Are cruises COVID-19 safe?

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Remember that year 2020? That was a big year for all of us. But for the travel industry, it hit us harder than many other industries.

But that was all for good reason. Living in close quarters in those days with strangers posed a health risk. We were still learning about COVID-19. We were still learning about vaccines.

Cruise lines in particular took a massive knock. Life on a cruise ship means that people are out and about, enjoying the pool, sitting in the restaurant, and eating at the bar. Nobody goes on a cruise ship to isolate themselves in their room.

Fast forward to January 2023. Life has changed drastically between 2020 and today. However, the big question on many people’s lips is still “Are cruises COVID safe?”

We’ve put together this article detailing exactly where the industry stands with regard to COVID-19, and how various safety measures are in place to ensure that cruising is as safe as it can be for you, your fellow passengers, and the crew.

From 2020 to 2023: An overview of where the cruise line industry is today

When COVID-19 hit, many predicted that it was the end of the cruise ship industry.

Thankfully, some very smart scientists and doctors got together and developed vaccines to help protect us all against COVID-19. Vaccines have literally changed the state of things, and have probably been the biggest reason that the cruise industry is actually bouncing back faster than people expected.

When we speak to people in the industry these days and ask whether they would go on a cruise ship, a lot of them reply with “I’m vaccinated. I’m happy to follow all of the safety protocols set out by the cruise line company, plus all the health requirements set out by the country/countries that I’m visiting during the cruise. I trust the safety standards of the cruise line company completely.” 

When we spoke to people back in 2020, their answers were obviously very different. Panic and concern were rife in 2020. Those were the days when we knew very little about COVID-19, and how to deal with it.

While COVID-19 feels very much a thing of the past, we can’t ignore the fact that it actually has become part of daily life, very much in the way that flu and other common illnesses are. 

Nonetheless, many people still ask questions such as: do you still have to wear a mask on the ship? Are cruises COVID safe? Do I need to be vaccinated? Is it more expensive to go on a cruise ship these days because of COVID-19 restrictions?

The truth is that there isn’t only one answer to those questions. Nowadays, even though most cruise lines have done away with masks and vaccination requirements, there are some that still have various health and safety measures. The key is to speak to your travel advisor and enquire about the specific health requirements for each cruise line.

We have a handy tool that you can use to find out in live-time what they are and if there are travel restrictions and/or precautions for a specific country that you want to go visit. Head to https://apply.joinsherpa.com/travel-restrictions?affiliateId=cruiseplanners&language=en-US.

Due to a multitude of reasons, both cruise line companies and countries either relax or impose further COVID restrictions as time progresses, depending on what’s going on in the world.

What the experts and stats say about COVID-19 risks on cruises

When we look at the stats, and the actual percentage of people who are contracting COVID-19 on cruise ships these days, it is sitting at a low 3%. This highlights just how far we’ve come in the last three years.

When experts in the industry and within the medical community are interviewed about the question of “Are cruises COVID safe?”, they paint a surprisingly positive picture.

What we see in the news is normally articles detailing when things have gone wrong in a situation. You’ve probably seen recent news articles showing COVID-19 outbreaks on cruise ships. While we’re not denying that COVID-19 outbreaks are still a reality, the truth of the matter is that there are thousands of successful cruise ship departures, trips, and disembarkments every week that go ahead without incident. Unfortunately, we don’t hear about them in the news, because the news prefers to show sensationalist scenarios.

Therefore, we like to help people calm their nerves, and let them know that in life, there’s always a small chance of things going wrong, regardless of the activity. But we must keep in mind that the majority of the time, things go ahead as we plan, and we have a wonderful and safe experience during whatever the activity is.

Other experts within the cruise line industry have remarked just how incredible it’s been to watch the industry bounce back to 2019-level consumer interest. They refer to 2022 as the year that things started changing for the better. 

The forecasts are predicting that in 2023 we’ll see as many (if not more) cruise ships operating as were in 2019, prior to COVID-19. Those forecasts are tremendously positive and represent just how well the travel industry in general has bounced back.

According to an interesting survey published by squaremouth.com, over two-thirds of people surveyed said that they are no longer concerned about COVID-19 on a cruise ship. This is obviously due to the prevalence of vaccines available these days, in addition to safety measures that have been tried and tested over the last three years. This data indicates a positive shift from previous years (2020 & 2021), where the stats demonstrated the flipside - over two-thirds of people were concerned about contracting COVID-19 on cruise ships.

At the time the survey was published (November 2022), the following cruise lines still required a negative COVID test: Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Disney, Celestyal, and Celebrity. However, that may have changed between then and now, so it’s best to always check with your specific cruise line or your travel advisor.

Ways that cruises are keeping you safe

In addition to their COVID-19 safety protocols, the staff on cruise lines are expertly trained in general passenger and equipment safety. This gives you complete peace of mind knowing that you’ll be fully taken care of even before you step on board. 

Cruise lines also regularly review their operational procedures, and look for ways to improve the safety of all on board, by utilising the latest technology and health recommendations available.

Ways that you can keep yourself safe on cruises

The CDC (Centers For Disease Control And Prevention) has put together a handy guide that you can use to keep yourself as safe as possible before, during, and after your cruise.

1. Stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before you travel.
2. Speak to your cruise line or travel advisor and ask them if you need to be tested or provide proof of vaccination before you travel.
3. If your cruise line doesn’t require a COVID-19 test, it’s still recommended to go for a voluntary test as soon as possible before you embark, for your own peace of mind.
4. When you arrive back home, go for a voluntary COVID-19 test.
5. Before you travel, go for a general checkup at your doctor to ensure you are well and healthy.

Our recommendation

So what is the conclusion

• The truth is that COVID-19 has become part of everyday life. Just like we all take precautions to avoid catching common illnesses such as the flu and stomach aches, the wise thing to do is to take precautions against catching COVID-19.

With vaccines readily available, the cruise industry is back, and it's booming. 

We encourage all our customers to take those travel plans that were put on hold in the last three years, and make them a reality.

Your dream cruise awaits!Schedule a cruise live planning session today with one of our helpful travel agents here.