Several cruise lines have eliminated their requirements for a negative COVID test prior to boarding for some passengers since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention terminated its COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships.
Since the termination of this program several cruise lines have changed their policy on COVID testing for vaccinated passengers on their ships.
The first to announce that it would no longer have a COVID-19 testing requirement for all passengers was Virgin Voyages. At the end of July Virgin Voyages removed the requirement for a COVID-19 test to board both of their ships the Valiant Lady and the Scarlet Lady.
The cruise line also opened up 10% of its sailing to unvaccinated passengers but said its crew members would continue to be fully vaccinated.
Margaritaville at Sea, the newest cruise line, has also dropped its COVID testing requirement for vaccinated passengers. The cruise line said that vaccinated passengers need to provide proof of vaccination. Nonvaccinated passengers will be required to have a negative Antigen test verified by a testing agency taken no more than one day prior to sailing.
Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean announced that they also will not require vaccinated passengers to have a negative COVID test for pre-embarkation on shorter voyages.
Carnival has dropped COVID testing for fully vaccinated passengers on “certain cruises with itineraries 5 days or less” unless a destination has a different requirement. These destinations include the Bahamas, Bermuda, and Grand Cayman, where COVID testing prior to boarding is required regardless of the length of the sailing. Carnival Cruise Lines policy is any cruise six days or longer will still require a negative COVID test before boarding for any passengers aged 2 and older unless the destination has a different requirement. Also, on Carnival any cruises that are back-to-back and are 16 days or longer passengers will be tested mid cruise.
On August 8, 2022 Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's passengers that are vaccinated and are on a cruise 5 nights or less will no longer need a COVID test. If a vaccinated passenger is cruising for 6 nights or longer the passenger must present a negative COVID test before boarding.
Norwegian Cruise Line has eliminated testing for vaccinated passengers. Norwegian does require passengers 12 and over to be fully vaccinated.