Table 1 Current news from the major... | Emerald Publishing

Table 1

Current news from the major cruise lines (2024)

Cruise line	News
Carnival cruise line	The Carnival Liberty, Sunshine, Paradise, Ecstasy and Sensation delayed their sailing schedule. Since March 1, 2022, Carnival no longer requires face masks on board. On most ships, Carnival permits unvaccinated passengers to self-test for COVID-19 beginning September 6, 2022. Vaccines and testing are not required for most U.S. and European departures in 2024
Celebrity cruises	The Celebrity Eclipse was postponed sailing at the end of April. The company also cancels four sailings between late March and mid-April. The cruise line resumed some sailing in the United States on June 26 2021. On August 8, 2022, Celebrity Cruises eliminated its testing requirement for vaccinated customers on cruises of five days or less
Disney cruise line	Disney Cruise Line resumed service on August 9, 2021, with the Disney Dream sailing from Port Canaveral. Since March 11, 2022, masks have been optional for most indoor spaces, but passengers over the age of 2 must still wear a face covering in the Walt Disney Theater. As of November 14, 2022, passengers on all U.S. cruises will no longer be required to submit a COVID-19 screening, regardless of vaccination status
Norwegian cruise line	Norwegian Cruise Line resumed sailing in 2021. Passengers do not have to wear masks, but for crew members, it is still a must. Then, the cruise lines no longer required passengers to take a COVID-19 test at the pier prior to sailing, but they must provide a negative rapid or Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test within two days of boarding. The cruise line now allows unvaccinated children ages 4 and under on the ships. On October 4, 2022, Norwegian Cruise Line ended all Covid-19 requirements. Passengers are no longer required to provide a negative test result, vaccination documentation or to wear masks onboard. Nonetheless, they are subject to local travel restrictions imposed by each nation on the route. Norwegian was the first major cruise operator to eliminate testing requirements for customers who were unvaccinated
Royal Caribbean international	Royal Caribbean no longer requires fully vaccinated passengers to wear face masks on board since February 25, 2022. Cruises belonging to Royal Caribbean International resumed sailing in 2021. Effective November 2, 2022, Royal Caribbean has removed pre-cruise examination and vaccination requirements for the majority of U.S. and European trips. However, they recommend guests be fully vaccinated against COVID-19
Princess cruises	Princess Cruises resumed Alaska sailings, and the Grand Princess, Majestic Princess and Caribbean Princess were resumed in 2021. The staffing shortage problem occurred in Princess Cruises, and they have canceled 11 sailings on the Diamond Princess in 2022. The cruise lines removed precruise testing for vaccinated passengers on the majority of itineraries, with the exception of cruises to Canada, Bermuda, Greece and Australia, per local regulations, and voyages of 16 nights or more
Virgin voyages	Virgin Voyages cruises resumed sailing in 2021. The Scarlet Lady, which is a new cruise line of the Virgin Voyages, carried 2,700 passengers and departed from Miami on October 6, 2021. Virgin Voyages has removed all vaccine and testing requirements beginning October 30, 2022, on Valiant Lady and October 28, 2022, on Scarlet Lady. All Sailors no longer require COVID-19 testing prior to their embarkation date

Cruise line	News
Carnival cruise line	The Carnival Liberty, Sunshine, Paradise, Ecstasy and Sensation delayed their sailing schedule. Since March 1, 2022, Carnival no longer requires face masks on board. On most ships, Carnival permits unvaccinated passengers to self-test for COVID-19 beginning September 6, 2022. Vaccines and testing are not required for most U.S. and European departures in 2024
Celebrity cruises	The Celebrity Eclipse was postponed sailing at the end of April. The company also cancels four sailings between late March and mid-April. The cruise line resumed some sailing in the United States on June 262021. On August 8, 2022, Celebrity Cruises eliminated its testing requirement for vaccinated customers on cruises of five days or less
Disney cruise line	Disney Cruise Line resumed service on August 9, 2021, with the Disney Dream sailing from Port Canaveral. Since March 11, 2022, masks have been optional for most indoor spaces, but passengers over the age of 2 must still wear a face covering in the Walt Disney Theater. As of November 14, 2022, passengers on all U.S. cruises will no longer be required to submit a COVID-19 screening, regardless of vaccination status
Norwegian cruise line	Norwegian Cruise Line resumed sailing in 2021. Passengers do not have to wear masks, but for crew members, it is still a must. Then, the cruise lines no longer required passengers to take a COVID-19 test at the pier prior to sailing, but they must provide a negative rapid or Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test within two days of boarding. The cruise line now allows unvaccinated children ages 4 and under on the ships. On October 4, 2022, Norwegian Cruise Line ended all Covid-19 requirements. Passengers are no longer required to provide a negative test result, vaccination documentation or to wear masks onboard. Nonetheless, they are subject to local travel restrictions imposed by each nation on the route. Norwegian was the first major cruise operator to eliminate testing requirements for customers who were unvaccinated
Royal Caribbean international	Royal Caribbean no longer requires fully vaccinated passengers to wear face masks on board since February 25, 2022. Cruises belonging to Royal Caribbean International resumed sailing in 2021. Effective November 2, 2022, Royal Caribbean has removed pre-cruise examination and vaccination requirements for the majority of U.S. and European trips. However, they recommend guests be fully vaccinated against COVID-19
Princess cruises	Princess Cruises resumed Alaska sailings, and the Grand Princess, Majestic Princess and Caribbean Princess were resumed in 2021. The staffing shortage problem occurred in Princess Cruises, and they have canceled 11 sailings on the Diamond Princess in 2022. The cruise lines removed precruise testing for vaccinated passengers on the majority of itineraries, with the exception of cruises to Canada, Bermuda, Greece and Australia, per local regulations, and voyages of 16 nights or more
Virgin voyages	Virgin Voyages cruises resumed sailing in 2021. The Scarlet Lady, which is a new cruise line of the Virgin Voyages, carried 2,700 passengers and departed from Miami on October 6, 2021. Virgin Voyages has removed all vaccine and testing requirements beginning October 30, 2022, on Valiant Lady and October 28, 2022, on Scarlet Lady. All Sailors no longer require COVID-19 testing prior to their embarkation date

Note(s): The information is sourced from Northstar (2022) and health protocols from each cruise line

Source(s): Table by authors