Find the latest updates on guidance, changes to cruise line protocols or travel news here. For further information in relation to your sailing or destination, please visit your cruise line’s protocols or the Gov.uk website.
America updates travel advice - 02.05.2023
US drops Covid vaccine rule for inbound travellers: The need to show proof of vaccination against Covid to travel to the US was imposed in January 2021 in the midst of the global pandemic. The need for people arriving in the US by air to test negative for Covid was dropped last June but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccination requirements for most foreign travellers were retained.
America updates travel advice - 02.02.2023
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has updated the travel advice for the following countries in the North, Central and South America region. Some countries may have specific FCDO advice against travel to all or parts of the country for non-COVID related risks. Some countries may have specific entry restrictions relating to COVID-19, and each country will have their own specific requirements on local COVID-19 measures that will need to be followed. We recommend checking the full advice for the countries affected on the Gov.uk website.
China changes its COVID-19 entry requirements for all travellers entering the country - 17.01.2023
From 8 Jan 2023, China has changed its COVID-19 entry requirements for all travellers entering the country. You will need a negative PCR test to enter China. Before you travel, check the ‘Entry requirements’ section on the Gov.uk website for further information on current entry restrictions and requirements. Monitor this advice for the latest updates and stay in contact with your travel provider. You must register your place of residence with the local Public Security Bureau within 24 hours of arrival. British nationals need a visa to enter mainland China, including Hainan Island, but not Hong Kong or Macao.
Change in Covid-19 travel restrictions for arrivals from China to England - 06.01.2023
From 6th January. the Government has updated the rules for travel from China to England which come into force as temporary travel-related measures in light of Covid-19 developments in China. These are highlighted in full on the Government website here, but key details are as follows.
Those travelling to England from mainland China
If you are aged 12 or above, you will need to take a COVID-19 test no more than 2 days before you travel. Notifications of a negative test will be checked by airlines and Border Force upon arrival to England. This applies to all direct and indirect flights from mainland China and if you are travelling through England as well as it being your final destination. Some exemptions apply, see Gov.uk website for more details.
From 8 January 2023, some passengers will be invited to take a voluntary test on arrival to monitor for potential new variants. This applies to passengers aged 18 or over who are travelling from mainland China and arriving at Heathrow Airport only.
Spain to lift all COVID restrictions - 21.10.2022
As of 21 October 2022 visitors are no longer required to provide proof of vaccination status or a negative COVID test to enter Spain. The news comes in time for the October half term holiday, marking Spain one of the last European countries to impose strict Covid entry rules for foreign travellers.
Canada to drop all Covid-19 entry restrictions - 27.09.2022
The country will drop all restrictions from the 1st October, including the requirement to wear a mask on public transport; cruise measures are also being lifted so passengers are also no longer required to take pre-board tests or be fully vaccinated. All of this makes it easier for both vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers to visit the country.
Please see further information here:https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-62987945.
Japan and Taiwan to relax travel rules from October - 23.09.2022
Japan and Taiwan are preparing to lift all remaining Covid restrictions for travellers in the next few weeks. This would mean visa-free travel for tourists and the lifting of requirements to travel in groups. Rules are expected to be relaxed from 11th October, with the cap on daily arrivals scrapped.
Unvaccinated guests to be welcomed on-board Oceania Cruises - 08.08.2022
Oceania Cruises have revised its SailSafe Health and Safety protocols. Effective 3rd September 2022, all sailings embarking from that date forward, vaccinated travellers will no longer need to test to embark a sailing and unvaccinated travellers may embark by providing proof of a negative Antigen or PCR test not more than 72 hours old. Ease of access to travel is also provided for guests of all ages as children will also be welcomed without the restriction of age or vaccination status. Certain destinations have specific requirements which will vary from new base-level protocols.
Please see further information here on Oceania Cruises' website: https://www.oceaniacruises.com/health.
Unvaccinated guests to be welcomed on-board Regent Seven Seas Cruises - 08.08.2022
Regent Seven Seas Cruises has announced that from 3rd September 2022, unvaccinated guests will be welcomed on-board their ships.
The new rules for embarkation will include vaccinated travellers who will not need to test prior to embarkation, subject to local regulations. Unvaccinated travellers may embark with a negative COVID-19 antigen or PCR test from a lab or pharmacy taken within 3 days prior to embarkation, subject to local regulations. Testing and vaccination requirements will differ for guests travelling on voyages departing from destinations with specific local health regulations, including but not limited to Canada, Greece, the Bahamas and Bermuda. These requirements will be highlighted to guests approximately 30 days prior to sailing.
Please see further information here on Regent's website: https://www.rssc.com/HealthSafetyProtocols.
Testing requirements dropped by Regent Cruises and Oceania Cruises - 08.07.2022
Selected cruise lines have announced changes to its healthy and safety program, revealing that it will no longer require guests to complete pre-cruise COVID-19 testing unless required by local regulations starting next month.
The updated policy is scheduled to go into effect across the Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands beginning 1st August 2022.
Masks no longer mandatory on EU air travel - 12.05.2022
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have issued an update to the health safety measures for air travel, dropping the recommendation for the mandatory wearing of medical masks in airports and on board a flight, while noting that a face mask is still one of the best protections against the transmission of COVID-19.
The new recommendations on the wearing of face masks are set to come into effect from May 16, 2022. However, rules for masks will continue to vary by airline beyond that date. For example, flights to or from a destination where mask-wearing is still required on public transport should continue to encourage mask-wearing, according to the recommendations. Vulnerable passengers should continue to wear a face mask regardless of the rules.
Please see further information here on the Gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-abroad-from-england-during-coronavirus-covid-19.
You can also read more about the easing of face masks on airlines on the BBC website here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-61463794.
All Covid-19 travel restrictions removed in the UK - 14.03.2022
The government will remove the remaining COVID-19 international travel restrictions for all passengers from 18th March.
From 4am Friday 18 March, all COVID-19 travel restrictions will be lifted, including the passenger locator form (PLF) for arrivals into UK, as well as all tests for passengers who do not qualify as vaccinated. This change, therefore, removes the need for unvaccinated passengers to take a pre-departure test and a day 2 post-arrival test.
Covid-19 vaccine requirements for EU travel - 01.02.2022
As of 01.02.2022, all travellers to the EU member states will be required to have had their second Covid-19 vaccine within nine months from 01.02.2022. Visitors may also provide proof of recovery within the past six months or a booster vaccine in order to travel within the European Union.
Silversea updates latest protocols - 25.01.2022
Silversea has announced that as of 1st March 2022, all eligible guests, for whom the required time has elapsed since the completion of their primary COVID-19 vaccination series, will be required to have received a COVID-19 booster.
Please see Silversea's latest vaccine requirements here: https://www.silversea.com/what-vaccines.html
Covid-19 travel tests no longer required for double vaccinated - 24.01.2022
From 4 am on 11 February, all testing requirements for fully vaccinated travellers arriving in England will be removed.
Arrivals who are not fully vaccinated will only be required to take a pre-departure test and a PCR test on or before day 2 after arriving in England. They will no longer be required to self-isolate on arrival or take a test on day 8.
From 3rd February Children aged 12-15 in England will be able to demonstrate their vaccination status or proof of recovery via a digital NHS COVID pass for outbound travel.
Changes were also announced that will simplify the Passenger Locator Form (PLF). Travellers will confirm their vaccination status, travel history and contact details, and will have an extra day to complete the form before travelling.
Celebrity Cruises extends Cruise with Confidence policy - 14.01.2022
Celebrity Cruises n has extended its Cruise With Confidence programme further for their guests. The programme now allows those who have booked a cruise, or are considering booking one, the choice to cancel anycruise 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.
Please see Celebrity Cruises' latest protocols here: https://www.celebritycruises.com/gb/cruise-with-confidence
Pre-departure testing no longer required - 05.01.2022
As of 4am Friday 7th January, pre-departure testing will no longer be required for travellers returning to the UK. People arriving in the UK will no longer have to isolate until they get a negative PCR test, but will instead have to take a lateral flow test at the end of day two after arriving. If this is then positive, a PCR test will be required to confirm and help identify any new variants.
UK government reduces the time fully-vaccinated international arrivals must self-isolate if they test positive for Covid – 24.12.2021
The UK government has reduced the self-isolation period for fully-vaccinated international arrivals who test positive for Covid to 7 days from 10 days. A negative result on a lateral flow test two days in a row, on days six and seven must be provided.
As per the previous rules, those who test negative on a PCR test taken up to day two after arrival are free of self-isolation on receipt of their negative result. If a PCR test is unclear, self-isolation is required. Those who are not fully-vaccinated must quarantine for 10 full days.
Read the latest guidance from the Department for Transport here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19
NHS Covid Pass now available for children - 15.12.2021
From 13 December, fully vaccinated children aged 12 to 15 can request an NHS COVID Pass letter for international travel. A person with legal responsibility for a child aged 12 to 15 (such as a parent or guardian) can also request the letter on their behalf.
The NHS COVID Pass letter is not available to children aged 12 to 15 who have only received an incomplete course of vaccination (such as 1 dose of a 2-dose vaccine). You can get a NHS COVID Pass letter online. People requiring digital assistance can call the NHS 119 telephone service to request an NHS COVID Pass travel letter. The NHS COVID Pass letter will be sent to the address held on the child’s NHS record and will show all the vaccinations they have received including any boosters. The NHS COVID Pass letter should arrive within 5 working days, but may take slightly longer in December due to the Christmas postal service. The NHS COVID Pass letter service is for international vaccination status only and not recovery or negative test results. This NHS COVID Pass letter service is not available for domestic use at venues and settings in England.
Testing Before Travel to the UK - 13.12.2021
Effective 4am Tuesday 07 December 2021, anyone wishing to travel to the UK from countries and territories not on the red list must also show proof of a negative PCR or lateral flow (LFD) pre-departure test, taken in the 2 days before your service to the UK departs. This applies to vaccinated passengers and children aged 12 and above. This is confirmed by Gov.uk here, https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-testing-for-people-travelling-to-england.
Celebrity Cruises Updated Travel Requirements - 09.12.2021
Fully vaccinated air passengers arriving to the US from a foreign country must get a COVID-19 test no more than 1 day before their flight departs. For fully vaccinated guests and guests aged 12-17 years who are flying home within 24 hours, guests must do an additional PCR test 2 days before they travel back to England.
For bookings made prior to 16th November 2021: Fully vaccinated guests requiring a COVID-19 test to return to their home country will be provided with the option to receive complimentary testing onboard prior to debarking. Proof of return flights scheduled within 24 hours of disembarkation will be required to qualify for the onboard tests.
For fully vaccinated guests booked after 16th November 2021: Testing will be available at the rate of $55 per person for Antigen and $95 per person for PCR. Proof of return flights scheduled within 24 hours of disembarkation will be required to qualify for the onboard tests.
Any guests who are staying in the US or a different country, such as the Galapagos or Ecuador, for a few days before returning to the UK will need to arrange tests in the US or respective country before travel.
Please see Celebrity Cruises' latest protocols here: https://www.celebritycruises.com/gb/health-and-safety.
PCR Test Update for UK Travellers - 29.11.2021
As of 4am Tuesday 30th November 2021, lateral flow tests will no longer be accepted and all travellers arriving into the UK will be required to book and take COVID-19 PCR tests in accordance with their vaccination status. Travellers that arrive in the UK after 04sm Tuesday 30th November who are fully vaccinated, are required to self-isolate at home when they arrive, take a PCR test on or before Day 2, and continue to self-isolate until they receive a negative result. For those who test positive, they must isolate for 10 days. This is confirmed by Gov.uk here.
There will be no change for unvaccinated travellers.
Travellers who have already booked their lateral flow tests should contact their private testing provider, to discuss their options and ensure that they have the correct tests booked for their vaccination status and ensure the correct test details are provided on their Passenger Locator Forms. You can update or complete your Passenger Locator form here.
