Since cruise lines announced that they would be heading back out to sea, they have all made changes to their health and safety policies onboard. Many have introduced staggered boarding, enhanced cleaning procedures, enhanced fresh air distribution systems, reduced capacity and smaller groups onboard.
Many have also implemented rules around guests being required to be fully vaccinated before sailing on board their ships. With the vaccination programme still being rolled out across the UK from the oldest members of society to the youngest, not everyone will be eligible to sail on some of the their scheduled cruises.
Following ongoing guest feedback, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises and Cunard will be updating their vaccination policies to ensure more people can sail on their ships sooner.
P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises reviewed its vaccination and testing policy. For all holidays departing from 25th September to 31st December 2021, all guests aged 18 years and over will be required to have completed their vaccination course a minimum of 14 days prior to sailing.
All guests aged 17 years and under will need to have completed their vaccination course a minimum of 14 days prior to sailing or will require a negative PCR test within 72 hours prior to travel.
All guests will also require a negative COVID-19 test at the terminal. The PCR and COVID-19 test at the terminal will be provided on a complimentary basis. This vaccination and testing policy will be reviewed on a regular basis as the global situation continues to evolve.
All other P&O Cruises holidays on sale do not currently require guests to be vaccinated.
Princess Cruises
For all Princess sailings departing Southampton from 30th September to 3rd November 2021 on Regal Princess and 5th October to 5th November 2021 on Sky Princess, all guests 18 years old and over will be required to have completed their vaccination course a minimum of 14 days prior to sailing.
All guests 17 years old and below will need to have completed their vaccination course a minimum 14 days prior to sailing or will require a negative PCR test within 72 hours prior to travel.
All guests will also require a negative COVID-19 test at the terminal. The PCR test and COVID-19 test at the terminal will be provided on a complimentary basis. This vaccination and testing policy will be reviewed on a regular basis as the global situation continues to evolve.
Cunard
For all Cunard cruises departing from 13th October to 31st December 2021, all guests 18 years old and over will be required to have completed their vaccination course a minimum of 14 days prior to sailing.
All guests 17 years old and below will need to have completed their vaccination course a minimum 14 days prior to sailing or will require a negative PCR test within 72 hours prior to travel.
All guests will also require a negative COVID-19 test at the terminal. The PCR and COVID-19 test at the terminal will be provided on a complimentary basis. This vaccination and testing policy will be reviewed on a regular basis as the global situation continues to evolve.
If you are planning to sail onboard these cruises, please speak to your cruise consultant to make sure that you have all the relevant insurance and documentation to travel.
