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MSC relaxes COVID protocols for US residents sailing from USMSC relaxes COVID protocols for US residents sailing from US

MSC Cruises is relaxing COVID-19 testing and vaccination requirements on sailings from the US to the Caribbean and Bahamas, for US residents.

Anne Kalosh, Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

August 29, 2022

1 Min Read
Credit: Seatrade Cruise News

Requirements for non-US residents are unchanged.  

Starting on sailings Sept. 1, MSC will no longer require US residents be fully vaccinated. Pre-cruise testing is recommended, but not required for those who are fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated travelers must still show proof of vaccination at embarkation.

Unvaccinated travelers are required to show proof of a negative NAAT or antigen taken within three days before embarkation.

Children under 2 are exempt from testing requirements.

Differences for non-US residents

For non-US residents, full vaccination is still required for passengers 12 and older. Regardless of vaccination status, those 2 and up must provide proof of a negative NAAT or antigen test taken within three days before embarkation.

Children under 2 are exempt from testing.

All policies remain subject to local destination requirements.

MSC Cruises recommends travelers be up to date with their vaccinations — meaning that fully vaccinated people receive booster doses when eligible, per US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations.

The line said more than 95% of its crew are fully vaccinated, and all crew are regularly tested.

Read more about:

MSC Cruisescoronavirus

About the Author

Anne Kalosh

Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

Anne Kalosh covers global stories, reporting both breaking and in-depth news on cruising's significant people, places, ships and trends. A sought-after expert on cruising, she has moderated conferences around the world, including the high-profile State of the Industry panel at Seatrade Cruise Global. She created and led the acclaimed itinerary-planning case study for Seatrade's cruise master classes held at Cambridge and Oxford universities. She has been the cruise columnist for AFAR.com, and her freelance stories have appeared in a wide range of publications, from The New York Times to The Miami Herald.

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