Celebrity Cruises is dropping Covid vaccination requirements and simplifying testing guidelines in a bid to make cruising more accessible and easier for travellers.
Sister brand Royal Caribbean International also unveiled similarly relaxed protocols.
The changes from September 5 apply to passengers sailing from US and European ports and brings the Royal Caribbean Group brands in line with others, many under the rival Carnival Corporation umbrella.
Passengers will be able to travel with Celebrity regardless of vaccination status, departing on most sailings from the US and Europe as long as they meet local testing requirements to board.
The company will also accept any commercially available test, including unsupervised self-tests, in many destinations.
Vaccinated passengers in the US and Europe will no longer need to test on cruises of nine nights or less, excluding sailings that visit Canada and Bermuda.
A negative result from an unsupervised and self-administered test will be accepted for all sailings.
Children under five years of age sailing from the US and under 12s sailing from Europe will not need to test prior to boarding.
However, cruises to and from ports in Canada, Australia and New Zealand require passengers aged 12 and above to be fully vaccinated in keeping with country requirements. Galapagos cruises require guests ages three and older to be vaccinated.
Royal Caribbean International said that passengers will still need to be vaccinated due to local regulations for sailings to or from Australia, Bermuda, Canada and Singapore. Testing is still required with sailings departing or visiting Greece and Israel.
Celebrity Edge became the first ship to resume US sailings on in June, 2021. Celebrity’s fleet of 15 vessels are now sailing in the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe and the Galapagos. The line returns to Australia and New Zealand in October.
President and chief executive Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, said: “A new world is waiting and I’m thrilled to now more closely align our operations with the rest of the travel industry and open up opportunities for everyone to explore, once again.
“Travel is making its grand comeback and we’re looking forward to the continued momentum from consumers around the world.”