Starting today, October 4, 2022, Norwegian Cruise Line no longer requires Covid-19 vaccinations or pre-cruise testing. NCL is the first major cruise line to remove all requirements.
Of course, NCL guests are not exempt from some country-specific requirements, depending on the ports each cruise visits:
- Costa Rica–requires vaccination to go ashore
- Bermuda–proof of negative test required
- Roatan–unvaccinated passengers must show negative test
These port-by-port requirements are subject to change. See NCL’s current guidance by port.
Other U.S. cruise lines have taken steps to reduce Covid-related protocols but have not quite dropped all Covid-related requirements. For example, Carnival accepts all passengers regardless of vaccination status, but unvaccinated passengers still must show a negative test. For a full list of Covid requirements by cruise line, see here.
It will be investing to see if Royal Caribbean, Carnival and others follow NCL’s lead.
What do you think of these changes?
Author: Nancy
Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.
Interesting isn’t?!
Nothing related to Covid makes sense. Unvaccinated Americans can enter the US but Unvaccinated Tourists cannot. Time to let go. The sooner these silly rituals are dropped the better. If you are afraid of Covid, don’t go on a cruise.
@Talchinsky I was just saying to my husband the other day that this is the most “normal” I’ve felt the world is since March 2020. I don’t hear much about Covid anymore. Knock on wood.
But the government is still pushing the boosters, although few are taking them anymore.
Long overdue. But Costa Rica makes no sense. They require a vaccine to go ashore yet you don’t need a vaccine or even a test when you fly in. Doesn’t make sense whatsoever. Costa Rica needs to drop the vaccine req.
Yes, some of them don’t make sense. I’m going on 5 cruises next year, but I’ll have to see which ones require tests at the time. Everything is in flux.