3 Cruise Lines are Requiring Vaccinations for Passengers

Many cruise lines are planning to resume sailings this summer and in an effort to protect passengers and crew, at least three cruise lines so far have enacted policies requiring vaccinations for both passengers and crew.

In February, Crystal Cruises announced an update to their health and safety protocols that will require all passengers “to be fully inoculated with a COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to their Crystal cruise.” Passengers will have to provide verified documentation that they’ve received a COVID-19 vaccine and will also have to complete an online questionnaire acknowledging the requirement before their cruise tickets will be issued.

Crystal Cruises also announced that because vaccine availability is still not widespread, they have voluntarily paused operations through May 2021 for the River fleet, into June for the Ocean ships, through August 1 for Crystal Esprit and through August for Crystal Endeavor. This will allow time for potential passengers to get fully vaccinated.

American Queen Steamboat Company and Victory Cruise Lines, which are sister brands, will require all passengers and crew to have a COVID-19 vaccine for all sailings beginning July 1, 2021. Like Crystal Cruises’ policy, all passengers must present verified documentation of vaccination before boarding. American Queen and Victory are both resuming sailings in April, before this protocol is in place, with health and safety measures like pre-boarding COVID-19 testing, pre-boarding temperature checks, reduced guest capacity, social distancing requirements, high-quality air ventilation and ship-wide cleaning and sanitation. The FAQs sections of their websites explain why they will begin sailings before the vaccine requirement: “To date, we have received strong interest for our April through June itineraries from guests who are confident in our current measures. Additionally, a good number of these guests will have had access to the vaccine prior. This, combined with our belief that crew will be vaccinated per the CDC recommendation Phase 1c vaccination rollout includes maritime transportation workers, further ensures our confidence to cruise safely.”