TORONTO — It was the boost that cruise lines needed to round out their recovery: the green light to accept passengers with mixed dose vaccines.
The news was made last month by the CDC, ahead of the Nov. 8 reopening of the U.S. border, which confirmed that people who’ve received doses of two different COVID-19 vaccines will now qualify as fully vaccinated. For the approximately four million Canadians who’ve received a mixed-dose combination, this was a game-changing policy that would finally enable them to cross borders and board cruise lines.
But not all cruise lines have come onboard and among those that are accepting mixed doses, there are slight variances to their policies. To help you keep track of these differences, we’ve rounded up a list of major cruise lines that are currently welcoming passengers with mixed-dose combinations. For the cruise lines not featured below, Travelweek either confirmed that they are not accepting mixed-dose passengers, or was not able to verify their mixed-dose policy. Also note, many cruise lines are also requiring pre-departure testing. Please refer to each company website for the most up-to-date requirements.
AMAWATERWAYS
Until further notice, AmaWaterways is permitting only fully vaccinated guests to board its ships. The policy also applies to accompanied minors. Guests are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after receiving their second dose of Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZeneca (Covishield), or 28 days following a single dose of Johnson & Johnson. Mixed dosages of these four vaccines is allowed. Guests are encouraged to carry their original CDC vaccination card (or equivalent) as well as a digital version.
https://www.amawaterways.ca/travel-entry-requirements
AVALON WATERWAYS
According to Stéphanie Bishop, Managing Director of the Globus family of brands, Avalon Waterways is accepting all vaccine combinations and types that are recognized and approved by each guest’s country of residence or by the U.S. CDC or EMA. Guests are encouraged to check country entry requirements to ensure that destinations that are visited also accept mixed doses.
Avalon Waterways makes it easy for travellers to check country requirements by clicking on the Sherpa link here.
AZAMARA
Azamara requires all guests 12 and older, and crew, to be fully vaccinated no later than 14 days prior to departure. Both doses are required or approved single-dose vaccines. In line with CDC guidelines, Azamara also considers a guest fully vaccinated, with proof of vaccination, if they’ve received mixed doses of the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines. Guests can have mixed doses that include AstraZeneca as long as the Astrazeneca dose is administered first, followed by either the Pfizer or Moderna dose within 8-12 weeks. No other mixed vaccine dose will be accepted.
https://www.azamara.com/en-ca/booked-guests/before-you-board/explore-well-at-sea/explore-well-faq
CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE
Vaccinated cruises are available for guests who’ve received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to the sailing day, and have proof of vaccination.
Effective with sailings as of Oct. 24, 2021, guests are considered fully vaccinated if they’ve received their final dose of an authorized/approved COVID-19 vaccine, or any combination of two doses of an authorized/approved vaccine. This includes AstraZeneca (1 dose) + Pfizer (1 dose) or Moderna (1 dose) at least 14 days prior to sailing. Acceptable vaccines are those that have been approved/authorized by the FDA or have emergency-use listing by the World Health Organization.
Vaccine exemptions for cruises to the Caribbean are limited to a very small number of children under 12, ad teens and adults with a medical condition who can provide written confirmation from their medical provider that they cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. Sailings from Florida, Texas, Louisiana and Maryland will operate under these criteria until Dec. 31, 2021.
CELEBRITY CRUISES
Celebrity’s vaccination mandate requires guests 12 years of age and older to receive the last dose in their vaccine series no less than 14 full days before their sail date. Vaccines that are fully approved or authorized for emergency use by the FDA or WHO are accepted; Sputnik V and CanSino are not accepted.
For all sailings, including U.S. and global departures, the CDC will now recognize a mixed series of any two of the following vaccines, with a minimum of 28 days between doses, as fully vaccinated: Pfizer; Moderna; Johnston & Johnson; AstraZeneca; Sinovac; and Sinopharm.
https://www.celebritycruises.com/ca/healthy-at-sea/faqs#testing-and-screening-faqs
CRYSTAL
To sail with Crystal Ocean, River or Expedition, all age-eligible guests must be fully vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to boarding any Crystal ship through 2022. Vaccines must be accepted by the country Crystal guests are entering, if it requires one.
Crystal is accepting mixed vaccines under the following conditions only:
- The two vaccines are fully approved or authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the World Health Organization (WHO);
- There must be a minimum of 28 days between doses
- The final dose must be completed at least 14 days before sailing
Guests with a mixed combination of vaccines must take note that mixed vaccines may not be accepted at all ports of call, in which case they may not be permitted to go ashore.
https://www.crystalcruises.com/crystal-clean
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
Guests 12 years of age and older must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time of sailing and upload their proof of vaccination on the Safe Passage website. Guests who’ve received both doses of Moderna, Pfizer or AstraZeneca are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the second dose has been administered, while those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after receiving one dose.
As for mixed doses, guests with one dose of Moderna and one dose of Pfizer are considered vaccinated 14 days after the second dose. Those who’ve received a single dose of a vector vaccine (ie. AstraZeneca) and one single dose of an mRNA vaccine (ie. Pfizer or Moderna) are not considered fully vaccinated.
https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/why-cruise-disney/experience-updates/us/
EMERALD CRUISES
All guests are required to receive the required dose(s) of an approved COVID-19 in order to sail. When asked specifically about mixed-dose vaccines, the company tells Travelweek that both Emerald Cruises and sister brand Scenic accept the same vaccines as the host country in which they are operating.
“Most EU countries are accepting a certain mix of vaccines and we follow their requirements. All booking guests are informed of what is required at the time of booking, or even before if they wish to contact our reservations staff of visit our websites.
“We understand that most of the available medical research shows that a two- or three-shot regimen with different vaccines increases effectiveness. All guests are required to have completed the country’s required regimen of vaccine shots before boarding our ships. We believe that means no less than two weeks have passed from the final required shot for full effectiveness,” says Emerald Cruises.
These policies will remain in place as long as there are any concerns for health and well-being, the company adds.
https://www.emeraldcruises.ca/coronavirus-update
HOLLAND AMERICA LINE
Holland America will be operating vaccinated cruises through Feb. 28, 2022 for guests who have received their final dose of an COVID-19 vaccine approved by the FDA or WHO, and show proof of vaccination. Guests are considered fully vaccinated if they’ve received their final dose of an approved/authorized vaccine, or any combination of two doses of an authorized/approved vaccine, at least 14 days prior to the start of the cruise.
The acceptable mixed-dose combinations include:
- Pfizer (1 dose) + Moderna (1 dose)
- Pfizer (1 dose) or Moderna (1 dose) + AstraZeneca (1 dose)
HURTIGRUTEN
Hurtigruten is requiring proof of vaccination for all Hurtigruten Expeditions sailings with a departure date in 2021 and 2022. For 2022 cruises, all guests, including children under the age of 18, must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with a WHO-approved vaccine.
With regard to mixed doses, the company notes that many countries have different policies on whether combining vaccines in considered full vaccination or not. In some cases, only specific combinations are accepted. As such, guests are responsible for ensuring that they are considered fully vaccinated by the health authorities of each country on their voyage, regardless of whether they plan to disembark. Hurtigruten Expeditions will deny embarkation to guests who do not meet the current regulations of each country on the sailing at the time of embarkation.
https://www.hurtigruten.com/expedition-practical-information/health-and-safety/?_hrgb=3
MSC CRUISES
For sailings until March 31, 2022, all guests must be fully vaccinated with a WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccine more than 14 days before the start of their cruise. Approved vaccines include Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Moderna, Oxford/AstraZeneca, Covishield, Sinopharm, Sinovac and Coronavac. Any ‘mix-and-match’ combination of these vaccines are also accepted.
Guests who have recovered from COVID-19 and received only one shot of vaccine are not considered fully vaccinated.
https://www.msccruises.ca/health-and-safety-measures/caribbean
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
All guests and crew must be fully vaccinated for all sailings at least two weeks prior to departure in order to board, and present proof of vaccination at the pier at embarkation. Guests who are not old enough to be vaccinated are not permitted to sail.
Any FDA, EMA or WHO-authorized single-brand vaccination protocol is accepted, including J&J Janssen, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca/Oxford (Vaxzevria & Covishield). A mixed vaccination combination of two doses of an FDA-approved/authorized or WHO Emergency Use Listed (EUL) COVID-19 two-dose series with a minimum interval of 17 days is also acceptable.
Guests who’ve received a Janssen COVID-19 vaccine before or after another COVID-19 vaccine are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 more than weeks after receipt of the single dose of the Janssen vaccine.
A single shot of AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Sinopharm or Sinovac after COVID-19 recover is not considered fully vaccinated.
https://www.ncl.com/ca/en/sail-safe
OCEANIA
All guests are required to be fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to departure in order to board. Guests who are not old enough to be vaccinated or otherwise not eligible to be vaccinated will not be permitted to sail.
Approved vaccines include any FDA-, EMA- or WHO-authorized single brand vaccination protocol more than two weeks after receipt of the final dose. These include J&J Janssen, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca/Oxford (Vaxzevria & Covishield). A mixed vaccination combination of two doses of an FDA-approved/authorized or WHO Emergency Use Listed (EUL) COVID-19 two-dose series with a minimum interval of 17 days is also accepted.
https://www.oceaniacruises.com/sites/default/files/2021-10/sailf-safe-health-program-v19.pdf
PAUL GAUGUIN CRUISES
All guests must complete the COVID-19 vaccination process more than seven days prior to embarkation, and present valid proof of vaccination, a negative COVID-19 RT PCR test result and a completed health declaration and health questionnaire forms.
The cruise line recognizes Canadian and U.S. guests with mixed doses of a COVID-19 vaccine as fully vaccinated.
https://www.pgcruises.com/travel-advisory
PRINCESS
Guests must have received their final dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days before the start of their cruise, and show proof of vaccination at the terminal prior to boarding. Mixed-dose combinations that are being accepted include: Pfizer (1 dose) + Moderna (1 dose), and AstraZeneca (1 dose) + Pfizer (1 dose) or Moderna (1 dose).
REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES
All guests and crew must be fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to embarkation in order to board, and provide proof of vaccination. For all voyages, FDA-, EMA and/or WHO-authorized single brand vaccination protocol will be accepted, including J&J Janssen, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca/Oxford (Covishield and Vaxzevria), Sinopharm BIBP, Sinovac and Covaxin.
A mixed vaccination combination of two doses of an FDA or EMA-approved/authorized or WHO Emergency Use Listed (EUL) COVID-19 two-dose series with a minimum interval of 17 days will also be accepted. Guests who’ve received a Janssen COVID-19 vaccine before or after another COVID-19 vaccine are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 14 days after receipt of the single dose of the Janssen vaccine.
https://www.rssc.com/HealthSafetyProtocols
RIVIERA RIVER CRUISES
All guests are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with the second dose taken a minimum of seven days prior to travel.
As for mixed-doses, Travelweek has confirmed that Riviera recognizes Janssen (Johnson & Johnson), Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca in any combination, with the final dose for full vaccination taken no later than 14 days before embarkation. North American travellers should check the vaccine requirements for each specific country that their cruise visits.
Riviera’s vaccination policy is reviewed frequently but there is no end date set at this time due to continuously changing conditions.
https://www.rivierarivercruises.com/covid-faqs#compulsory
ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL
Royal Caribbean is accepting a mixed vaccination series consisting of doses from different manufacturers, as long as the series meets the following requirements:
- Must consist of at least two doses of vaccines that are fully approved or authorized for emergency use by the FDA or WHO
- The two doses must be administered at least 28 days apart
- The final dose must be completed at least 14 days before sailing
The cruise line notes that mixed vaccines may not be accepted at all ports of call. Guests who are vaccinated with a mixed series may not be allowed to go ashore at these ports, or may need to undergo additional testing if they wish to go ashore.
https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-vaccines-are-accepted
SCENIC
All guests are required to receive the required dose(s) of an approved COVID-19 in order to sail. When asked specifically about mixed-dose vaccines, the company tells Travelweek that both Scenic and sister brand Emerald Cruises accept the same vaccines as the host country in which they are operating.
“Most EU countries are accepting a certain mix of vaccines and we follow their requirements. All booking guests are informed of what is required at the time of booking, or even before if they wish to contact our reservations staff of visit our websites.
“We understand that most of the available medical research shows that a two- or three-shot regimen with different vaccines increases effectiveness. All guests are required to have completed the country’s required regimen of vaccine shots before boarding our ships. We believe that means no less than two weeks have passed from the final required shot for full effectiveness,” says Scenic.
These policies will remain in place as long as there are any concerns for health and well-being, the company adds.
https://www.scenic.ca/why-scenic/river-cruise-with-confidence#medical
SEABOURN
Regardless of age, guests on all Seabourn voyages departing through Feb. 28, 2022 must be fully vaccinated a minimum of 14 days following the last dose in the vaccine series of an approved COVID-19 vaccine. Proof of vaccination and the dates given are required at the terminal prior to boarding.
Eligible vaccines are ones that have been approved/authorized by the FDA or have emergency use listing by WHO. The following mixed-dose combinations are accepted: Pfizer (1 dose) + Moderna (1 dose), and Pfizer (1 dose) or Moderna (1 dose) + AstraZeneca (1 dose).
https://www.seabourn.com/en_US/health-safety/us-travel-requirements.html
SILVERSEA
UPDATED NOV. 19: Silversea accepts vaccines that are fully approved or authorized for emergency use by the U.S. FDA or the World Health Organization. All doses of vaccine should be from the same manufacturer and of the same type (e.g. mRNA), in the required number of doses to be considered fully administered (e.g. 2 shots of Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, etc., or 1 shot of Johnson & Johnson). A guest is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after their vaccine series is completed.
With regard to mixed vaccines, whether these are accepted depends on the mix of manufacturers and where the guest is sailing from.
For cruises departing from U.S. ports: Parent company Royal Caribbean will accommodate guests who are vaccinated with mixed mRNA vaccines, such as 1 shot of Pfizer and 1 shot of Moderna. The doses must be separated by at least 28 days and not more than 42 days. The company does not accept 1 shot of an mRNA vaccine (e.g., Pfizer or Moderna) mixed with 1 shot of a viral vector vaccine (e.g., AstraZeneca). Mixed vaccines may not be accepted at all ports of call. Guests who are vaccinated with a mixed series may need to undergo additional testing at embarkation if they wish to go ashore in these ports.
For cruises departing from ports outside of the U.S.: Silversea will accept guests who are vaccinated with a mixed regimen consisting of 2 shots of the following manufacturer combinations: Pfizer and Moderna, or AstraZeneca with either Pfizer or Moderna. The doses must be separated by at least 28 days and not more than 42 days for mixes of Pfizer and Moderna, and separated by at least 4 weeks and not more than 12 weeks for combinations of AstraZeneca with Pfizer or Moderna.
Mixed vaccines may not be accepted at all ports of call. Guests who are vaccinated with a mixed series may not be allowed to go ashore at these ports, or may need to undergo additional testing if they wish to go ashore.
https://www.silversea.com/lp-silversea-hrts-consumer.html
ST. LAWRENCE CRUISE LINES
All passengers and crew are required to provide proof of double vaccination before boarding the vessel.
When asked about mixed doses specifically, Daniel Beals, Advertising and Marketing Coordinator tells Travelweek that during the 2021 season, the company accepted travellers who were double vaccinated, including those who received a mixed-dose vaccine combination. The second dose had to have been received at least 14 days prior to their cruise departure.
“This system worked well for us in tandem with the safety measures that were in place onboard throughout the season (rapid testing before boarding, masking, physical distancing), and we had no incidences of COVID-19 during our season,” says Beals.
St. Lawrence Cruise Lines sails between May and October and is currently in its off-season. During this time, the company will continue to monitor the situation.
https://www.stlawrencecruiselines.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/8.-COVID-19-Health-Safety_2021.pdf
UNIWORLD BOUTIQUE RIVER CRUISES
All guests on Uniworld cruises or cruise/tours through Dec. 31, 2022 are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to travel. Children who are not eligible to be vaccinated based on their age are exempt from this requirement, however they will be asked to provide a negative PCR or antigen test result taken within 72 hours of embarkation.
According to Michelle Palma, President of Uniworld Boutique River Cruises Canada, Uniworld is accepting mixed doses, provided that guests can show documented proof of two doses of approved COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca or one dose of Johnson & Johnson). All guests must also follow the entry guidelines for travel to their destination, which can be found on Uniworld’s Travel Requirements. The second dose must have been administered a minimum of 15 days prior to their departure.
https://www.uniworld.com/ca/already-booked/covid-faq
WINDSTAR CRUISES
At the cruise terminal prior to embarkation, guests are required to provide proof of a current vaccine course (one or two shots, depending on the brand), completed at least 14 days prior to the embarkation date.
According to Sarah Scoltock, Director of Public Relations, Windstar is accepting vaccination certification for the nation where the guest resides. As for whether a mixed vaccine is accepted, “it somewhat depends on the location where the guest is embarking,” she says. “In a nutshell, it depends if the country of embarkation accepts mixed vaccines. We do require everyone to be vaccinated and we also must follow local regulations.”
This policy will remain in place for the time being, and applies to all guests. It will be re-evaluated as the COVID-19 situation evolves globally.
