Marella Cruises has announced the relaxation of its vaccination requirements on board its cruises, meaning customers travelling on sailings from 1 May 2023 will no longer have to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination.

The change will apply to all its cruises, except for destinations that require proof of vaccination as an entry requirement to the country as set by local authorities, such as the USA and US territories. Arrival of a ship in port is considered as entry to the destination, regardless of whether a passenger disembarks the ship.

For any customers travelling on or before 30^th April 2023, Marella Cruises’ existing vaccination rules apply, which require everyone aged 12 and over must be fully vaccinated to travel. Children aged 2 to 11 must follow the entry requirements for the destinations on their cruise.

Chris Hackney, Managing Director of Marella Cruises said: “Health and safety is always our number one priority for all our guests and crew, and this decision has been carefully assessed by our teams. Many destinations no longer require vaccination as a condition to entry, and relaxing these rules is the natural next step as the travel and cruise industry progresses after the COVID-19 pandemic.

We want to ensure our customers have a great cruise from start to finish, and we hope the relaxation of these rules means our guests can enjoy an easier pre-travel experience. We look forward to continuing to welcome both new and existing customers onboard our ships in the near future.”