Cruise Line Requirements & Protocols
Across the cruise industry, frameworks and guidance have been issued outlining the protocols required for a safe return to cruise. This guidance is required to be met and followed for the resumption of cruise ship operators either from the UK or U.S.
Please read our content carefully or click the below links to navigate to the information.
General Guidance
As you have probably heard, there have been many changes to how we cruise, and new health and safety protocols that all cruise lines have been added to make the return to cruising safe for everyone.
Each cruise line, part of the world, or country may have slightly different procedures depending on the current local situation with COVID-19 – and these are always subject to change. We encourage you to check the cruise line’s own website for the most up-to-date information regarding any updates and the Gov.uk website for any region or country-specific information.
Please respect any rules put in place by the cruise line, they are all in place for your health and safety.
We hope that these changes make you feel at ease about returning to cruise. All the new protocols have been meticulously put together and sanctioned by multiple organisations (including the US CDC and CLIA) to ensure maximum safety for guests and crew.
While it may take a little getting used to these new measures (some of all of which may only be temporary) please feel rest assured that they are all there to keep you safe and healthy and back enjoying cruising.
Guidance for Returning to Cruise
Created by the UK Chamber of Shipping, in collaboration with CLIA, the guidance for UK cruise operators identifies the key plans and measures operators must have in place to ensure they are able to restart safely. This involves recommendations, external verifications and upholding existing UK Government shoreside guidance too. Guidance for passengers on-board these cruise lines includes:
Check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice; confirm your travel insurance cover; check your cruise lines exclusion policy to see where you fall
Travel safely to the terminal, avoiding busy times and routes where possible, and remain socially distanced when travelling. Arrive at the terminal only with those you are travelling with, maintaining social distance and adhere to the current guidance regarding face coverings
All passengers are required to take a COVID-19 test for voyages on all ships carrying 250+ persons. A negative test is required in order to embark, if a screening concludes you have COVID-19 or have been exposed, you will be denied boarding
Follow the cruise line protocols in place to ensure a safe journey, such as:
- You may be required to wear face masks when walking around public areas of the ship
- You may be required to use the ship’s app (free of charge) to order things such as drinks, food in restaurants or make reservations for spa treatments, to limit contact of people touching menus
- Buffet restaurants are open as usual, but staff will serve you food, rather than multiple guests touching the same serving tongs, to limit the number of people touching the same surfaces
- You may be required to have your temperature taken during your cruise. This is because people with a fever have more chance of having COVID-19, so checking this with everyone helps reduce risk for everyone
- Cruise lines have always had multiple hand sanitising stations throughout every ship, but you will notice more than before. Some may be manned by staff at entrances to restaurants for example, to ensure that these are utilised
- You will notice more hand washing stations on many ships on the way into dining venues for you to use too
- You may notice more crew cleaning around the ship than ever before – in particular, wiping down surfaces that are often touched by many people, including lift buttons, handrails on stairways and door handles in public rooms. This is good, and to stop the potential spreading of any germs
- There may be social distancing in place in some public venues, such as the ship’s theatre, where some seats are marked to not use
Follow the cruise line protocols in place to ensure safe port visits. Be aware of the local or national COVID-19 requirements. You may also have your temperature checked when disembarking or re-embarking the ship or be required to take a COVID-19 test
You may be required to take a COVID-19 test, and you may need to self-isolate in the UK, depending on your previous destinations. Leave the port terminal as soon as possible
Maintain social distancing from people outside your household or support bubble and wash your hands regularly. Follow the cruise line protocols
You can find out more about the framework and read the guidance in full at https://ukchamberofshipping.com.
There is also a framework for cruise lines operating in the US. The Conditional Sailing Order was released on 31st October, detailing the requirements cruise lines must meet before allowing passengers aboard. You can read this in full at https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/cruise/management/technical-instructions-for-cruise-ships.html.
Cruise Line Protocols
Each cruise line has been developing their own health and safety measures, ready for resuming sailing. These measures will apply to all guests and crew on-board and be mandatory to follow in order to reduce the risk of infection and maintain safety for all.
These protocols are subject to change in line with the evolving response measures as conditions warrant. They will be continually evaluated and adjusted against the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The cruise lines have also developed Cruise with Confidence programmes to offer more flexibility for customers. Where applicable, you can find these listed below. It is important to know that this information was correct at the time of publishing and we recommend checking the cruise line's website directly to confirm their policies should you wish to amend or cancel your booking.
Published on 21st December 2021.
- Health and Safety Protocols - https://www.azamara.co.uk/booked-guests/before-you-board/explore-well-at-sea
- Cruise with Confidence - https://www.celebritycruises.com/gb/cruise-with-confidence
- Cancel your Celebrity Cruises sailing up to 48 hours before you sail and receive 100% Future Cruise Credit, available to use by 31st May 2022 on sailings through to 31st December 2022, or one year from original sailing date, whichever is later. Cruise with Confidence valid until 31st January 2022.
- Health and Safety Protocols - https://www.celebritycruises.com/gb/health-and-safety
- Cruise with Confidence - https://www.azamara.co.uk/cruise-with-confidence
- Cancel your cruise up to 48 hours prior to sailing and receive the value back in Future Cruise Credits, applicable to bookings made by 31st March 2022 on sailings departing on or before 31st December 2022, or sailings which depart within one year of the original sail date, whichever is later.
- Health and Safety Protocols - https://www.crystalcruises.com/health-and-safety-hub
- Health and Safety Protocols - https://www.hl-cruises.com/travel-safely
- Health and Safety Protocols - https://www.oceaniacruises.com/sites/default/files/2021-12/sail-safe-health-program-v22.pdf
- Cruise with Confidence - Cruises of less than 15 days - Cancel 120+ days before sailing and face no charges. Anything 120 days or less faces administrative fees and % of fare charges. Cruises of 15 days+ - Cancel 180+ days before sailing and face no charges. Anything 180 days or less faces administrative fees and % of fare charges.
- Health and Safety Protocols - https://www.rssc.com/HealthSafetyProtocols
- Health and Safety Protocols - https://www.scenic.co.uk/why-scenic/confidence
- Health and Safety Protocols - https://www.seabourn.com/en_US/health-safety/guest-protocols.html
- Cruise with Confidence - https://www.seabourn.com/en_US/worry-free-promise.html
- Cancel up to 30 days prior to sailing and receive 100% Future Cruise Credit, applicable to bookings made up to 31st December 2021 and valid on voyages through to 30th April 2022. Or, cancel within 30 days of embarkation if you test positive for, or have been directly exposed to, Covid-19.
- Health and Safety Protocols - https://www.silversea.com/health-and-travel-notice.html
- Cruise with Confidence - https://www.silversea.com/lp-refund-and-cancellation-policy-covid-19.html
- Cancel your cruise within 30 days of embarkation and you will receive a refund or optional Future Cruise Credit equivalent to the fare paid. This includes cancelling due to Covid-19. Future Cruise Credits valid on sailings through to 31st March 2022. If you are prevented from travelling due to Government restrictions, but the cruise isn't cancelled by Silversea, you will be entitled to a full refund or optional Future Cruise Credit.