Is There A Cruise Line That Doesn’T Require Vaccine?

Princess Cruises will remove all vaccine requirements for most voyages less than 16 days long effective September 6, 2022. The line will no longer require guests to be fully vaccinated, and all passengers, aged 5 years and older, are encouraged to take a pre-cruise COVID-19 test.

Princessaritaville at Sea, Carnival Cruise Line, Viking, Windstar, and other cruise lines that do not require a COVID-19 vaccine are listed below. Princess Cruises and Virgin Voyages have indicated that they would accept Azamara, while proof of vaccination for sailings in the U.S. is no longer required. Carnival Cruise Line, Viking, and Windstar still require full vaccinations for river, ocean, and expedition ships.

Virgin Voyages no longer requires passengers to be vaccinated, but unvaccinated passengers can sail. Disney Cruise Line encourages all passengers to be fully vaccinated before sailing and recommends pre-cruise testing no more than two days prior to sailing. American Queen Voyages, Carnival Cruise Line, and Disney Cruise Line are among the cruise lines that no longer require vaccination and testing.

On Celebrity Cruises, guests no longer need to be vaccinated nor tested for most sailings. However, pre-cruise testing is only required in select destinations.

In summary, Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, and other cruise lines are removing vaccine requirements for most voyages less than 16 days long, with some exceptions. Some cruise lines, like American Queen Voyages, Carnival Cruise Line, and Disney Cruise Line, still require vaccinations for certain passengers.


📹 I Booked a Cruise That Doesn’t Require Vaccines (In an Inside Cabin!)

Cruises are restarting all over the world and the majority of cruise lines require guests to be fully vaccinated. A couple of cruise …


Cruises that don't require vaccine 2024
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Can you travel if you aren t fully vaccinated?

If you’re traveling without being fully vaccinated, you can take some steps to protect yourself and the people around you:

  • Get a COVID test 1 to 3 days before you leave.
  • Wear a mask on public transportation and in airports, stations, and other travel hubs.
  • Keep your distance from people who aren’t traveling with you.
  • Wash your hands often or use a hand sanitizer.

After you come back from your trip, you may want to consider staying home and getting a COVID test within 3 to 5 days.

A vaccine passport is proof that you’ve tested negative for or been protected against certain infections. It can be digital, like a phone app, or physical, such as a small paper card. You can carry it with you and show it if required, like before you go into the office, board an airplane, or visit a restaurant, movie theater, or gym.

Do you have to be vaccinated to go on a cruise Royal Caribbean
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Do you need vaccinations for a Caribbean cruise?

Caribbean. By far one of the most popular areas to cruise in, with many ports to explore. Hepatitis B and Tetanus are the two main vaccines for Caribbean cruises, while neither is essential. Depending on whether you have travelled to dangerous areas, you can also be required to hold a Yellow Fever certificate at specific ports.

Many locations in the Caribbean have specific health criteria or vaccines to assure your safety and well-being while you’re there. These consist of:

  • Anguilla
  • Antigua & Barbuda
  • Aruba
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Bonaire
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Cayman Islands
  • Cuba
  • Curacao
  • Dominica
  • Dominican Republic
  • Grenada
  • Guadeloupe
  • Haiti
  • Jamaica
  • Martinique
  • Montserrat
  • Puerto Rico
  • Saba
  • St Barthelemy; St Kitts & Nevis; St Lucia; St Martin; St Vincent and the Grenadines; Saint Eustatius; Saint Maarten; Trinidad and Tobago; Turks and Caicos; US Virgin Islands
Carnival Cruise
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Do cruise ships require COVID tests?

Will I be required to test during my cruise?. Currently, no cruise lines require routine onboard testing for passengers. Exceptions would be if you feel ill and ask to be tested or exhibit symptoms that require you to be tested. In these cases, you would be responsible for any associated costs.

Additionally, if a passenger feels ill and subsequently tests positive for COVID-19 on your cruise, you could be required to take a test if the vessel’s contact tracing program determines you were in close contact with the ill passenger. Testing under these circumstances is covered by the line.

Most countries have waived their test-for-entry requirements, so it’s highly unlikely that you’ll have to take a test before disembarking in order to return home.

Norwegian Cruise Line
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Can i go on a cruise if not vaccinated?

Most major cruise lines do not require guests to be vaccinated unless they’re traveling from or to a destination that requires it.Still, there are exceptions. Some cruise lines encourage vaccination even though they don’t require it. Some may also require pre-board testing for unvaccinated people.

4 Cruises That Require Vaccines. The following cruise lines require vaccines for travel based on certain factors:

  • Costa Cruises: You should get vaccines as required by the destination(s) you intend to visit, though COVID vaccines are unnecessary.
  • Holland America Line: Influenza vaccination is recommended, while other required vaccinations will vary based on the destination.
  • MSC Cruises: You must be vaccinated according to what’s necessary or appropriate for visiting your destination.
  • Virgin Voyages: COVID vaccines are not required when sailing on the Valiant Lady and Scarlet Lady ships. However, yellow fever vaccination may be necessary for travel to Australia from a country at risk for the illness.
Cruise ship COVID testing requirements
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Which countries require proof of vaccination?

Do any countries still require travelers to show proof of COVID vaccination?. As of mid-2023, virtually all countries—including the United States—have stopped requiring travelers to be vaccinated. However, some destinations still have mandatory COVID testing for travelers who aren’t vaccinated, so having that vax card in your pocket can make your trip easier. Examples include the Philippines, Bolivia, and Cameroon, all of which require unvaccinated travelers to have proof of a negative test before entering the country.

What about other travel vaccination requirements?. The CDC Travelers’ Health site is your best resource for learning about specific health concerns and recommended/required vaccinations for each country. Enter your destination in the drop-down menu to see a list of the vaccines the CDC recommends, such as hepatitis A and typhoid. Yellow fever vaccination may be required for travelers coming from countries where there’s a risk of yellow fever transmission.

You can also ask your healthcare provider for personalized guidance on travel vaccines.

Carnival Cruise COVID vaccine policy
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Do you have to be vaccinated to go on a cruise Carnival?

VACCINATION & TESTING. Although vaccines are not required, we encourage all guests, 5 years of age and older, to be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines, when eligible, and carry proof of vaccination. Testing is not required for either vaccinated or unvaccinated guests. However, we encourage all guests, 5 years and older, to take a pre-cruise COVID-19 test within three days of their cruise.

We will continue to monitor the protocols and requirements of the destinations we visit and will update our guests directly and this page of any changes.

Have questions? Check out our Have Fun. Be Safe. FAQs for all sailings, except Carnival Luminosa’s 09/14/2023 voyage.

Does American cruise line require vaccination?
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Does American cruise line require vaccination?

American Cruise Lines. Vaccine required? No. American Cruise Lines does not have a vaccine requirement for all passengers on any of its sailings. Pre-cruise testing is no longer required.

Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts.

By signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Can you go on a cruise without being vaccinated?
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Can you go on a cruise without being vaccinated?

Do You Need To Be Vaccinated To Go on a Cruise? Most major cruise lines do not require guests to be vaccinated unless they’re traveling from or to a destination that requires it. Still, there are exceptions. Some cruise lines encourage vaccination even though they don’t require it.

A cruise can be a fun way to visit certain areas of the world at a slower pace. Before embarking on a cruise, it’s important to know what the cruise vaccine requirements are, which can vary by cruise line.

Sometimes, you can board a cruise ship without being vaccinated for illnesses like COVID. However, specific policies vary, and sometimes people who are unvaccinated have extra requirements.Here’s what you need to know about vaccinations and going on a cruise.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends having up-to-date routine vaccines—which can vary by age, health, and history of vaccinations—before cruising. Those routine vaccines might be for conditions or germs such as:

Do I need any vaccinations for St Lucia?
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Do I need any vaccinations for St Lucia?

Courses or boosters usually advised: Tetanus. Other vaccines to consider: Hepatitis A; Hepatitis B. Selectively advised vaccines – only for those individuals at highest risk: none.

Risk is higher if travelling to countries where there hepatitis A is circulating in the local population, or to areas where personal hygiene and sanitation is poor.

Risk is highest for those with underlying medical conditions where there is increased risk of developing severe disease e.g. liver/kidney disease; haemophilia (clotting disorder); and for men who have sex with men; people who inject drugs; those at risk of exposure through their jobs.

Risk is higher for those visiting more frequently, staying longer, visiting friends and relatives, children through bites, cuts and scratches and those who may require medical treatment during travel.

Does Greece require a COVID vaccine?

Update 2022-04-13: As was announced by the Greek Minister of Health on Tuesday (12 April), proof of vaccination, recovery or a negative test result will no longer be required to enter Greece from 2 May.

Do you have to have a COVID vaccine to go to the Bahamas?
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Do you have to have a COVID vaccine to go to the Bahamas?

In addition to eliminating the mandatory Bahamas Travel Health Visa, the Government of The Bahamas announced that pre-arrival COVID-19 testing requirement have been eliminated. All visitors, regardless of their vaccination status, are welcome to travel freely to and throughout The Islands of The Bahamas. For more information regarding entry requirements into the Bahamas please visit theirTourism Site.

Turks and Caicos has removed all COVID-19 related Travel Restrictions. Last Updated: April 1, 2023.

The COVID-19 vaccine requirement for visitors has been dropped and there are no COVID-19 related travel restrictions. There is no vaccine, testing, or insurance requirement. For more information regarding entry requirements into the Turks & Caicos Islands please visit theirTourism Site.

Can you travel to us without covid vaccination?
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Can you travel to us without covid vaccination?

COVID-19 testing and vaccine rules for entering the U.S.. You do not need to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or take a COVID-19 test to enter the U.S. This applies to U.S. citizens and non-citizens.

U.S. citizens traveling to a country outside the U.S.. Find country-specific travel advisories, including COVID-19 restrictions, from the Department of State.

See the CDC’s COVID-19 guidance for safer international travel to learn:


📹 What happens for Vaccinated vs. Unvaccinated cruisers? – Cruise Line News

What do you think of our cruise line news update ? Will you be taking a vaccinated or unvaccinated cruise? Are there any cruise …


Is There A Cruise Line That Doesn'T Require Vaccine
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Debbie Green

I am a school teacher who was bitten by the travel bug many decades ago. My husband Billy has come along for the ride and now shares my dream to travel the world with our three children.The kids Pollyanna, 13, Cooper, 12 and Tommy 9 are in love with plane trips (thank goodness) and discovering new places, experiences and of course Disneyland.

About me

28 comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Booked a 12 day cruise on MSC Virtuosa departing september 11 from Kiel in Germany to Genova in Italy. Booking was made in may 2020. Now i have read the news on social media that this ship is redeployed to the UK. Until today no word from MSC what will hapen with all the people that booked my cruise.

  • Was quite leary about you doing this initially but was unaware of their procedures. Now I can follow your logic and think it’s pretty sound. And I’m sure you’ll be letting us know how it goes. I also agree with your belief that we should do everything we can to stay safe. I’m so over these ppl who think they should be entitled to take as many risks as they want without considering how that affects others

  • I can’t wait to see your Vlogs on the Virtuosa. You are so lucky to be able to cruise now. Even though it’s more expensive, my sister and I are booked on the adventure of the Seas out of Nassau at the end of July this summer. I can’t wait for cruising to start from the United States I need one soon for my mental health. And it’s clear that the people at the CDC do not intend to let Cruise start here anytime soon.

  • Good one Emma hope all goes well for your cruise on MSC all the best and I am happy for you too woohoo 🥳 and we all want to get back and support our ships and crews too and I can’t wait to get back and cruise again. I booked one on Radiance Of The Seas for the Pacific Islands for March 2023 just last week before Easter came. I got two next year one for January on Pacific Adventure and another for February on Ovation Of The Seas both of those cruises are in Australian waters. Woohoo 🥳 for you for your cruise though

  • Having had SARS-Cov-2 / Covid-19 I have been tested and have the antibodies still 6 months later. Considering the research from SAR-Cov-1 showing antibodies lasting upward to three years, I will be waiting before or if I ever take a jab. I would feel really safe cruising on a ship that doesn’t require vaccines. While I love cruising I won’t get a jab just to cruise. Because of my job I have been eligible for the jab since the beginning . Have a great time on your cruise.,

  • If you are fully vaccinated, the odds are in your favor, but if you’re not, there is a risk. A cruise that does not require vaccination will attract others who are not vaccinated, and even if they test daily, once someone tests positive it could be too late. I expect that this summer there will be a lot of onboard restrictions, and some ports of call may not permit the ship to stop there or may have rigid restrictions if you go ashore. You may not get the fun that you pay for. When I’m home I can fully control my contacts with others, but I wouldn’t have as much control when on a cruise ship. But you’re an intelligent adult, you’ve considered all the factors and you’ve made your decision. I hope you have a great cruise! BTW, some US states are starting to make vaccination appointments for adults of any age. Maybe the UK will reach that point sooner than you expect.

  • Could you explain to me how being tested for covid every day lessens my chances of getting the virus onboard a cruise ship. Because it doesn’t does it. All it will do is increase the chance of early diagnosis. And will all the people in the ports you visit be vaccinated or tested every day no they won’t will they. So really what you’re doing is encouraging people to put themselves in the firing line. I hope one of them doesn’t take you to court for damages after you’ve told them all how safe it is

  • It’s the unmasked part – if everyone is masked the risk is very small. But eating/drinking of course that’s not possible. NZ traced a case recently in their quarantine hotel, where the only exposure was a 50s period where the infected room had the door open for a COVID test (unmasked), followed by the next door room being tested. No other exposure. 50s of virus air wafting into the hall, then 50s of virus air wafting into the next door room, thats it.

  • Firstly Happy Easter and congrats on booking the cruise. I don’t think you’ll have any problems. MSC have months of experience with these protocols now and with the double testing it can’t get much safer. Relax and look forward to your trip, I’m looking forward to seeing your article on board. It will be fine.

  • Some ferry lines operate short domestic cruises in Sweden. These are small ships of course, but on the other hand there are basically no special protocols – they have fewer guests, but otherwise it’s 95% normal. You don’t need any certificates, tests, masks, etc and everything is open. I’ve been on a few one-night cruises on Viking Cinderella (operated by Viking Line, not Viking Cruises) and I have a three-night cruise to Gotland booked next month on Silja Symphony. Good choice for someone who wants to be on a ship, but hates the new protocols 🙂 I wish one of the big companies (with big ships) started to run these domestic cruises. I can imagine a nice route from Gothenburg via Skåne, Gotland, Stockholm and up to Norrland. Since it’s one of very few places where normal crusing is possible by law, it would be a great opportunity.

  • From what I’ve seen about the vaccine, you can still transmit the virus even if you’re vaccinated. It’s also possible to still get the virus, although usually you’ll have much milder symptoms. So why not test vaccinated people as well? And I really hope that all cruise lines will still require masks and social distancing for everyone.

  • Emma, have you ever thought of sponsoring a cruise for your subscribers and Patreons? I’m sure you’ve heard of these cruises where the cast of a show are on board or a bunch of famous people cruise with you and so on? How about a cruise where you go with your viewers? In the future of course after Covid is under control…

  • Im guessing this is before the 12 & over vaccines! Also before the delta variant explosion!? Wondering how safe cruising is since being vaccinated helps keep the symptoms down but still can be seriously ill? Maybe require the booster shot? I know it really is terrible for the crews, etc but feel it is just too risky

  • I have just book with MSC UK cruise as well, hopefully I will be able to go!! This is still a grey area as I am from jersey in the website island I booked this cruise think that jersey was apart of the UK, I have lived here my whole life as have my parents, which my mum is a retired travel agent and now they are say that jersey is not really apart of the UK, so not sure if I will be able to travel on the cruise. Even though I am fully vaccinated and receive a Covid 19 PCR test weekly, I have spoken with MSC today they were very helpfully they said to hang on and see as the are receiving some update guide line in the next few weeks, so fingers crossed

  • I’ve had a look at the MSC website and one thing I have noticed is that the single supplement per room (30%) is very reasonable compared to other cruise companies. The one to Liverpool sounds very tempting for the price, especially if you combine it with a short city break there. I’ve never gone on a cruise before, and this time last year thought that no-one would ever want to go on one again given you know what. But your articles have really made me want to go on them just for the experience.

  • Binged the majority of your articles… did an Alaska cruise with celebrity with my gf in my mid 20’s. funny enough, same boat but refurbished in my 30’s going up the pacific coast about 5 years ago… was supposed to be on an NCL going to Mexico in 2020… but you know how that went… want to cruise to badly!!!

  • I’ve never taken a cruise before and didn’t plan to take one until I was retired, partly because of my parents. For years they have tried to convince me that “younger people” were on their cruises, yet their photos said otherwise. You’ve convinced me to take the plunge this summer. After perusal a few of your articles I feel so much better informed. We’ve booked MSC for July. Now I just need to decide if I keep it a secret from my baby boomer parents? They might never let me hear the end of it! Thanks Emma

  • My wife and I have been perusal some of your articles, and we have been thoroughly enjoying them. Like you, we have a lot of cruise experience, and your knowledge is useful, but what sets you apart the most is your enthusiasm. It is wonderful to hear your happy thoughts. Further to your comments that “there are no bad cabins,” which we too have always found to be true, many people don’t realize that for several decades now newbuilt cruise ships have had modular construction with the staterooms being built in hundreds of identical packages that are then delivered to and installed in the ship, fully completed. What this means for staterooms is that there are actually only a handful of stateroom types. Thus most “insides” are alike, and most “outsides” are alike and most “balcony cabins” are alike, despite the fact that they have many different price points in the brochure. Basically, the different price points have only two purposes: Perceived (and usually minimal in actuality) differences in location, and, The old salesman’s trick of giving people choices so that they will aim at a higher price. In most cases, the cheapest cabin in one type (inside, outside, or balcony) is actually the same as any other cabin in the type, except for location, which has minimal importance for most people, anyway. Even some suites have modular, and therefore identical, construction, too, although some larger suites are personalized and unique. The idea of modular construction just helps make your point that “there are no bad cabins.

  • A married man walks into his local pub, where all of his bachelor friends are gathered at the bar. “Hey, Dave!” shouts one of his buddies. “How’d you talk your wife into letting you come out with us?”\r \r “Oh, I’m on my own for the week. She took the kids on a Caribbean cruise.”\r \r “Jamaica?”\r \r “No, she wanted to.”

  • I think it is somewhat risky to sail when everyone is not vaccinated, however, I know exactly how you feel and that is why I went on the SeaDream back in November. I thought the bubble and testing would work, but, unfortunately, it did not because of five brothers and sisters from California that brought covid on to the ship after going to a huge party in Miami on Friday night before borading the ship on Saturday. If everyone adheres to the protocols, great, unfortunately, some people are very selfish and don’t care what they do to others. Viking would be an excellent choice with their medical lab and testing, but, I know they already sold out. I do know that MSC has done a great job and I hope that continues for you.

  • I’ll stack a few comments here. First, thanks for sharing your plans and your logic. It was very interesting to hear. Second, it seems like there are several bloggers/vloggers that are stacking up on the first Adventure sailing out of the Bahamas. Their adventures will be fun to see. It would be great to see you and Gary B. and Ben & David on the same ship at the same time, but there’s SO much choice out there I doubt it will happen. Third, I’m not a big fan of double testing unless visiting a country/region that requires a separate test. I don’t think the first test does enough and you have to pay for the privilege. Fourth, I’m sure many of the additional protocols (masks, distancing) will be loosened or eliminated as everyone figures out that the vaccines are pretty good at preventing big outbreaks. Not yet though. And fifth, I hope things go well for you on this cruise and have fun!

  • My friends had their cruise from last year cancelled, booked a replacement cruise and just had that cancelled. I’m glad I didn’t book anything (at the time they decided to book the trip, my husband was fighting cancer and losing and we didn’t want to pay the enormous insurance premium involved. (Our friends clubbed together and bought us both a ticket to a short Cork cruise and we still had to shell out £500 for insurance. Thankfully we got that one because he died 2 months later. After his death, I had a plan to go to northern Europe/Hamburg with P&O as somewhere a bit different. I thought about it in the autumn of 2019 for 2020 or 2021. Haha nope. I’m glad hubby checked out long before Covid happened because we could give him the send-off he deserved, but I’m putting everything on hold. I wear a mask all day at work, and honestly ordinary masks are not suitable for long-term wear, and a cruise has much more of a grey area between public and private space, so I would expect to have to wear one whenever I’m not in my room. I’m glad to hear it gives other people headaches because I know I’m not alone. I mean, I’m absolutely 100% happy to wear one if asked and not one to throw a tantrum about it, but I’m not going to travel long distances until I don’t have to wear one. The buffet option is good as that’s one thing that’s fun about cruising. Honestly, about following the rules off ship, I have been working throughout lockdown and am more sanguine about being out and about. Not all of us can afford to stay in a hermetically sealed world.

  • Really enjoying your articles. I’ve only taken one cruise my life. I fell in love with the destination, moved there and now work as a tour guide in one of the ports. It is in Alaska. As you probably know Alaska cruises are required to make a port call in Canada and many Alaska cruises begin and end in Vancouver, British Columbia. We are all wondering when Canada will be opening its ports to cruise ships again. Any idea? I miss hiking with my visitors in the rainforest and showing off the work of our local artists.

  • Confident of being kept safe from what? You literally have a 99.9% survival rate. You have a maths degree and used to calculate risk for a living, didn’t you!? 😂 Indeed you’ve probably already had it and not even known. It is so disappointing to see young people so fearful of nothing, so keen to concede your liberty and so blind to the science that shows you’re in no danger in your twenties. But enjoy the cruise of course – I hope you have a blast.

  • EMMA CRUISES DRINKING GAME — “Anybody”, “Everybody” & “Nobody” Drink…!!! Someone else has to make the rules for different alcohols. For now I’m sticking with 1 shot of tequila. Could be her accent but when she says them it make me want to toast something. Could be just another “quarantined too long” idea but I think I’m onto something.

  • One big difference between Europe and the US is a lot of us in the US have stopped wearing mask. I haven’t worn one since August. Also life is normal where I live. The crazy thing is numbers are at the lowest since June. Living in a bubble weakens immune systems which is why I think our numbers are dropping. My wife and I can’t wait to cruise again but we aren’t getting vaccinated. We aren’t against vaccines but we are against ones that were created so quickly they long term side effects haven’t been studied. Also vaccines are available for anyone where I live. Great article as always.

  • There is some serious doubt about the efficacy of these quick rush vaccines. In Europe the vaccines have a 4% injury rate that you do not see in the USA because the CDC’s program for vaccine injury is voluntary and my son is a doctor and he said “What Vaccine reporting program?” The CDC only uses it as a PR move, but it is not required nor widely known, they don’t even advertise it. A 4% vaccine injury rate is too high. Some countries have stopped their vaccinations.

  • Every Cruise Line should have it mandatory that all of their crew and employees are vaccinated and the company should be doing everything they can to make sure that their employees and crew are vaccinated they should also be requesting their passengers to be vaccinated to not to do this would be pure negligence and inviting the opportunity for disaster all cruise line should also only be operating at a maximum of 60% occupancy per ship to allow each individual crewmember to have his or her own cabin so that no crew member on board has to share a cabin with another crew member. At the same time it helps increase social distancing spaces on board the ship all cruise line should be working on their ventilation systems ensuring that there is filtered fresh air coming in and discharging stale air at a rapid pace. Royal Caribbean Celebrity Cruise lines an MSC and NCL are all working with their crew trying to get them all vaccinated and Royal Caribbean and MSC have done extensive work on their ventilation systems. However there are still companies out there like Carnival Cruise Lines and Princess Cruise Lines that have offered no help to their crew in getting them vaccinated nor have they been keeping their crew updated on the latest events of covid-19 they have done little to no work with their ventilation systems and still operate their ships with only one doctor where Royal Caribbean and MSC and even NCL Now operate with two doctors. Carnivals complete and utter negligence and waiting for the CDC to hold their hand and tell them what to do is causing the whole entire cruise industry grief and is stalling the industry from cruising out of the US.