Norwegian Cruise Line and its sister strains, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, have adjusted the required pre-cruise testing and vaccination protocols for all cruises, with the brand new pointers taking impact September 3, 2022. This opens up cruising choices to a wider vary of vacationers with completely different well being wants, and helps simplify pre-cruise preparation for all company.
Testing to Finish, Unvaccinated Visitors Welcome
As of September 3, Norwegian Cruise Line will solely require a pre-cruise check for vacationers ages 12 and older who’re unvaccinated. All vaccinated passengers, of any age, will not must current a detrimental check consequence for embarkation.
Unvaccinated passengers ages 12 and older should nonetheless current a medically supervised detrimental PCR or antigen check taken not more than 72 hours earlier than crusing.
This variation additionally permits unvaccinated company to set sail on a Norwegian, Oceania, or Regent Seven Seas cruise, which has been prohibited beforehand, no matter testing protocols.
Moreover, it ought to be famous that from September 3, company below the age of 12 won’t be required to be examined, no matter their vaccination standing. Solely company ages 12 and older who haven’t been absolutely vaccinated have to be examined.
“Our long-awaited revisions to our testing and vaccination necessities convey us nearer according to the remainder of society, which has realized to adapt and stay with COVID-19, and makes it less complicated and simpler for our loyal company to cruise,” stated Frank Del Rio, President and Chief Govt Officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
“Well being and security is our prime precedence and we’ll proceed to switch our strong SailSAFE program as the general public well being setting evolves.”
Vaccinated company should nonetheless current proof of vaccination at embarkation, and may meet the definition of “absolutely vaccinated” on the cruise homeport, together with the varieties of vaccines accepted, the variety of doses, and any required boosters to be thought-about absolutely vaccinated.
For United States homeports, the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) nonetheless maintains the absolutely vaccinated definition as together with a whole preliminary collection of COVID-19 vaccines, however no booster shot is required.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Ltd. does advocate – although not require – that company are up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, together with boosters, and check at their comfort previous to cruising.
Cruise Size Not a Issue
Visitors evaluating the pre-cruise testing and vaccination protocols between completely different cruise strains ought to be aware that this discount in testing for Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises applies to voyages of any size, each quick and lengthy sailings.
Different cruise strains which have already adjusted testing protocols have largely restricted the test-free voyages to shorter sailings, with longer voyages nonetheless requiring exams for even vaccinated passengers.
“The comfort of protocols coupled with continued easing of journey restrictions and the reopening to cruise in additional ports across the globe are meaningfully optimistic for our enterprise because it reduces friction, expands the addressable cruise market, brings selection to itineraries, and gives further catalysts on the highway to restoration,” stated Del Rio.
Regional Protocols Nonetheless Apply
This information will probably be welcome for a lot of vacationers, because it simplifies the pre-cruise preparation and paperwork for all sailings, and company not must kind by as a lot confusion about which exams are required for which passengers on which cruises.
All adjustments are topic to native rules, nonetheless, and well being and security protocols might proceed to be adjusted as essential for various locations.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holding, Ltd.’s press launch asserting these adjustments particularly states, “Necessities might differ for company touring on voyages departing from or visiting locations with particular native rules, together with however not restricted to Canada, Greece, and Bermuda.”
As has been true since cruise journey restarted simply over a yr in the past, passengers ought to keep in shut contact with their cruise line to be up to date on any protocol or requirement adjustments that apply to their cruise, as such adjustments could be made on the final minute and will impression any crusing.
