Big Changes in Cruise COVID protocols

In the last week, many cruise lines have announced big changes to their COVID policies. In general, the cruise lines are allowing more unvaccinated passengers to sail and loosening testing requirements for vaccinated guests. Below are the latest updates as of right now this minute. This is subject to change.

Cruisers who book with Trips with Angie are updated at final payment and as things change approaching departure.

If you’ve booking on your own, please keep checking with your cruise line to ensure you know what you need to do. We like to check one month before departure, two weeks before departure, one week before departure, and three days before departure.

If you’d like to book your next cruise with Trips with Angie, please email Angie@TripswithAngie.com

Carnival and Princess Cruise Lines - Beginning September 5, 2022

• Vaccinated guests no longer need to provide proof of a negative COVID test prior to boarding on sailings less than 16 nights except if traveling to Canada, Bermuda, Greece, or Australia.

• Unvaccinated guests can sail on most sailings less than 16 nights. Guests need to provide proof of a negative PCR or antigen COVID test taken within 3 days of sailing except for Australia, Canada, and Bermuda. Those countries have different requirements.

• Guests under the age of 5 are exempt from vaccination and testing requirements on sailings from US ports.

• For more information please visit: Carnival’s website or Princess’ website.

Great Deal: Seven nights on Carnival Mardi Gras departing January 28, 2023 from Port Canaveral visiting San Juan, Puerto Rico, Amber Cove, and Grand Turk. Interior cabins are starting at $499* per person when two people share an interior cabin. This is a non-refundable, pay-in-full at time of booking rate. Taxes and fees are an additional $133.86 per person. Take a tour of the Carnival Mardi Gras:

Great Deal: Six nights on the brand new Discovery Princess from Vancouver, BC, Canada to Los Angeles visiting San Francisco and Santa Barbara. Interior cabins are starting at $379* per person when two people share an interior cabin. This is a non-refundable, pay-in-full at time of booking rate. Taxes and fees are an additional $183 per person. Since this is a one way cruise from Canada, this requires a passport and proof of COVID vaccination.

Royal Caribbean

• Beginning September 5, 2022, all travelers regardless of vaccination status can cruise from Los Angeles, Galveston, and New Orleans. They just need to meet the testing requirements:

  • Guests who are not fully vaccinated must bring a negative test result for a COVID-19 antigen or PCR test taken within the 3 days of boarding day regardless of the duration of their cruise.

  • Fully vaccinated guests must bring a negative test result for a COVID-19 antigen or PCR test taken within the 3 days before boarding day on sailings that are 6 nights or longer only.

  • For more information, please visit Royal Caribbean’s website.

Great Deal for Vaccinated cruisers: Eight nights on the Royal Caribbean Odyssey of the Seas departing March 11, 2023 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida visiting Labadee, Haiti, Aruba, and Curacao. I have three balcony cabins available at $958* per person when two people share a balcony cabin. Taxes and fees are an additional $128.77 per person. Take a tour of the Odyssey of the Seas:

Norwegian Cruise Line

• Beginning September 3, 2022, all travelers are welcome to travel. Vaccinated passengers do not need to provide of a negative test unless the country requires it. Unvaccinated passengers must provide proof of a negative PCR or antigen test taken 72 hours prior to embarkation. Additional requirements are based on country. Some countries do not allow unvaccinated guests to board a ship that visits one of their ports. You can find the full details on Norwegian’s website.

Great Deal: Five Nights on the Norwegian Bliss in The Haven round trip from Los Angeles visiting Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada, Mexico. This is a great opportunity to try Norwegian’s Haven experience at a price half of a seven night sailing. A Haven Courtyard Penthouse with Balcony is $2,098.80* per person when two people share a cabin. Taxes and fees are an additional $159.32 per person. Take a tour of the Norwegian Bliss:

**As with all deals, prices and availability are subject to change.**

It’s very important to remember than the cruise line policies are subject to local regulations:

• Some destinations will not let unvaccinated passengers disembark in port:

  • Cartagena, Colombia and Grand Turk (for unvaccinated guests 18 years or older)

  • Bermuda, Bonaire, Grand Cayman, St. Kitts and Tortola (for unvaccinated guests 12 years or older)'

• Canada, Bermuda, and Greece have restrictions preventing unvaccinated guests from embarking a cruise ship that visits a port in their country.