Cruise line Covid vaccine policies and rules and face mask rules for 2022, including P&O Cruises, Royal Caribbean, TUI’s Marella Cruises, Fred Olsen, Princess Cruises and more

UK holidaymakers looking to book a cruise holiday this year will be spoiled for choice with a host of new cruise ships to get excited about in 2022 and plenty of sunny itineraries.

Royal Caribbean, TUI’s Marella Cruises, P&O Cruises, Fred. Olsen, Princess Crises and Virgin Voyages are just a few of the brands that offer a host of glamorous cruises, whether you’re looking for a Caribbean voyage or looking to explore the Mediterranean.

Of course, with the pandemic still ongoing, cruise lines have implemented a series of Covid measures to keep their guests and crew members safe, with each cruise line having their own vaccination policies and rules on when passengers will be asked to wear a face mask.

To give you a hand, we’ve put together a guide to all the biggest cruise lines and the key rules you need to know – check it out below.

Princess Cruises

Princess requires guests to be fully vaccinated in order to board its ships. This means having received your last dose of an authorized vaccine at least 14 days before the start of the cruise.

Regarding face masks, passengers are required to wear a face mask indoors at all times and outdoors when physical distancing cannot be maintained.

MSC Cruises

MSC requires all passengers aged 12 or over to be fully vaccinated against Covid in order to board its ships. Passengers between the ages of 2 and 11 will be required to submit a negative test prior to boarding.

Face masks are mandatory on board in indoor public areas, except when seated in restaurants, bars and lounges.

Royal Caribbean

For all cruises departing from the United States or Barbados, Royal Caribbean requires all guests 12 years of age or older to be fully immunized.

A statement on the company’s website said it “has not yet determined our health and safety protocols for 2022 departures from Europe”, but added that affected customers would be contacted with requirements before sailing.

All Royal Caribbean crew members must be fully vaccinated and undergo Covid testing at least once a week.

Face masks must be worn indoors on board ships unless guests are seated and actively eating or drinking. You may also be required to wear a face mask in public ports of call, depending on the destination’s local rules.

TUI – Marella and TUI river cruises

Passengers aged 12 or over sailing from Spain, the Canary Islands, Jamaica or Barbados will need to be fully vaccinated in order to board departures until February 28. For all other crossings from March 1 to April 30, people aged 16 or over will need to be fully vaccinated for at least 14 days and have proof.

Unvaccinated children between the ages of 2 and 15 can still sail but will need to take an antigen test with a negative result before boarding the ship.

Marella has yet to confirm its vaccination policy for travel beyond April.

Regarding face coverings, guests 12 and older are required to wear face coverings unless they are in their stateroom, on the open deck, or seated eating and drinking. drink.

For departures from TUI River Cruises no later than December 31, 2022, all passengers must be fully vaccinated against Covid. Face masks should be worn in areas where social distancing is not possible, such as hallways or walkways.

Fred. Olsen

All passengers must be fully vaccinated against Covid in order to board Fred Olsen cruises – and in some cases this includes a booster.

A statement on the website explains: “This includes two original doses and a third booster dose. You must have received your booster at least seven days before your cruise departs.

“If you need to receive your second vaccine less than three months before the departure of your cruise, you do not need to have a booster. Please note, you must wait at least 14 days after your second vaccine before you can sail with we.”

The cruise line is also asking passengers to wear a face mask when moving around inside the ship and when social distancing is not possible.

P&O Cruises

All P&O Cruises passengers aged 17 or over will be required to be fully immunized for at least 14 days prior to departure.

Children between the ages of 5 and 17 will need to be fully vaccinated or have a negative PCR test result to be allowed to board the ship.

Children aged 4 and under may travel provided the accompanying adults meet the vaccination requirements.

Face masks will be required in “specific areas” on board, although the website does not necessarily specify what this includes.

Saga

Saga requires all passengers to be fully vaccinated against Covid in order to join its cruise vacation. This means having received both doses of an approved vaccine at least 14 days before departure.

Currently, face masks are mandatory when walking between enclosed spaces around the ship “with the exception of the theatre, fairway and chart room where it remains mandatory to wear a face mask at all times”. Face shields are not permitted and Sgaa said it would not allow any exemptions for the use of face masks on board.

Viking Cruises

Viking Cruises requires all passengers to be fully vaccinated against Covid in order to join its crossings. Customers may also be required to undergo PCR testing depending on a destination’s entry requirements.

Regarding face masks, the Viking Cruises website states that “face masks may be required for all guests and crew when traveling on the ship, depending on conditions at the time of sailing.”

Virgin trips

All Virgin Voyages passengers and crew must be fully vaccinated against Covid in order to board the company’s ships.

Until January 31, passengers will have to wear masks inside, except when eating and drinking. After that date, the company said it plans to return to its usual no-mask policy.

Norwegian cruise line

All NCL guests must be fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to departure. This applies to all Norwegian cruises at the time of writing.

For all cruises up to and including January 31, all guests and crew are required to wear face masks on board when inside except “except when actively eating or drinking, or seated at a table in a dining room, or when they are in their cabin”.

Masks are also mandatory outdoors when social distancing cannot be maintained.

Celebrity Cruises

A statement on Celebrity’s website reads: “All crew members and guests eligible for vaccination must be vaccinated to sail with us. All guests 2 years of age and older must present a negative Covid-19 test before sailing. navigate.” You will also need to show proof of a negative PCR test within two days of boarding.

Cruise Line Ambassador

Ambassador Cruise Line crew are fully vaccinated and only fully vaccinated passengers will be permitted on board the brand’s cruises.

The cruise line said that “while face masks are still recommended in common areas” when its cruise operations begin later this year, it will adhere to this policy when cruise operations begin.

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