-travel questionnaire.
- A negative COVID-19 test may be required before sailing. More details will be provided by the cruise line before departure.
Royal Caribbean International
- As of Sept. 5, 2022, Royal Caribbean International guests no longer need to be vaccinated on cruises departing from Los Angeles; Galveston, Texas; New Orleans and Europe.
- COVID-19 testing requirements prior to sailing vary by port of departure and a passenger's age group. For cruises departing U.S. ports as of Aug. 8, pre-cruise testing for fully vaccinated guests is only required for those booked on sailings of six nights or longer.
- Unvaccinated children ages 2 to 11 must show a negative PCR test result taken no more than three days before boarding. Children under 2 do not need to take a test before the cruise.
- For sailings departing the U.S., Puerto Rico, Barbados and Canada, facial coverings onboard are optional for vaccinated guests and recommended for unvaccinated children. In Royal Caribbean terminals, masks are optional unless required by local regulation, and masks are optional at the line’s private destinations.
- More information on Royal Caribbean’s COVID-19 protocols can be found on Healthy Sail Center.
Seabourn Cruise Line
- As of Sept. 6, 2022, all guests sailing with Seabourn Cruise Line no longer have to be vaccinated on voyages under 16 days in length, except for those in destinations where regulations differ (such as Canada, Greece and Australia).
-Passengers who are vaccinated, with uploaded documentation, are not required to test before boarding. Only unvaccinated guests, or those who do not provide proof of inoculation, need to test for COVID-19 within 72 hours of sailing.
- Passengers are required to complete a health questionnaire 24 to 72 hours before embarkation, to understand entry requirements for each country the cruise visits, and to complete any Passenger Locator Forms and pre-travel registrations for those countries.
- Facial coverings onboard are optional.
Sea Cloud Cruises
- Proof of full vaccination, including a booster shot, is mandatory for all Sea Cloud Cruises sailings.
- Prior to boarding, guests sailing on any of Sea Cloud’s three ships must take a COVID-19 test (provided by the cruise line), and they must provide a completed health questionnaire on the day of embarkation.
- Masks and social distancing are recommended.
- Before embarkation, after every shore leave and daily onboard, contactless body temperatures will be taken.
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Emerald Cruises
- Sister brands Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Emerald Cruises require full vaccination for guests, at least 14 days prior to departure. Full vaccination may include any booster dose(s) when a country requires it.
- Emerald river cruise guests must meet the entry requirements of each country in which they embark, but the line does not require additional PCR or RAT tests for boarding Europe Star-Ships. Emerald ocean cruise guests may be required to take an antigen test at embarkation (at no additional cost). Scenic guests embarking on Europe Space-Ships will not need to take additional PCR or RAT tests.
- All guests are required to comply with any government requirements to enter countries on their itinerary at the time of travel.
- Face masks may be required in public areas onboard certain ship types when physical distancing is not possible.
Silversea Cruises
- All guests onboard Silversea Cruises sailings must be fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to embarkation. Passengers will need to be current with their vaccine status, including any booster dose(s) when eligible, in accordance with each of the countries they plan to visit.
- Per the line’s testing requirements, fully vaccinated guests who have not received an additional dose or booster must provide a negative antigen or PCR test result taken no more than two days prior to boarding. Up-to-date vaccinated guests must show a negative antigen or PCR test result taken no more than three days prior to boarding.
- All guests will undergo daily touchless temperature checks, as well as a pre-embarkation health screening that includes an enhanced health questionnaire.
- Masks are mandatory inside the casino, the theater and shore excursion buses, and during muster drills.
- Social distancing among passengers is not required.
Tauck
- Guests ages 12 and older must be fully vaccinated to travel with Tauck. If more than 270 days have passed since a passenger’s initial vaccination series, they must have a booster shot, but no booster is required if they can show proof of having recovered from COVID-19 within 180 days of travel.
- For those under 12, vaccination is recommended but not required; these minors must present a negative PCR test within three days of departure.
- All guests must follow health and safety protocols, such as wearing a mask, when necessitated by local health guidance or Tauck supplier partners.
UnCruise Adventures
- All UnCruise Adventures guests must be fully vaccinated, including at least one booster shot.
- COVID-19 testing prior to departure is requested but not required.
- Face masks are required on vessels and onshore when physical distancing cannot be achieved (more than 6 feet from a non-cabin mate for more than 15 minutes in a 24-hour period).
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
- All passengers traveling with Uniworld Boutique River Cruises must be fully vaccinated, with the final dose administered no less than two weeks prior to embarkation. Booster doses may be required at onshore venues, depending on destinations visited.
- Children who are vaccine-ineligible must provide a negative PCR or antigen test result taken within 72 hours of embarkation.
- Any testing required before embarkation is the responsibility of the guest. If a country requires tests mid-cruise, Uniworld will facilitate testing onboard and cover the expenses. Tests required onboard for re-entry to a guest’s home country will be at the expense of the guest, but Uniworld will help facilitate them.
- Masks are encouraged in onboard public areas and in motorcoaches when social distancing is not possible.
Viking
- Per its COVID-19 policies and procedures for international voyages, Viking requires all river, ocean and expedition guests to have received the required doses of COVID-19 vaccinations at least 14 days prior to the date of embarkation, including booster shots for those who are eligible.
- Select sailings require a negative pre-embarkation PCR test result. Passengers are otherwise encouraged to take a PCR test before sailing, though not required (unless a destination requires it).
- Throughout a cruise, guests may be asked to periodically take PCR tests and temperature checks.
- Guests are asked to follow existing public health measures such as hand hygiene, mask-wearing and social distancing. Currently, masks are optional onboard, but may be required at certain times on the ship, based on conditions at the time of travel.
Virgin Voyages
- Adults-only Virgin Voyages is keeping a vaccination requirement in place for guests (with the final dose administered no less than two weeks out from sailing). Boosters are not required, but are encouraged. (Note: Some ports Virgin sails from may require booster doses.)
- For U.S. sailings, 90% of passengers must be vaccinated. This opens the opportunity for passengers who are not vaccinated to book a sailing if those thresholds are met (they must contact Virgin Voyages' Sailor Services to do so).
- As of July 24 for European sailings and July 27 for U.S. voyages, the line no longer requires pre-cruise testing.
- Mask-wearing is optional onboard, and facial coverings will be provided upon request. They may be required during embarkation and disembarkation, in certain destinations and while on shuttle bus services. Guests are encouraged to adhere to social distancing recommendations.
Windstar Cruises
- Windstar Cruises requires guests to provide proof of an initial completed vaccine course, finished at least 14 days prior to the guest's embarkation date. Boosters are recommended but not required. For Europe and Tahiti sailings, a passenger’s last COVID-19 vaccination shot is now required (usually within the last 270 days). Guests must ensure they meet vaccine and booster requirements for all countries they will be visiting.
- There are no exceptions to the vaccination policy.
- Passengers must show a negative COVID-19 test prior to sailing, administered for free by Windstar. Guests are responsible for complying with COVID-19 test requirements imposed by any country visited during travel.
- In most circumstances, guests are not required to wear masks onboard Windstar’s yachts in most of Europe, Greece, the Caribbean, the U.S. and Canada. French Polynesia requires guests to wear masks.
What does it mean for a cruise to be “highly vaccinated?”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated its threshold for considering individual cruise ships as “Highly Vaccinated” (fully vaccinated without boosters) or “Vaccination Standard of Excellence” (fully vaccinated and up to date with boosters) to 90% of passengers meeting the requirement, down from 95% previously. The 10% window for unvaccinated guests is generally reserved for those who are ineligible to receive inoculations, such as children under 5 years of age.
An updated list of the status for ships operating in U.S. waters can be found on the CDC's website.
