This page was last updated on March 8, 2023.
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 no longer mentions vaccinations or masks as requirements for its guests.
- Guests are responsible for ensuring they meet the entry requirements of each port country.
American Cruise Lines and Pearl Seas Cruises
- Neither American Cruise Lines nor corporate cousin Pearl Seas Cruises require pre-cruise health questionnaires, vaccines or face coverings onboard their vessels.
American Queen Voyages
- American Queen Voyages (formerly
American Queen Steamboat Company and Victory Cruise Lines) does not require
pre-cruise testing or vaccinations to join its cruises.
- 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 no
longer has any mention of vaccine, testing and mask requirements to board.
Aurora Expeditions
- Aurora Expeditions updated its Health & Safety Program to include mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for guests and crew prior to sailing, as well as an additional booster where eligible.
- Also, pre-cruise negative test results are needed, either PCR three days prior to embarkation, or antigen two days before.
Avalon Waterways
- As of March 1, 2023, Avalon Waterways will not require its guests to be vaccinated. Until then, though, passengers must still be fully inoculated against COVID-19.
Azamara
- As of Dec. 1, 2022, guests traveling with Azamara no longer need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 on sailings starting and ending in the U.S. or Europe.
- All other cruises still require proof of initial vaccination and a booster until further notice.
- As of July 25, 2022, the line no longer requires pre-cruise testing unless required by the destination.
Carnival Cruise Line
- Guests no longer have to be vaccinated nor tested to join Carnival Cruise Line sailings under 16 days in length.
- Only on cruises of 16 nights or more might adult guests be required to be vaccinated and boosted (or all passengers tested).
Celebrity Cruises
- Guests no longer need to be vaccinated nor tested on Celebrity Cruises for most sailings. Currently, pre-cruise testing is only required in select destinations as listed on Celebrity's health and safety page.
- Face masks are optional.
Celestyal Cruises
- Celestyal Cruises' guests do not need to be vaccinated or show any COVID-19 recovery certificates. Testing is still required within 48 hours (if antigen) or 72 hours (if PCR) of boarding.
- For sailings on or after March 2, 2023, pre-cruise testing will no longer be necessary to board.
- Masks are no longer required onboard.
Cunard Line
- Guests 18 years and older onboard Cunard Line must be fully vaccinated and boosted as eligible (both a minimum of 14 days before travel) to sail with Cunard Line on most voyages, and their testing must be conducted within three days of sailing.
- Children aged 5 and above do not need to be vaccinated nor boosted, only tested.
- Kids aged 4 and below are not required to be vaccinated, boosted nor tested.
- Some voyages have additional requirements.
- Masks are recommended but not required on most voyages, except in the medical center, where they remain mandatory.
Disney Cruise Line
- Disney Cruise Line no longer requires vaccinations or pre-cruise testing for sailings departing from the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
Hapag-Lloyd
- Cruisers must fill out a health questionnaire prior to cruising with Hapag-Lloyd.
- Guests must also provide proof of full vaccination and negative test results.
- From May 2023 onward, the line plans to gradually remove vaccination requirements, as well as testing once its fleet returns to Europe.
Holland America Line
- Guests no longer have to be vaccinated nor tested on most Holland America Line voyages, except for those in destinations where regulations differ.
- Only on certain voyages can passengers use an online tool to discover different protocols.
- Mask-wearing is now optional.
Lindblad Expeditions - National Geographic
- As of Sept. 1, 2022, Lindblad Expeditions passengers over 4 years old are required to be vaccinated prior to sailing, and boosters are recommended but no longer mandated, except for on extended voyages. And face coverings are not required onboard now.
- As of Oct. 1, 2022, guests also do not need to test before the cruise nor at embarkation, except for destinations that say otherwise.
MSC Cruises
- Guests sailing with MSC Cruises no longer need to be vaccinated or tested, although both remain recommended, on most cruises sailing from the U.S. as well as those abroad (one exception is the line's world cruise).
- Wearing masks and social distancing onboard ships that depart from U.S. ports is optional.
Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises
- Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings' brands
now welcome all travelers, regardless of vaccination status, and no longer
require testing (may vary depending on vaccination status) nor masking, except
where required by any visited destination.
Princess Cruises
- Guests no longer have to be vaccinated nor tested on most Princess Cruises sailings, save for certain voyages where passengers can use an online tool to discover any other requirements.
- 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 12 and over must be fully vaccinated (inclusive of boosters in some cases) prior to sailing, but testing is no longer required.
- Recovery from COVID-19 can replace required vaccine doses in certain combinations.
- Facial coverings are recommended but are no longer required.
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, but vaccines and a booster (in some cases) are still required for guests 12 and older.
- Recovery from COVID-19 can replace required vaccine doses in certain combinations.
Riviera River Cruises
- Riviera River Cruises says no immunizations are required for European travel.
Royal Caribbean International
- Guests no longer need to be vaccinated nor tested to board Royal Caribbean International on most sailings.
- Facial coverings onboard are optional.
- More information on Royal Caribbean’s COVID-19 protocols can be found on the company's website.
Seabourn Cruise Line
- Guests sailing with Seabourn Cruise Line no longer have to be vaccinated or tested on most voyages.
- Only on certain itineraries in select regions will enhanced protocols and testing be required, as can be discovered using an online tool.
- Facial coverings onboard are optional.
Sea Cloud Cruises
- As of the 2023 European season, vaccinations are no longer required for Sea Cloud Cruises sailings.
- Prior to boarding, guests sailing on any of Sea Cloud’s three ships must take an antigen COVID-19 test within 48 hours of embarkation.
- Masks and social distancing are not required.
SeaDream Yacht Club
- SeaDream Yacht Club no longer requires guests to be vaccinated or tested for COVID-19 before or during the cruise. However, specific local requirements may differ depending on the destinations visited.
- All crew are fully vaccinated and boosted, and guests are encouraged to be inoculated as well.
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Emerald Cruises
- Sister brands Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Emerald Cruises will no longer require vaccinations or testing as of March 1, 2023.
- All guests are required to comply with any government requirements, including any masking, to enter countries on their itinerary at the time of travel.
Silversea Cruises
- As of Sept. 5, 2022, Silversea Cruises no longer requires guests to be vaccinated so long as the destination allows. Also, provided local regulations permit, vaccinated passengers no longer need to receive a pre-cruise test.
- Specific requirements per destination as can be found on Silversea's website.
Star Clippers
- As of the winter 2022 Caribbean and Central America season, Star Clippers no longer requires COVID-19 vaccinations for passengers.
- Only non-vaccinated guests will be required to present a negative test (an antigen test taken within 48 hours or a PCR test taken within 72 hours) to board.
Tauck
- Guests ages 12 and older must be fully vaccinated to travel with Tauck. This includes at least one booster and/or proof or recovery.
- For those under 12, vaccination is recommended but not required; these minors (or those vaccinated but not boosted) must present a negative PCR or antigen 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. Although, as of April 7, 2023, proof of inoculation will no longer be needed.
- Face masks are no longer required onboard or in enclosed spaces.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
- For 2023, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises no longer requires guests to be vaccinated, only needing them to follow the entry requirements of each country visited.
- Masks are encouraged in onboard public areas, but not required.
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. Booster shots are recommended for those who are eligible.
- Pre-cruise testing is no longer required.
- 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 has eliminated all vaccine and testing requirements.
- Mask-wearing is optional onboard. Masks may be required during embarkation and disembarkation in certain destinations and while on shuttle bus services.
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. Guests must ensure they meet vaccine and booster requirements for all countries they will be visiting. However, come June 1, 2023, guests will no longer need to be vaccinated, although it’s still recommended, to sail, but crew will remain vaccinated.
- Passengers no longer need to provide pre-cruise test results in most countries, unless required by the destination.
- Guests are not required to wear masks onboard Windstar’s yachts.
