Costa Cruises, Norwegian Cruises Line, Royal Caribbean or Celestyal Cruises, are some of the shipping companies that are modifying their COVID protocols to improve the experience for the autumn-winter season and they do so by simplifying the measures and even eliminating the requirements before the ‘boarding. MSC Cruises had already made changes for passengers embarking in the United States and also Carnival Cruises.
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The changes are in line with the measures in place in the destinations visited by the ships and, in any case, clarify that if the local authorities applied new measures in the future, the protocols would be adequate.
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-Spain eliminates health checks in ports and airports
From 8 October the guests of Fully vaccinated Costa Cruises will be able to embark without further testing. These changes will apply to cruises in the United Arab Emirates, the Mediterranean (excluding Greece) and the Caribbean. In the last two cases, those who are not vaccinated can embark by presenting a negative antigen test, carried out within 48 hours prior to the trip.
Regarding Caribbean cruises, shore leave for unvaccinated guests in Barbados, Saint Vincent and Saint Marteen is only permitted with a negative result of an antigen test, carried out 24 or 48 hours prior to the ship’s arrival. The same happens in the case of those who visit Morocco, even if they must present an additional molecular RT-PCR test on board, 48 hours before entering the country.
Last September 3rd Norwegian Cruises Line the mandatory vaccination has been eliminated and those who have the doses will not have any protocol before shipping, while those who are not vaccinated will have to present a negative Covid test. Royal Caribbean made the same decision, but since September 5th, and the difference is that if the voyage lasts more than nine nights, everyone must submit a negative test.
Carnival Cruises is another company that has updated its protocols for the unvaccinated. From 6 September, in addition to the tests administered by the laboratory, it accepts self-assessments for cruise passengers of 15 nights or less. In countries like Bermuda, Canada or Greece, self-assessment must be supervised by a professional. In turn, travel insurance is no longer a requirement for unvaccinated guests, unless required by a destination.
MSC Cruises maintains the obligation of vaccinations, at least two doses, presentation of the COVID certificate and negative result of a PCR-RT or antigen test, carried out in the 48 hours prior to boarding. However, in US ports, as of September 1, residents are no longer required to have vaccines, nor is a negative test before shipping required for those on the full schedule.
No protocol in 2023
Celestial Cruises, For its part, it announced that it is eliminating the requirements for COVID-19 vaccination, recovery tests and pre-departure tests for all guests embarking on March 2, 2023, unless required by local regulations. For 2022 departures they will keep protocols more relaxed.
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