We’re excited to be sailing again and look forward to more ships returning to service in the months ahead!
As always, we remain committed to the health, safety and well-being of our guests, crew and the communities we visit. We will continue to operate vaccinated cruises through 2021 in the U.S. as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In an abundance of caution and in response to the increasing number of cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. caused by the Delta variant, we’re updating our protocols and requirements. We’re hopeful these measures will be temporary, and we will continue to adjust our protocols based on the advice of our medical and public health advisors.
Here are our new, temporary pre-travel COVID-19 testing requirements:
Effective with cruises departing on Sunday, August 15, 2021, through Sunday, October 31, 2021, we will require ALL fully vaccinated guests to produce a negative viral COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen) taken within 3 days of their embarkation on all Princess sailings.
In order to board, fully vaccinated guests will be required to provide proof of this negative COVID-19 test, along with proof of full vaccination (final dose must have been received at least 14 days prior to embarkation), upon arrival in the terminal.
Please note that testing in the terminal will not be available for fully vaccinated guests, so it’s critical that guests have their negative test results with them at cruise check-in.
In addition to testing requirements, we have also made adjustments to our onboard mask policy as follows:
We strongly encourage all guests to wear face masks when indoors, and we require mask-wearing in elevators, retail shops, the casino and other designated indoor areas, except when eating or drinking.
Guests will also be required to wear face masks before being seated in all dining areas and may occasionally be asked to wear a mask in other designated areas where larger number of guests may congregate.
As a reminder, masks are required during embarkation and debarkation in the terminal, and masks must also be worn during the debarkation process on board.
We recommend guests wash or replace their mask daily and choose a good quality double-layer cloth or medical-grade mask. Please note that bandanas, neck gaiters and masks with exhaust valves will not be accepted as a substitute for a face mask and that visors and face shields are only permitted when used in addition to a mask.
We’re implementing these new requirements to protect our guests and crew while on board. Several destinations have their own requirements, and all guests will be required to follow the protocols in each destination we visit.
For further details on our updated testing requirements and onboard protocols, please visit Princess.com/CruiseHealthFAQ. Or watch as Dr. Brenda Barnetson, Director of Clinical Services, answers your most frequently asked questions about CruiseHealth in this recent video interview.
We hope to see you soon!
Yours in health,
Grant Tarling, MD, MPH
Chief Medical Officer
