MSC Cruises Drops Vaccination Mandate For Voyages From The U.S.

MSC Cruises has announced an update to its health and safety protocols for United States residents on voyages departing from U.S. ports to the Caribbean and Bahamas.

msc seashore msc divina montego bay jamaica
MSC Seashore and MSC Divina docked in Montego Bay, Jamaica (Photo courtesy of the Port Authority of Jamaica on Twitter)

Beginning September 1, the line will relax its COVID-19 testing and vaccination protocols for U.S. residents. Protocols remain unchanged for non-U.S. residents. Here are the details:

U.S. Residents:

  • Vaccination is recommended, but no longer required.
  • Pre-cruise testing is no longer required for fully vaccinated guests.
  • Unvaccinated passengers are required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 viral test (NAAT or antigen) taken within three days of embarkation.
  • Guests under the age of two are exempt from testing requirements.

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Non-U.S. Residents:

  • Full vaccination is still required for guests 12 and older.
  • Regardless of vaccination status, guests two and older must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 viral test taken within three days of embarkation.
  • Guests under two are exempt from testing requirements.

All policies are subject to local destination requirements.

msc seashore yacht club sundeck pool
The Yacht Club sundeck and pool on MSC Seashore (Photo courtesy of Ivan Sarfatti/MSC Cruises)

This information could change at any time, so booked passengers should monitor all pre-cruise emails for the latest updates.

Currently, MSC Cruises has two ships in the Caribbean: MSC Divina out of Port Canaveral, and MSC Seashore out of Miami.

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