oceania cruise line covid requirements

Do You Need to Be Vaccinated to Cruise? It Depends on the Ship and Destination

While most cruise lines have scrapped covid vaccine and testing requirements, some companies and international cruise ports still have vaccination and testing rules in place..

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If you’re planning on sailing with Viking anytime soon, you’d better track down that COVID-19 vaccine certificate.

Courtesy of Viking

When cruising restarted in spring 2021, after a nearly 15-month pandemic-spurred shutdown imposed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cruisers faced a barrage of rules, including strict requirements for COVID-19 vaccinations and precruise COVID-19 testing. Later, the rules started to go by the wayside, and it was hard to keep track of who was requiring what. Not anymore.

Most cruise lines have now dropped or are soon dropping rules for both vaccinations and precruise testing, with at least one notable exception. Viking —on its river, ocean, and expedition ships—still requires everyone on board be fully vaccinated .

Another line that was still requiring COVID vaccinations, small-ship line Windstar Cruises, will be scrapping its vaccine mandate as of June 1, 2023. “We’ve invested in and improved our health and safety processes, including upgrading the HVAC systems on all of our ships, which has led to a cleaner and safer environment on board,” says Windstar president Christopher Prelog. “When combined with the widespread availability of vaccines and medical treatments, the risk factors are considerably lower now, giving us the confidence to lift the requirement.”

Are COVID vaccinations and testing still required for cruises?

Most cruise lines have dropped both their vaccine and testing requirements. Those that have lingered into 2023—mostly lines operating smaller ships—have been quietly scaling back their requirements.

The result: While there was a time after cruising restarted that you could be assured that your fellow passengers, at least those age 12 and up, were both fully vaccinated and tested for COVID-19 before getting on the ship, that is not the case anymore.

That said, specific countries have their own requirements, and several countries still require that cruise ship passengers are vaccinated and/or tested before arrival. If you are doing an itinerary outside of the Caribbean or Europe (where most vaccine and testing requirements have been dropped)—including to select countries in Central and South America or to Australia—you still have to read your cruise line’s precruise health and safety information carefully to make sure you comply with the latest requirements.

Contact your cruise line or check the U.S. State Department’s travel advisories for the latest.

What to know before you cruise

Vaccine and pretrip testing requirements can be confusing, especially if you are cruising internationally. Cruise lines have their own rules; countries have their own rules.

Before your trip, you will need to review your cruise line’s health and safety protocols. If a precruise test is required by a certain country, you will find that noted. In this case, you may be required to arrive at your ship with a negative COVID-19 test result in hand or not. (If testing is required, it can typically be either a PCR test or tele-health-monitored antigen test , paid for by the passenger. The cruise line may also require a test at the pier, paid for by the cruise line.)

If being fully vaccinated is required, that means having received the original series of vaccines at least 14 days prior to your cruise, or the original series plus a booster shot or shots.

As was the case even before the pandemic, you will be asked at embarkation to fill out a questionnaire inquiring about your current health status and whether you currently have any symptoms of illness.

You are free to pack and wear masks on your cruise. Most cruise lines suggest you do wear masks in crowded indoor situations—but it’s not enforced.

A quick cruise line guide to COVID requirements

Here’s a rundown of the basic rules for some leading cruise lines. Note: There may be additional requirements if you are traveling internationally. Be sure to review the latest requirements prior to boarding.

American Queen Voyages

On American Queen Voyages’ river, ocean, Great Lakes, and expedition ships, there are no longer any precruise testing or vaccinations required. Face coverings are optional, though masks may be required of any passengers showing symptoms.

Precruise testing is no longer required for vaccinated guests sailing with Azamara , except in ports where testing is required. No vaccination is necessary for cruises departing from or returning to the United States or Europe. In Australia, all guests 12 years and older must be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before sailing with all required COVID-19 vaccine doses (including a booster shot). Children under 12 years old are not required to be vaccinated.

Celebrity Cruises

No vaccination or testing is required on the majority of Celebrity Cruises sailings. Destinations with stricter requirements include: the Galápagos, Australia and New Zealand, transatlantic crossings, and select Central and South America itineraries. Unvaccinated guests need to be tested in Brazil, Chile, and Colombia.

As of April 23, 2023, on the Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria , and as of June 8, 2023, on the Queen Elizabeth , vaccinations and testing will no longer be required by Cunard (until then, testing and vaccination requirements apply).

Disney Cruise Line

For sailings embarking from the United States, which are the bulk of Disney Cruise Line’s sailings, no vaccination or testing is required. Disney recommends all guests be vaccinated before sailing and take a test for COVID-19 two days prior to their cruise. There are additional requirements on repositioning cruises and in Australia, so it is important to check the line’s website before your cruise.

Holland America Line

There are no precruise testing or vaccination requirements on most Holland America Line itineraries. There are requirements on select voyages (you can look up a specific voyage’s requirements on the line’s website).

Lindblad Expeditions

For voyages embarking on or after May 11, 2023, Lindblad Expeditions will no longer require guests to be fully vaccinated, although the line recommends guests be fully vaccinated (for cruises prior to that time, all passengers age five and up must be vaccinated). Lindblad recommends, but does not require, passengers take a predeparture COVID-19 test within five days of the start of their expedition.

Oceania Cruises

Vaccine requirements are purely dependent on the destinations being visited on each Oceania cruise. Passengers are advised to be up to date on the latest regulations for all destinations on their cruise itinerary.

Paul Gauguin Cruises

Effective April 2023, Paul Gauguin Cruises no longer requires that passengers are vaccinated or tested for COVID prior to embarkation, but it continues to encourage vaccination. “Paul Gauguin Cruises’ officers, staff and crew will remain fully vaccinated,” the line states. Travelers will need to present a health declaration form at embarkation.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Vaccines and precruise testing are generally not required to sail with Regent Seven Seas Cruises . There are some requirements in place based on local health regulations in a specific country a ship is visiting. Regent notifies guests approximately 30 days prior to sailing of any country-specific protocols.

Royal Caribbean

No vaccine or precruise testing is required on the majority of Royal Caribbean itineraries, with a few exceptions: Cruises from Australia, transpacific and transatlantic sailings, and cruises from Hawai‘i to Vancouver.

No vaccine or testing required except on certain Seabourn itineraries where a country may have specific requirements.

No vaccination is required for Silversea passengers except as designated by the destination. Precruise testing is not required except when specified by a destination.

Viking Cruises

All passengers and crew are required to be vaccinated on Viking’s river, ocean, and expedition ships—without exception. Viking strongly recommends passengers receive a booster dose before departing. Viking recommends but does not require a predeparture COVID-19 test (except if required by a destination).

Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages has no precruise testing or vaccination requirements. Masks may be required at select times.

Windstar Cruises

Beginning June 1, 2023, Windstar will no longer require guests to be vaccinated. Crew will continue to be vaccinated. Masks are optional, with the line highly recommending guests wear masks in indoor public spaces. All guests fill out a health questionnaire on embarkation. A precruise COVID-19 test is not required unless you show symptoms.

This article was originally published in May 2022; it was most recently updated on April 19, 2023, with current information.

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OCEANIA CRUISES INTRODUCES SAFE, SIMPLE TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Cruise Line To Welcome Guests of All Ages and Vaccination Status

MIAMI , Aug. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Oceania Cruises, the world's leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line, has revised its SailSafe Health and Safety protocols to be simpler, easier, and offer all travelers an open door to explore the world.

Effective September 3, 2022 , for all sailings embarking from that date forward, Vaccinated travelers will no longer need to test to embark a sailing and Unvaccinated travelers may embark by providing proof of a negative Antigen or PCR test taken no more than 72 hours prior to boarding. Ease of access to travel is also provided for guests of all ages as children under the age of 12 will also be welcomed without any vaccination or testing requirements.

"We have been waiting a long time for this moment to arrive. The world has been re-opening quickly and once more, we are pleased to welcome all travelers, of all ages, to safely explore the world with comfort and ease aboard the small, luxurious ships of Oceania Cruises," stated Howard Sherman , President and CEO of Oceania Cruises.

The relaxation of this policy is in line with that of the greater travel industry around the globe as society continues to adapt and return to a state of normalcy. While vaccination and testing requirements have been relaxed, Oceania Cruises continues to strongly recommend all guests to be up to date with their vaccines and to test at their convenience prior to travel.

The line's revised SailSafe base-level protocols for embarkation are as follows:

• Vaccinated travelers aged 12 and older will not need to test to embark.
• Un-vaccinated travelers will need to present a negative, medically administered covid-19 test. Antigen and PCR test results must not be more than 72 hours old at the time of boarding.
• Travelers aged 11 and under are not subject to any vaccination requirements or testing protocols.
• Vaccinated travelers must meet the generally-accepted definition of "fully vaccinated" based on the destination in which they are embarking the ship, and/or traveling to, and must provide proof of vaccination.
• Travelers who cannot provide proof of vaccination will be considered unvaccinated and subject to any required testing protocols.

As part of the line's comprehensive health and safety protocols, all Officers and Crew will continue to be fully vaccinated and boosted also undergo regular, routine covid-19 testing. Certain destinations such as Canada , Bermuda , and Greece , may have very specific requirements that will result in slightly different protocols which will impact a small number of voyages. Specific voyage and destination requirements will be communicated to our guests and travel partners as needed.

For additional information and current destination-specific details, travelers are encouraged to review our SailSafe Simplified travel requirements – CLICK HERE .

For additional information on Oceania Cruises' small-ship luxury product, exquisitely crafted cuisine, and expertly curated travel experiences, visit OceaniaCruises.com, call 855-OCEANIA, or speak with a professional travel advisor.

Oceania Cruises is the world's leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line. The line's seven small, luxurious ships carry a maximum of 1,238 guests and feature the finest cuisine at sea and destination-rich itineraries that span the globe. Expertly curated travel experiences aboard the designer-inspired, small ships call on more than 450 marquee and boutique ports across Europe , Alaska , Asia , Africa , Australia , New Zealand , New England- Canada , Bermuda , the Caribbean , the Panama Canal, Tahiti and the South Pacific in addition to the epic 180-day Around the World Voyages. The brand has a second 1,200-guest Allura Class ship on order for delivery in 2025. With headquarters in Miami , Oceania Cruises is owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., a diversified cruise operator of leading global cruise brands which include Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH) is a leading global cruise company which operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands. With a combined fleet of 28 ships with nearly 60,000 berths, these brands offer itineraries to more than 490 destinations worldwide. The Company has nine additional ships scheduled for delivery through 2027, comprising of approximately 24,000 berths.

SOURCE Oceania Cruises

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Every Cruise Line's Requirements for COVID Vaccines, Testing

A guide to every major cruise line's health requirements for safe sailing.

Cruise lines have shifted their requirements for passengers, making cruising accessible to practically everyone. Many popular cruise lines have eliminated the vaccine and pre-embarkation test as the industry is beginning to shift away from mandatory vaccines and testing.

The changes began shortly after the CDC ended a pandemic-era policy of publicly displaying COVID-19 cases onboard, different cruise lines to the public in July 2022. For those looking to check current COVID-19 trends onboard the CDC urges direct contact with the cruise line, and the organization will continue to monitor and offer guidelines to ships.

Below, we break down each line's list of regulations to sail as well as what travelers need to know to plan.

American Queen Voyages

Where they sail:

American Queen Voyages is known for its Mississippi River cruises as well as sailings down other U.S. rivers like the Columbia and Snake rivers, using classic paddle wheeler ships for a throwback, romantic vibe.

Who needs the vaccine: All guests and crew must be fully vaccinated (14 days after their final shot).

What other safety measures are in place: Luggage is then disinfected before being brought onto the ship and staterooms cleaned with electrostatic fogging.

Find out more : American Queen Voyages

Avalon Waterways

Where they sail: These small-ship river cruises sail throughout Europe, Asia, South America, and down the Nile River in Egypt.

Who needs the vaccine: All international travelers from the U.S. must be fully vaccinated before boarding. Beginning March 2023 the vaccine is no longer required (but strongly encouraged).

What other safety measures are in place: All guests will undergo a health screening upon arrival and luggage will be disinfected. Avalon will provide COVID-19 testing for travelers who need to show proof of a negative test to return home at no extra cost. Depending on the location of the cruise a pre-departure COVID-19 test may or may not be required.

Find out more: Avalon Waterways

Where they sail : Azamara sails mid-size ships all over the world, to all seven continents.

Who needs the vaccine : All guests and crew 12 and older will be required to be fully vaccinated at least two weeks before boarding a ship. Beginning Dec. 1, 2022, the company plans to drop the vaccine requirement for departures from the U.S. and Europe.

What other safety measures are in place : Depending on the port of embarkation guests may or may not to pre-test to travel. For a full list of ports and whether they require a test guests can check online .

Azamara's ships have been upgraded with new HVAC filtration systems, and EPA-certified disinfectants are used to clean the ship.

Find out more : Azamara

Carnival Cruises

Where they sail: Carnival sails large ships around the world, including popular trips to the Caribbean. The company sailed its maiden voyage on the Mardi Gras out of Florida in July.

Who needs the vaccine: All guests are encouraged to be vaccinated but unvaccinated travelers, or vaccinated guests without proof of vaccination, will have to present the negative results of a PCR or antigen test taken no earlier than 3 days before sailing.

What other safety measures are in place: For cruises five days or less, there will no longer be pre-cruise testing for vaccinated passengers unless a specific port requires it. Itineraries including Bahamas, Bermuda, or Grand Cayman will still be required to test. All guests will also be required to fill out a health screening 72 hours before embarkation and undergo health screenings prior to boarding. Unvaccinated travelers on a cruise to Bermuda will be required to purchase travel insurance (children under 12 are exempt as long as they are traveling with vaccinated parents).

Both vaccinated and unvaccinated guests who have recovered from COVID-19 within three months of their sailing date, do not need the required pre-cruise COVID test before embarkation, only if they are at least 10 days past their COVID-19 infection, have no symptoms and present documentation of recovery from COVID-19 from their healthcare provider.

Find out more: Carnival Cruise Line

Celebrity Cruises

Where they sail: Celebrity Cruises sails all over the world.

Who needs the vaccine: The vaccine is no longer required to sail on cruises from the U.S. and Europe. A vaccine is required for sailings visiting Canada.

What other safety measures are in place: A pre-embarkation test is no longer required for vaccinated guests on sailings nine days or less. Unvaccinated passengers will still be required to test three days prior to sailing. Self-tests are acceptable from European and U.S. ports that don't stop in Bermuda or Canada.

Find out more : Celebrity Cruises

Where they sail: Cunard, which sails all over the world, is known for its transatlantic journeys aboard the Queen Mary 2.

Who needs the vaccine: All guests 18 and older must be fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated passengers under 18 will be required to undergo a PCR test within 72 hours of their departure.

What other safety measures are in place: Cunard has "enhanced" their onboard ventilation systems and implemented mandatory mask-wearing policies indoors. All guests aged 4 and older are required to have a negative COVID-19 test before boarding. Crew will be tested regularly while on board. Guests who have certain pre-existing medical conditions, including those who are on supplementary oxygen, will not be allowed to board.

Find out more: Cunard

Disney Cruise Line

Where they sail: Disney sails family-friendly journeys including to the Caribbean, Europe, and Alaska.

Who needs the vaccine: Vaccination is no longer required by highly suggested.

What other safety measures are in place: Unvaccinated guests must provide results of a COVID-19 test taken 1 to 2 days before sail date, at home tests are not accepted. The Cruise line also has a full list of enhanced cleaning protocols.

Find out more: Disney Cruise Line

Grand Circle Cruise Line

Where they sail: Grand Circle Cruise Line sails small ships and river cruises all over the world, including an extensive list of European itineraries. The company plans to start sailing again in August, including to Greece, Turkey, and Italy.

Who needs the vaccine: All guests and crew are required to be fully vaccinated with the booster shot.

What other safety measures are in place: All ships have been equipped with High Efficiency Particular Air (HEPA) filters and buffets have been eliminated. The cruise line states some itineraries will require proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to travel , and that instructors will be sent out 30 days prior to travel.

Find out mor e: Grand Circle Cruise Line

Holland America

Where they sail: Holland America sails large ships all over the world, including to the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Europe, and more.

Who needs the vaccine: Unvaccinated guests are welcome but will be required to self-test three days before cruising.

What other safety measures are in place: Vaccinated passengers traveling on ships for less than 16 days excluding itineraries with the Panama Canal, trans-ocean, and other selected itineraries will no longer be required to test.

Find out more: Holland America

Lindblad Expeditions

Where they sail: Lindblad Expeditions is known for its adventurous trips to hard-to-reach destinations like Antarctica and the Russian Far East, partnering with National Geographic to add to the experience.

Who needs the vaccine: All guests 12 and older need to be vaccinated before boarding. Boosters are recommended but not required.

What other safety measures are in place: Pre-departure testing will not be required unless for a specific destination.

Find out more : Lindblad Expeditions

Margaritaville at Sea

Where they sail: Margaritaville at Sea offers 3-day cruises to Grand Bahama Island departing from the port of Palm Beach. The cruise line also offers the opportunity to take the ship one way to the Bahamas to allow guests to stay at the Margaritaville resort, and then take the ship back to the Bahamas at a later date.

Who needs the vaccine: All guests are welcome regardless of vaccination status, according to the cruise line.

What other safety measures are in place: All crew members must be vaccinated for COVID-19 and the cruise line states there are vaccination requirements on board (but does not specify).

Find out more: Margaritaville at Sea

MSC Cruises

Where they sail: MSC Cruises sails large ocean cruises around the world, including throughout Europe, South America, the Persian Gulf, and the Caribbean. In August, the company started sailing to the Bahamas with a stop at its private island, Ocean Cay.

Who needs the vaccine: Vaccinations are recommended but no longer required.

What other safety measures are in place: Fully-vaccinated passengers are no longer required to show proof of a negative test unless it is required of the destination. Unvaccinated children must show proof of a negative PCR test.

Find out more: MSC Cruises

Norwegian Cruise Line

Where they sail: Norwegian sails big ocean cruises all around the world, including popular itineraries all throughout the Caribbean and Greece.

Who needs the vaccine: All passengers may sail regardless of vaccination status.

What other safety measures are in place: Testing is no longer required for any passenger regardless of vaccination status with the exception of local government mandates.

Find out more : Norwegian Cruise Line

Oceania Cruises

Where they sail: Oceania Cruises sails all over the world, including offering several World Cruise itineraries.

Who needs the vaccine: All passengers regardless of vaccination status are allowed to sail.

What other safety measures are in place: Only unvaccinated guests will be required to show proof of a negative PCR or antigen test taken 72 hours prior to boarding. Unvaccinated children aged 12 years and younger are exempt.

Find out more : Oceania Cruises

P&O Cruises

Where they sail: The UK-based cruise line sails around Europe, including to the Canary Islands, as well as to the Caribbean from Southampton in the UK.

Who needs the vaccine: Although P&O Cruises' policy states that passengers over the age of 15 are required to be vaccinated, the latest update on its website says guests will be contacted directly in regards to vaccination protocol.

What other safety measures are in place: All guests are required to undergo a COVID-19 test at the terminal. Masks will be required on board indoors, and all shore excursions will be with vetted operators.

Find out more : P&O Cruises

Princess Cruises

Where they sail: The global cruise line sails large ocean ships all around the world, from Australia to Alaska.

Who needs the vaccine: All guests are welcome on board, but unvaccinated passengers will be required to test and may need an additional medical exemption at some ports.

Find out more : Princess Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Where they sail: Regent Seven Seas offers all-inclusive luxury cruises around the globe, which include perks like free airfare, free excursions, and complimentary unlimited drinks on board.

Who needs the vaccine: All guests are now welcome. Unvaccinated passengers will be required to test 3-days before embarkation.

What other safety measures are in place: Pre-departure testing may not be necessary depending on the port. Currently cruises leaving from Bermuda, Canada, and Greece will require a test.

Find out more : Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Royal Caribbean International

Where they sail: Royal Caribbean sails large ocean ships all over the world, including many popular itineraries throughout the Caribbean and Asia.

Who needs the vaccine: Everyone is welcome regardless of vaccination status, passengers traveling to Bermuda or Canada are required to be vaccinated.

W hat other safety measures are in place: Vaccinated travelers will no longer need a negative test on sailings shorter than 10 nights. Unvaccinated travelers aged 5 and older will need to take a test within 3 days of boarding. Self-administered tests are accepted.

Find out more : Royal Caribbean International

Where they sail: The British cruise line, exclusively for guests 50 and older, sails both ocean and river cruises around the globe.

Who needs the vaccine: All guests must be fully vaccinated, including a booster shot at least 14 days before boarding a ship. Saga was the first major cruise line to implement this vaccination policy.

What other safety measures are in place: Ocean Cruise guests will be required to get tested for COVID-19 in the terminal. Masks are required on bus transfers, in hotels, and on excursions.

Find out more : Saga

Where they sail: Seabourn's mid-size luxury cruises head all around the world, from Alaska to the Caribbean.

Who needs the vaccine: Vaccinations are not required on most cruise itineraries, unvaccinated guests will be required to present a negative test taken within three days of embarkation.

What other safety measures are in place: Masks are recommended onboard in most indoor venues and the casinos are frequently sanitized.

Find out more : Seabourn

Where they sail: Silversea brings guests all around the world in luxury and style , including to the Galapagos and Antarctica .

Who needs the vaccine: All guests are welcome, however, unvaccinated guests may not be welcome on all sailings depending on local regulations.

What other safety measures are in place: Vaccinated guests do not need a pre-departure test unless local regulations such as cruises leaving from Australia, Bermuda, Canada, or Greece require it. Unvaccinated travelers will need a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of embarkation.

Find out more : Silversea

UnCruise Adventures

Where they sail: This small-ship company is known for its Alaska journeys as well as adventures in places like the Galapagos and island hopping in Hawaii.

Who needs the vaccine: All guests 12 and older must be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before boarding. At least one booster is required to sail.

What other safety measures are in place: Guests are not required, but requested to test before departing from home (this policy is subject to change as COVID-19 trends change,) as the company states passengers should test to "be a good citizen". Each ship can perform rapid molecular tests on board. The cruise states they will not visit any destinations where vaccine rates are low.

Masks are required in public spaces, according to the company "bandana" and "buff" face masks will not be accepted.

Find out more : UnCruise Adventures

Victory Cruise Lines

Where they sail: Victory Cruise Lines is known for its Great Lakes cruises, providing all-inclusive sailings to see breathtaking sights from Niagara Falls to the iconic architecture of Chicago from Lake Michigan. Beyond the U.S., Victory Cruise Lines sails to Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula.

Who needs the vaccine: All guests and crew will be required to be vaccinated before boarding, and will be required to show physical proof prior to boarding.

What other safety measures are in place: Testing is no longer required on any river cruise.

Luggage is then disinfected before being brought onto the ship and staterooms cleaned with electrostatic fogging. Masks will be required during the embarkation process and while riding a shore excursion bus, but will not be required on board.

Find out more : Victory Cruise Lines

Viking Cruises

Where they sail: Viking sails ocean and river cruises all over the world, including throughout Europe. This summer, Viking will sail several voyages, including around England for UK residents, to Bermuda, and to Iceland in June.

Who needs the vaccine: All guests must be fully vaccinated to board a ship. Guests who are eligible must have a booster.

What other safety measures are in place: In addition to vaccines, all guests may be required to undergo a saliva PCR test at embarkation as well as "frequent" testing throughout the journey. All staterooms are equipped with independent air handling units.

Find out more : Viking Cruises

Virgin Voyages

Where they sail: The brand-new cruise line is launching mini sailings from England for UK residents, and has cruises throughout the Caribbean, and transatlantic options.

Who needs the vaccine: All are welcome regardless of vaccination status, unvaccinated passengers must have a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of embarkation.

What other safety measures are in place: Virgin Voyages was the first cruise line to eliminate pre-departure testing for vaccinated guests. The cruise line will continue to work with an advisory board to help ensure health and safety on board at all times, including the use of air filtration systems and sanitization of high touch surface areas.

Find out more : Virgin Voyages

Windstar Cruises

Where they sail: Windstar operates small-ship cruises and several sailing vessels all around the globe, including to places like Central America .

Who needs the vaccine: All guests will be required to be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before boarding one of Windstar's yachts. Boosters are highly encouraged and are recommended to be administered at least one week prior to travel.

What other safety measures are in place: Guests no longer need a pre-embarkation test unless a specific destination requires it.

Find out more : Windstar Cruises

Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. When she's not in New York City, she likes to spend her time at the beach or exploring new destinations and hopes to visit every country in the world. Follow her adventures on Instagram .

Confused about changing COVID-19 rules for cruise ships? Here's everything you need to know

Do you still need a COVID-19 vaccine to board a cruise ship? A negative COVID-19 test? A mask?

Not too many months ago, the answer was "all of the above" for most cruise vessels. But today it's not so straightforward. Some cruise lines have been loosening their COVID-19 rules. Others have been mostly holding fast to policies.

The divergence has come as more countries around the world, including the United States, peel back their COVID-19 rules for cruise ships, leaving it up to individual lines to decide just how strict — or not — they want to be.

The result is that preparing for a cruise has become more confusing than ever.

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Don't panic. We're here to help. In the segments below, we look at the COVID-19 policy landscape as it stands right now across the world's biggest cruise lines and try to make sense of it all.

It's a landscape that is likely to continue to change markedly in the coming months. In just the last few weeks, several lines have done away with pre-cruise COVID-19 testing requirements, and the buzz in the cruise world is that more lines soon will follow suit.

Already, mask-wearing rules on ships have mostly disappeared, though not everywhere.

Do I still need a COVID-19 vaccine to cruise?

For the most part, yes. With just a few exceptions, cruise lines still require most, if not all, passengers to present proof of a COVID-19 vaccine to board a ship.

Some lines make exceptions for young children and people who can't be vaccinated due to medical conditions or religious beliefs. The world's largest cruise line, Royal Caribbean , for instance, exempts children under the age of 12 from its vaccine requirement on most sailings. So does Carnival Cruise Line , the world's second-largest cruise brand.

This has been the broad policy at nearly all cruise lines since cruises allowing Americans restarted in 2021. In recent weeks, a few cruise lines have relaxed their vaccine rules slightly but not to a great extent.

Adults-only line Virgin Voyages, for instance, on Thursday said it would allow up to 10% of passengers on any given sailing to be unvaccinated for COVID-19. Under its previous policy, all passengers had to be vaccinated. Would-be cruisers who are unvaccinated must contact the line before booking a cruise to ensure one of the limited slots for unvaccinated travelers is available.

Related: Do I need a COVID-19 vaccine to cruise? A line-by-line guide

Are children required to have a COVID-19 vaccine to cruise?

In many cases, yes. But as noted above, some lines make exceptions to vaccination rules for young children.

Many major cruise lines require anyone who is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine to be fully inoculated before being allowed to sail.

For cruisers from the U.S., that means anyone 5 years or older must have proof that they've had their shots. Anyone 4 years old or younger is exempt from the vaccination rule. Some lines such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival and MSC Cruises set the cut-off for mandatory vaccines higher at the age of 12.

Passengers under these age cutoffs who aren't vaccinated typically have to present negative COVID-19 test results and submit to mandatory testing at the port on embarkation day to board. In general, the testing requirements for the unvaccinated on ships are more rigorous than the testing requirements for the vaccinated.

Note that some lines require that all passengers boarding ships be vaccinated for COVID-19, no matter their age. This means that young children who are not eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine by definition cannot sail.

Lines with such a rule include Oceania Cruises , Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours, Silversea Cruises and Windstar Cruises .

Related: Do children need to be vaccinated to cruise? Here's the policies at the biggest lines

Do I need to test negative for COVID-19 before boarding a cruise ship?

It depends. For much of the past year, every major cruise line required passengers to test negative for COVID-19 before boarding a ship. However, a handful of lines in recent weeks, including Virgin Voyages and Norwegian Cruise Line, have dropped pre-cruise testing requirements for at least some sailings, and more lines are expected to follow suit in the coming months.

Virgin Voyages is among the lines that have loosened testing rules the most. On Thursday, it said it would no longer require pre-cruise tests on any sailing in the two markets where it operates: Europe and North America (the new policy takes effect July 24 for sailings in Europe and July 27 for sailings in North America).

Small-ship specialist Azamara, which currently has all its ships in Europe, also dropped testing requirements for all sailings in recent days.

Other lines are taking a more scattershot approach to dropping testing requirements, mostly due to lingering testing rules in some of the countries where they operate.

Norwegian, for instance, recently said it would drop pre-cruise test requirements for most sailings in Europe but not other regions on Aug. 1. An exception will be sailings from Greece, where testing is required by the local government and will continue. Holland America recently waived pre-cruise testing requirements for just one vessel, Rotterdam, on select itineraries out of Amsterdam.

Just remember, no matter what your cruise line's policy is on pre-cruise testing, some countries around the world such as Japan still require a negative COVID-19 test for entry. If you're planning a cruise out of one of these countries and are not already within the country, you'll still need to test negative in advance of the trip even if your cruise line doesn't require a negative test result.

Related: Do I need to take a COVID-19 test before cruising?

Could I still be quarantined on a cruise ship if I test positive for COVID-19 while on board?

Yes. Cruise lines are still quarantining passengers who test positive for COVID-19 while on a ship. Passengers who display COVID-19 symptoms even without testing positive are also being quarantined on some ships. Passengers who are deemed to be "close contacts" of such passengers may also find themselves isolated for a time while they undergo COVID-19 testing.

Some cruise lines still warn passengers in their travel documentation that they could be quarantined on land for a time if they test positive for COVID-19 just before embarkation after flying to a ship. Additionally, passengers may be forced to quarantine on land for a time after disembarking a ship if they test positive while on board.

Related: I got quarantined after testing positive for COVID-19 on a ship; here's what it was like

Is the CDC still setting the rules for cruise ship COVID-19 policies?

No. In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued rules that cruise lines had to follow in order to resume cruising in U.S. waters that touched on everything from mask-wearing policies on ships to pre-cruise testing. However, the rules have morphed into non-binding guidelines in several steps over the past year.

The CDC's initial Conditional Sail Order imposing COVID-19-related rules on cruise lines expired in February and was replaced by a set of recommended policies that cruise lines could opt-in or opt-out of following. On July 18, this subsequent optional program was replaced by an even less formal set of recommendations that the agency said cruise lines "should carefully consider."

The bottom line is cruise lines have been free to choose whether they follow CDC recommendations for COVID-19 protocols on ships for many months.

Is the CDC still listing the COVID-19 outbreak status of ships?

No. As of July 18, the CDC stopped posting information on the extent of COVID-19 cases on cruise ships on its website.

Previously the line listed a color status for every cruise ship sailing in U.S. waters — red, yellow or green — on its Program for Cruise Ships website. This color status indicated how widespread COVID-19 was on board. As COVID-19 screening policies have begun to vary more widely from line to line in recent months, making apples-to-apples comparisons between ships has become more difficult, the CDC suggested.

"The previous color-coding system under CDC's COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships depended upon each cruise line having the same COVID-19 screening testing standards, which may now vary among cruise lines," the CDC said Monday in announcing the end to the color-coded status postings. "Therefore, the cruise ship color status webpage has been retired."

Cruise lines are still required to report COVID-19 cases on ships to the CDC. The data just aren't being reported to the public.

Do I need to wear a mask on a cruise ship?

In most cases, no. Mask-wearing requirements were common on cruise ships through much of 2021 and into early 2022 as COVID-19 spread across the globe in several major waves. But most major cruise lines dropped mask mandates earlier this year as COVID-19 cases worldwide dropped significantly.

Where you'll still find mask-wearing rules on ships is a bit hit-or-miss. It often has to do with local laws that require mask-wearing or with cruise line concerns about short-term spikes in COVID-19 cases in specific areas.

In recent months, itineraries where mask-wearing rules on ships have been more common include voyages in the Mediterranean that include stops in Italy (where ports specifically require passengers to wear KN95/FFP2 type masks) and some sailings to Alaska . Mask-wearing inside ships is also required by local regulation on all sailings out of Singapore.

Note that some ports around the world still require mask-wearing in terminals. You might find that you don't need to wear a mask while aboard a cruise ship but must wear one while boarding and disembarking the ship in ports.

Do I need a negative COVID-19 test to get home from a cruise?

The answer to this question depends in part on where your home is. For U.S.-based cruisers returning to the U.S. by plane from a cruise overseas, there is no longer a COVID-19 testing requirement , as of June 12. You also don't need to test negative for COVID-19 to return home to a U.S. address after disembarking a cruise at a U.S. port.

Do I need to worry whether ports on my itinerary have extra COVID-19 requirements?

For the most part, no. Many cruise lines warn in their travel documentation that "guests are ...responsible for complying with all local health and safety requirements which may include additional pre-embarkation testing at the terminal," as Norwegian puts it in its documentation.

However, lines will typically tell you in advance if there are specific COVID-19 requirements in ports that could affect your trip.

Generally, if a port on your itinerary requires passengers to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccine or a negative COVID-19 test, the line will make that a condition of your sailing. In cases where a negative COVID-19 test is required to enter a certain port or port country, lines will likely test you on board before arriving at that port, often for free.

Note that lines do make clear that it's your responsibility to figure out what COVID-19 vaccine or testing documentation you need to pass through countries by air or land on the way to your cruise.

As Norwegian puts it, the line "recommends for all guests to follow, and where possible, sign up for notifications from their local government on international travel regulations that may prevent, restrict, or require additional documentation when traveling to another country for embarkation or during their cruise."

What onboard COVID safety measures are cruise ships still taking?

As noted above, most cruise lines still require all or most passengers to be vaccinated for COVID-19. Most cruise lines also require all crew on ships to be vaccinated for COVID-19, and on most ships crew also continue to wear masks at all times.

In addition, as noted above, most lines still require passengers to test negative for COVID-19 before boarding ships and crew are regularly tested for COVID-19, too. Passengers and crew who test positive for COVID-19 while on board a vessel are isolated.

In the past two years, cruise lines have made significant investments in sophisticated air filtration systems for cabins and other onboard areas of ships and have increased cleaning and sanitizing efforts on ships. Medical centers on ships have also been upgraded and often are staffed at a higher level than in pre-COVID-19 times.

What can I do to minimize my exposure to COVID-19 on ships?

Although many cruise lines no longer require mask-wearing on ships, they still recommend that you wear one, based on guidance from various health authorities and experts.

Keeping socially distant from other passengers is another strategy for staying healthy on ships as is regular hand-washing and hand sanitizing.

Major cruise lines typically place free hand sanitizer at the entrance to most public rooms on ships. Restaurants on newer cruise ships often have hand-washing stations at their entrances. On some ships, cruise ship staff are assigned to stand at the entrances to onboard restaurants and require passengers to wash or sanitize their hands.

Where can I find my specific cruise line's COVID-19 policy?

Every major cruise line lists its COVID-19 policies including vaccination and testing requirements on its website, often in great detail. Cruise lines regularly update these web pages, and they are the best place to find the very latest information.

Here are the key COVID-19 information pages on the websites of the eight major lines that account for the majority of cruising in North America:

• Carnival Cruise Line's Have Fun. Be Safe. policies page .
• Celebrity Cruises' Healthy at Sea page .
• Disney Cruise Line's Know Before You Go page .
• Holland America's Travel Well FAQ page .
• MSC Cruises' What to Know Before You Go page .
• Norwegian Cruise Line's Sail Safe page .
• Princess Cruises' Cruise Health requirements page
• Royal Caribbean's Healthy Sail Center .

How will I find out if policies change after I book?

As noted above, cruise lines list their COVID-19 policies on their websites. To be safe, check these websites often in the months leading up to your cruise. Cruise lines also notify customers by email when there are significant changes to their COVID-19 policies, as well as alert travel agents who book cruises.

Can I cancel for free if I get covid-19 in advance of a sailing?

In many cases, yes. Major lines will usually offer you a refund, sometimes in the form of a future cruise credit , if you have to cancel a cruise because of a positive COVID-19 test in your traveling party in the days leading up to a sailing.

Royal Caribbean, for instance, promises a 100% refund if anyone in your travel party tests positive for COVID-19 within 10 days of your cruise. Carnival has a policy with similar wording.

Cruise lines will also offer a refund, typically in the form of a future cruise credit, if you are denied embarkation or reboarding, or quarantined or disembarked during a voyage, due to a positive COVID-19 test or being suspected of having COVID-19. If you are quarantined for just part of a cruise due to a positive COVID-19 test, you'll likely receive a pro-rated refund for the days of the cruise you missed.

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Cruise Line Abercrombie & Kent Expedition Cruises AmaWaterways Atlas Ocean Voyages Azamara Cruises Celebrity Cruises Celestyal Cruises Crystal Cruises Cunard Elixir Cruises Emerald Waterways Emerald Yacht Cruises Explora Journeys Fred Olsen Cruise Lines Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Holland America Line Hurtigruten Cruises Hurtigruten Expeditions Oceania Cruises P&O Cruises Paul Gauguin Cruises Ponant Cruises Princess Cruises Regent Seven Seas Cruises Riverside Luxury River Cruises Saga Cruises Scenic Ocean Cruises Scenic River Cruises Seabourn Cruises SeaDream Yacht Club Silversea Cruises Star Clippers Cruises Swan Hellenic Cruises Uniworld River Cruises Viking Cruises Windstar Cruises

Ship A&K L'Austral A&K Le Commandant Charcot Allura AmaBella AmaCello AmaCerto AmaDahlia AmaDara AmaDolce AmaDouro AmaKristina AmaLea AmaLilia AmaLucia AmaLyra AmaMagdalena AmaMagna AmaMelodia AmaMora AmaPrima AmaReina AmaSerena AmaSiena AmaSintra AmaSonata AmaStella AmaVerde AmaVida AmaViola Arcadia Aria Amazon Arvia Aurora Azamara Journey Azamara Onward Azamara Pursuit Azamara Quest Azura Balmoral Bolette Borealis Britannia Caribbean Princess Celebrity Apex Celebrity Ascent Celebrity Beyond Celebrity Constellation Celebrity Eclipse Celebrity Edge Celebrity Equinox Celebrity Flora Celebrity Infinity Celebrity Millennium Celebrity Reflection Celebrity Silhouette Celebrity Solstice Celebrity Summit Celebrity Xcel Celebrity Xpedition Celebrity Xploration Celestyal Discovery Celestyal Journey Coral Princess Crown Princess Crystal Serenity Crystal Symphony Diamond Princess Discovery Princess Emerald Azzurra Emerald Dawn Emerald Destiny Emerald Harmony Emerald Liberte Emerald Luna Emerald Princess Emerald Radiance Emerald Sakara Emerald Sky Emerald Star Emerald Sun Enchanted Princess Eurodam Europa Europa 2 Explora I Explora II Ganges Voyager II Grand Princess HANSEATIC inspiration Insignia Iona Koningsdam Le Bellot Le Boreal Le Bougainville Le Champlain Le Commandant Charcot Le Dumont D'urville Le Jacques Cartier Le Laperouse Le Lyrial Le Paul Gauguin Le Ponant Le Soleal M/S Paul Gauguin Majestic Princess Marina Mekong Jewel MS Fram MS Fridtjof Nansen MS Kong Harald MS Maud MS Nordkapp MS Nordlys MS Nordnorge MS Polarlys MS Richard With MS Roald Amundsen MS Santa Cruz II MS Spitsbergen MS Trollfjord MS Vesteralen Nautica Nieuw Amsterdam Nieuw Statendam Noordam Oosterdam Queen Anne Queen Elizabeth Queen Mary 2 Queen Victoria Regal Princess Regatta River Duchess River Empress River Princess River Queen River Tosca Riverside Mozart Riviera Royal Clipper Royal Princess Ruby Princess Ryndam S.S Beatrice S.S. Antoinette S.S. Bon Voyage S.S. Catherine S.S. Elisabeth S.S. Joie de Vivre S.S. La Venezia S.S. Maria Theresa S.S. Sao Gabriel S.S. Sphinx S.S. Victoria Sapphire Princess Scenic Amber Scenic Azure Scenic Crystal Scenic Diamond Scenic Eclipse Scenic Eclipse II Scenic Gem Scenic Jade Scenic Jasper Scenic Jewel Scenic Opal Scenic Pearl Scenic Ruby Scenic Sapphire Scenic Spirit Seabourn Encore Seabourn Odyssey Seabourn Ovation Seabourn Pursuit Seabourn Quest Seabourn Sojourn Seabourn Venture SeaDream I SeaDream II Seven Seas Explorer Seven Seas Grandeur Seven Seas Mariner Seven Seas Navigator Seven Seas Splendor Seven Seas Voyager SH Diana SH Vega Silver Cloud Silver Dawn Silver Endeavour Silver Moon Silver Muse Silver Nova Silver Origin Silver Ray Silver Shadow Silver Spirit Silver Whisper Silver Wind Sirena Sky Princess Spirit of Adventure Spirit of Discovery Star Breeze Star Clipper Star Flyer Star Legend Star Pride Star Princess The Elysium Ventura Viking Hathor Viking Helgrim Viking Hemming Viking Jupiter Viking Mars Viking Octantis Viking Osfrid Viking Saturn Viking Sea Viking Sky Viking Star Viking Tir Viking Torgil Viking Vela Viking Venus Viking Vesta Vista Volendam Westerdam Wind Spirit Wind Star Wind Surf World Navigator World Traveller World Voyager Zaandam Zambezi Queen Zuiderdam

Duration 10 to 14 nights 15 nights or more 4 nights or less 4 to 7 nights 7 to 10 nights

Home Covid-19 Protocols

Covid-19 Protocols

At The Cruise Line, we understand that you want your cruise holiday to be as stress-free as possible. So, to help you get ready for your next voyage, we have compiled links to the latest COVID-19 protocols and requirements which you can use to ensure you are well prepared before travelling.

Cruise Line Protocols & Requirements

Before your voyage, we advise you to check your cruise line’s specific COVID-19 hygiene protocols and vaccine requirements. You can find this information by clicking the relevant link below.

Ocean cruise lines:

• Azamara Cruises
• Celebrity Cruises
• Crystal Cruises
• Cunard Line
• Emerald Yacht Cruises
• Fred Olsen Cruise Lines
• Holland America Line
• Hurtigruten 
• MSC Cruises
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• P&O Cruises
• Ponant Cruises
• Princess Cruises
• Oceania Cruises
• Regent Seven Seas
• Saga Cruises
• Scenic Ocean Cruises
• Seabourn Cruises
• SeaDream Yacht Club
• Silversea Cruises
• Star Clippers
• Windstar Cruises
• Viking Cruises

River cruise lines:

• AmaWaterways
• Emerald Waterways
• Scenic River Cruises
• Viking River Cruises

Leaving and entering the UK

In most cases, your cruise line will offer specific advice on the countries you are visiting during your cruise. However, we strongly advise that you familiarise yourself with the latest guidelines before travelling abroad. You can do this by visiting the following page:

• Gov.UK – Travelling abroad guidance

You will also need to check the latest guidelines for returning to the UK. Please use the following link for the most up-to-date information. This link also provides you with details of how to book and pay for a COVID-19 test. You will also find details regarding the Passenger Locator Form that you need to fill in before returning home.

• Gov.UK – Returning to the UK guidance

Please note: You must check your travel insurance policy has adequate cover relating to COVID-19.

If you would like to discuss your upcoming cruise or have a question relating to the current guidelines, please get in touch with our Voyage Consultants on 0800 008 6677 .

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Press Releases

Norwegian cruise line holdings unveils bold new vision for the future with strategic long term fleet expansion and enhanced private island development, plan includes next generation vessels for norwegian cruise line, oceania cruises, and regent seven seas cruises to be built by fincantieri, along with infrastructure enhancements for great stirrup cay, all while continuing its disciplined multi-year de-leveraging plan.

MIAMI, April 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH) (together with NCL Corporation Ltd., “Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings”, “Norwegian”, “NCLH” or the “Company”) today unveiled the most comprehensive new build order in its history—a total of eight state-of-the-art vessels, representing nearly 25,000 additional berths, with new classes of ships for each of its three award-winning brands—and the construction of a multi-ship pier at Great Stirrup Cay, the Company’s private island destination in the Bahamas and its top-rated Caribbean port of call. This unprecedented decade-long strategy enhances its product offering, guest experiences, and operational infrastructure, supporting the Company’s sustained leadership in delivering innovative cruise vacations.

The new ship orders across all three brands are scheduled for delivery over a ten-year period, between 2026 and 2036. Following the delivery of four Prima-Plus class ships from 2025 through 2028, Norwegian Cruise Line is expected to take delivery of four approximately 200,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of nearly 5,000 guests, in 2030, 2032, 2034 and 2036, which are subject to financing 1 . Building on the success of its Allura Class ships, the last one being delivered in 2025, Oceania Cruises is scheduled to take delivery of two 86,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of 1,450 guests in 2027 and 2029. Lastly, following the award-winning Explorer Class ships, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is scheduled to take delivery of two 77,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of 850 guests, in 2026 and 2029. Details regarding the ships’ amenities, staterooms, dining, recreational, efficiency, sustainability and other features will be announced in the coming months.

"This strategic new-ship order across all three of our award-winning brands provides for the steady introduction of cutting-edge vessels into our fleet and solidifies our long-term growth. It also allows us to significantly leverage our operating scale, strengthen our commitment to innovation and enhance our ability to offer our guests new products and experiences, all while providing opportunities to enhance the efficiency of our fleet,” said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. “We are likewise excited with the addition of a new pier at Great Stirrup Cay to support our increased capacity in the Caribbean and multiple ships to call on the island, enhancing our guest experience and bringing seamless and reliable access to our private island year-round.”

In partnership with the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, each brand will design their new ship class and focus on creating the largest, most efficient, and innovative vessels of their respective fleet. Aligning with the Company’s sustainability efforts, the new ship designs are expected to advance the journey towards decarbonization.

"Over the years, our long-standing relationship with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has been rooted in a shared vision for the future of maritime travel, consistently setting new standards for innovation, luxury, sustainability, and guest satisfaction in the cruise industry,” said Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director at Fincantieri . “We are thrilled to work on these new build orders and deliver emblematic cruise ships that will embody our shared legacy of excellence for generations to come.”

The Company has obtained export credit financing with favorable terms to fund 80 percent of the contract price of each of the two Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises ships, subject to certain conditions. The ship orders for Norwegian Cruise Line remain subject to financing, currently underway.

Mark A. Kempa, chief financial officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, commented, “we expect that these strategic investments will secure our growth trajectory, significantly boost our earnings profile, and enhance shareholder value well into the future. With a favorable payment structure that includes pre-delivery financing and modest initial installment payments for these ship orders, we still anticipate strong Net Leverage reduction of 1.5 turns by the end of 2024, relative to 2023, and expect the Company to continue reducing Net Leverage each year for the foreseeable future.”

_______________ 1 Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. expects a four-ship Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) order to replace a separate, effective, two-ship order for Oceania Cruises initially placed to secure availability with the shipyard. The four-ship order for NCL is still being finalized and is subject to financing. Delivery for the second Oceania Cruises ship is contractually scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2028, but may be delayed to 2029. All expected delivery dates are preliminary and subject to change.

New Pier Development at Great Stirrup Cay

The new pier development at the Company’s private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay, is slated to break ground in summer 2024 and be completed by late 2025 with an investment of approximately $150 million. The new pier will be constructed to simultaneously accommodate two large vessels of the Company’s current and future ship classes. The pier development will enhance the guest experience on Great Stirrup Cay, and along with Harvest Caye, the Company’s private island in Belize, continue to provide guests with world-class destinations in the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

Conference Call

The Company has scheduled a conference call for Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss this announcement. A link to the live webcast along with a slide presentation can be found on the Company’s Investor Relations website at https://www.nclhltd.com/investors. A replay of the conference call will also be available on the website for 30 days after the call.

About Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH) is a leading global cruise company which operates Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. With a combined fleet of 32 ships and approximately 66,500 berths, NCLH offers itineraries to approximately 700 destinations worldwide. NCLH expects to add 13 additional ships across its three brands through 2036, which will add approximately 41,000 berths to its fleet. To learn more, visit www.nclhltd.com .

Terminology

Adjusted EBITDA . EBITDA adjusted for other income (expense), net and other supplemental adjustments.

EBITDA . Earnings before interest, taxes, and depreciation and amortization.

Net Debt . Long-term debt, including current portion, less cash and cash equivalents.

Net Leverage . Net Debt divided by Adjusted EBITDA. 2

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements, estimates or projections contained in this release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained, or incorporated by reference, in this release, including, without limitation, those regarding our business strategy, financial position, results of operations, plans, prospects, actions taken or strategies being considered with respect to our liquidity position, valuation and appraisals of our assets and objectives of management for future operations (including those regarding expected fleet additions, our expectations regarding the impact of macroeconomic conditions and recent global events, our expectations regarding cruise voyage occupancy, operational position, demand for voyages, plans or goals for our sustainability program and decarbonization efforts, our expectations for future cash flows and profitability, financing opportunities and extensions, and efforts to reduce operating expenses and capital expenditures) are forward-looking statements. Many, but not all, of these statements can be found by looking for words like “expect,” “anticipate,” “goal,” “project,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “will,” “may,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “intend,” “future” and similar words. Forward-looking statements do not guarantee future performance and may involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in those forward-looking statements. Examples of these risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to the impact of: adverse general economic factors, such as fluctuating or increasing levels of interest rates, inflation, unemployment, underemployment and the volatility of fuel prices, declines in the securities and real estate markets, and perceptions of these conditions that decrease the level of disposable income of consumers or consumer confidence; implementing precautions in coordination with regulators and global public health authorities to protect the health, safety and security of guests, crew and the communities we visit and to comply with related regulatory restrictions; our indebtedness and restrictions in the agreements governing our indebtedness that require us to maintain minimum levels of liquidity and be in compliance with maintenance covenants and otherwise limit our flexibility in operating our business, including the significant portion of assets that are collateral under these agreements; our ability to work with lenders and others or otherwise pursue options to defer, renegotiate, refinance or restructure our existing debt profile, near-term debt amortization, newbuild related payments and other obligations and to work with credit card processors to satisfy current or potential future demands for collateral on cash advanced from customers relating to future cruises; our need for additional financing or financing to optimize our balance sheet, which may not be available on favorable terms, or at all, and our outstanding exchangeable notes and any future financing which may be dilutive to existing shareholders; the unavailability of ports of call; future increases in the price of, or major changes, disruptions or reduction in, commercial airline services; changes involving the tax and environmental regulatory regimes in which we operate, including new regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions; the accuracy of any appraisals of our assets; our success in controlling operating expenses and capital expenditures; trends in, or changes to, future bookings and our ability to take future reservations and receive deposits related thereto; adverse events impacting the security of travel, or customer perceptions of the security of travel, such as terrorist acts, armed conflict, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or the Israel-Hamas war, or threats thereof, acts of piracy, and other international events; public health crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and their effect on the ability or desire of people to travel (including on cruises); adverse incidents involving cruise ships; our ability to maintain and strengthen our brand; breaches in data security or other disturbances to our information technology systems and other networks or our actual or perceived failure to comply with requirements regarding data privacy and protection; changes in fuel prices and the type of fuel we are permitted to use and/or other cruise operating costs; mechanical malfunctions and repairs, delays in our shipbuilding program, maintenance and refurbishments and the consolidation of qualified shipyard facilities; the risks and increased costs associated with operating internationally; our inability to recruit or retain qualified personnel or the loss of key personnel or employee relations issues; impacts related to climate change and our ability to achieve our climate-related or other sustainability goals; our inability to obtain adequate insurance coverage; pending or threatened litigation, investigations and enforcement actions; volatility and disruptions in the global credit and financial markets, which may adversely affect our ability to borrow and could increase our counterparty credit risks, including those under our credit facilities, derivatives, contingent obligations, insurance contracts and new ship progress payment guarantees; any further impairment of our trademarks, trade names or goodwill; our reliance on third parties to provide hotel management services for certain ships and certain other services; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; our expansion into new markets and investments in new markets and land-based destination projects; overcapacity in key markets or globally; and other factors set forth under “Risk Factors” in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The above examples are not exhaustive and new risks emerge from time to time. There may be additional risks that we consider immaterial or which are unknown. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates and projections regarding our present and future business strategies and the environment in which we expect to operate in the future. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change of events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement was based, except as required by law.

_______________ 2 The Company does not provide certain estimated future results on a GAAP basis because the Company is unable to predict, with reasonable certainty, the future movement of foreign exchange rates or the future impact of certain gains and charges. These items are uncertain and will depend on several factors, including industry conditions, and could be material to the Company’s results computed in accordance with GAAP. The Company has not provided reconciliations between the Company’s 2024 guidance and the most directly comparable GAAP measure because it would be too difficult to prepare a reliable U.S. GAAP quantitative reconciliation without unreasonable effort.

Investor Relations & Media Contact

Sarah Inmon (786) 812-3233 [email protected] [email protected]

Released April 8, 2024

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Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Unveils Bold New Vision for the Future with Strategic Long Term Fleet Expansion and Enhanced Private Island Development

MIAMI, April 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (together with NCL Corporation Ltd., “Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings”, “Norwegian”, “NCLH” or the “Company”) today unveiled the most comprehensive new build order in its history—a total of eight state-of-the-art vessels, representing nearly 25,000 additional berths, with new classes of ships for each of its three award-winning brands—and the construction of a multi-ship pier at Great Stirrup Cay, the Company’s private island destination in the Bahamas and its top-rated Caribbean port of call. This unprecedented decade-long strategy enhances its product offering, guest experiences, and operational infrastructure, supporting the Company’s sustained leadership in delivering innovative cruise vacations.

The new ship orders across all three brands are scheduled for delivery over a ten-year period, between 2026 and 2036. Following the delivery of four Prima-Plus class ships from 2025 through 2028, Norwegian Cruise Line is expected to take delivery of four approximately 200,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of nearly 5,000 guests, in 2030, 2032, 2034 and 2036, which are subject to financing1. Building on the success of its Allura Class ships, the last one being delivered in 2025, Oceania Cruises is scheduled to take delivery of two 86,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of 1,450 guests in 2027 and 2029. Lastly, following the award-winning Explorer Class ships, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is scheduled to take delivery of two 77,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of 850 guests, in 2026 and 2029. Details regarding the ships’ amenities, staterooms, dining, recreational, efficiency, sustainability and other features will be announced in the coming months.

"This strategic new-ship order across all three of our award-winning brands provides for the steady introduction of cutting-edge vessels into our fleet and solidifies our long-term growth. It also allows us to significantly leverage our operating scale, strengthen our commitment to innovation and enhance our ability to offer our guests new products and experiences, all while providing opportunities to enhance the efficiency of our fleet,” said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. “We are likewise excited with the addition of a new pier at Great Stirrup Cay to support our increased capacity in the Caribbean and multiple ships to call on the island, enhancing our guest experience and bringing seamless and reliable access to our private island year-round.”

In partnership with the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, each brand will design their new ship class and focus on creating the largest, most efficient, and innovative vessels of their respective fleet. Aligning with the Company’s sustainability efforts, the new ship designs are expected to advance the journey towards decarbonization.

"Over the years, our long-standing relationship with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has been rooted in a shared vision for the future of maritime travel, consistently setting new standards for innovation, luxury, sustainability, and guest satisfaction in the cruise industry,” said Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director at Fincantieri . “We are thrilled to work on these new build orders and deliver emblematic cruise ships that will embody our shared legacy of excellence for generations to come.”

The Company has obtained export credit financing with favorable terms to fund 80 percent of the contract price of each of the two Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises ships, subject to certain conditions. The ship orders for Norwegian Cruise Line remain subject to financing, currently underway.

Mark A. Kempa, chief financial officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, commented, “we expect that these strategic investments will secure our growth trajectory, significantly boost our earnings profile, and enhance shareholder value well into the future. With a favorable payment structure that includes pre-delivery financing and modest initial installment payments for these ship orders, we still anticipate strong Net Leverage reduction of 1.5 turns by the end of 2024, relative to 2023, and expect the Company to continue reducing Net Leverage each year for the foreseeable future.”

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1 Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. expects a four-ship Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) order to replace a separate, effective, two-ship order for Oceania Cruises initially placed to secure availability with the shipyard. The four-ship order for NCL is still being finalized and is subject to financing. Delivery for the second Oceania Cruises ship is contractually scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2028, but may be delayed to 2029. All expected delivery dates are preliminary and subject to change.

New Pier Development at Great Stirrup Cay

The new pier development at the Company’s private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay, is slated to break ground in summer 2024 and be completed by late 2025 with an investment of approximately $150 million. The new pier will be constructed to simultaneously accommodate two large vessels of the Company’s current and future ship classes. The pier development will enhance the guest experience on Great Stirrup Cay, and along with Harvest Caye, the Company’s private island in Belize, continue to provide guests with world-class destinations in the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

Conference Call

The Company has scheduled a conference call for Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss this announcement. A link to the live webcast along with a slide presentation can be found on the Company’s Investor Relations website at https://www.nclhltd.com/investors. A replay of the conference call will also be available on the website for 30 days after the call.

About Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. is a leading global cruise company which operates Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. With a combined fleet of 32 ships and approximately 66,500 berths, NCLH offers itineraries to approximately 700 destinations worldwide. NCLH expects to add 13 additional ships across its three brands through 2036, which will add approximately 41,000 berths to its fleet. To learn more, visit www.nclhltd.com.

Terminology

Adjusted EBITDA . EBITDA adjusted for other income (expense), net and other supplemental adjustments.

EBITDA . Earnings before interest, taxes, and depreciation and amortization.

Net Debt . Long-term debt, including current portion, less cash and cash equivalents.

Net Leverage . Net Debt divided by Adjusted EBITDA.2

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements, estimates or projections contained in this release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained, or incorporated by reference, in this release, including, without limitation, those regarding our business strategy, financial position, results of operations, plans, prospects, actions taken or strategies being considered with respect to our liquidity position, valuation and appraisals of our assets and objectives of management for future operations (including those regarding expected fleet additions, our expectations regarding the impact of macroeconomic conditions and recent global events, our expectations regarding cruise voyage occupancy, operational position, demand for voyages, plans or goals for our sustainability program and decarbonization efforts, our expectations for future cash flows and profitability, financing opportunities and extensions, and efforts to reduce operating expenses and capital expenditures) are forward-looking statements. Many, but not all, of these statements can be found by looking for words like “expect,” “anticipate,” “goal,” “project,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “will,” “may,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “intend,” “future” and similar words. Forward-looking statements do not guarantee future performance and may involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in those forward-looking statements. Examples of these risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to the impact of: adverse general economic factors, such as fluctuating or increasing levels of interest rates, inflation, unemployment, underemployment and the volatility of fuel prices, declines in the securities and real estate markets, and perceptions of these conditions that decrease the level of disposable income of consumers or consumer confidence; implementing precautions in coordination with regulators and global public health authorities to protect the health, safety and security of guests, crew and the communities we visit and to comply with related regulatory restrictions; our indebtedness and restrictions in the agreements governing our indebtedness that require us to maintain minimum levels of liquidity and be in compliance with maintenance covenants and otherwise limit our flexibility in operating our business, including the significant portion of assets that are collateral under these agreements; our ability to work with lenders and others or otherwise pursue options to defer, renegotiate, refinance or restructure our existing debt profile, near-term debt amortization, newbuild related payments and other obligations and to work with credit card processors to satisfy current or potential future demands for collateral on cash advanced from customers relating to future cruises; our need for additional financing or financing to optimize our balance sheet, which may not be available on favorable terms, or at all, and our outstanding exchangeable notes and any future financing which may be dilutive to existing shareholders; the unavailability of ports of call; future increases in the price of, or major changes, disruptions or reduction in, commercial airline services; changes involving the tax and environmental regulatory regimes in which we operate, including new regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions; the accuracy of any appraisals of our assets; our success in controlling operating expenses and capital expenditures; trends in, or changes to, future bookings and our ability to take future reservations and receive deposits related thereto; adverse events impacting the security of travel, or customer perceptions of the security of travel, such as terrorist acts, armed conflict, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or the Israel-Hamas war, or threats thereof, acts of piracy, and other international events; public health crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and their effect on the ability or desire of people to travel (including on cruises); adverse incidents involving cruise ships; our ability to maintain and strengthen our brand; breaches in data security or other disturbances to our information technology systems and other networks or our actual or perceived failure to comply with requirements regarding data privacy and protection; changes in fuel prices and the type of fuel we are permitted to use and/or other cruise operating costs; mechanical malfunctions and repairs, delays in our shipbuilding program, maintenance and refurbishments and the consolidation of qualified shipyard facilities; the risks and increased costs associated with operating internationally; our inability to recruit or retain qualified personnel or the loss of key personnel or employee relations issues; impacts related to climate change and our ability to achieve our climate-related or other sustainability goals; our inability to obtain adequate insurance coverage; pending or threatened litigation, investigations and enforcement actions; volatility and disruptions in the global credit and financial markets, which may adversely affect our ability to borrow and could increase our counterparty credit risks, including those under our credit facilities, derivatives, contingent obligations, insurance contracts and new ship progress payment guarantees; any further impairment of our trademarks, trade names or goodwill; our reliance on third parties to provide hotel management services for certain ships and certain other services; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; our expansion into new markets and investments in new markets and land-based destination projects; overcapacity in key markets or globally; and other factors set forth under “Risk Factors” in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The above examples are not exhaustive and new risks emerge from time to time. There may be additional risks that we consider immaterial or which are unknown. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates and projections regarding our present and future business strategies and the environment in which we expect to operate in the future. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change of events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement was based, except as required by law.

2 The Company does not provide certain estimated future results on a GAAP basis because the Company is unable to predict, with reasonable certainty, the future movement of foreign exchange rates or the future impact of certain gains and charges. These items are uncertain and will depend on several factors, including industry conditions, and could be material to the Company’s results computed in accordance with GAAP. The Company has not provided reconciliations between the Company’s 2024 guidance and the most directly comparable GAAP measure because it would be too difficult to prepare a reliable U.S. GAAP quantitative reconciliation without unreasonable effort.

Investor Relations & Media Contact

Sarah Inmon

(786) 812-3233

[email protected]

[email protected]