MSC Cruises | Travel Requirements & Safety Protocols

Great news! MSC Cruises are back in the water in the US! We are your resource for the most up to date information around vaccination & testing requirements, whether you will need a mask, taking shore excursions, and health & safety measurements taken by the cruise line.

Quick checklist of what you need prior to boarding your Caribbean / Bahamas cruise. More details can be found below:

1. Complete online health questionnaire and accept the terms and conditions immediately after booking reservation
2. Negative viral COVID-19 test taken within 3 days before arriving at the terminal.
3. Vaccine card if vaccinated
   • Unvaccinated guests 12 years and older must purchase Travel Insurance prior to final payment. *Europe ALL guests must have the travel insurance.
4. Masks are now required for all guests regardless of vaccine status
5. Shore excursion requirements

Checklist Terms & Conditions

1. Online terms & conditions and health questionnaire must be completed immediately after booking reservation.

• The guest making the cruise booking will be required to accept the terms and conditions on behalf of and with the consent of all persons named in the booking. This can be completed by visiting MSC's web check-in.
• You must provide your health status and advise MSC Cruises if you will be vaccinated or not fully vaccinated at the time of your cruise. This can be completed by visiting health questionnaire and web check-in.

2. Negative viral COVID-19 test taken within 2 days before arriving at the terminal.

• All vaccinated guests age 12 and older must provide documentation of a negative RT-PCR or Negative NAAT or Negative antigen test taken no more than 2 days prior to departure.
• Guests that are not fully vaccinated (ages 2-11) must provide: a Negative RT-PCR or Negative NAAT test taken no more than 3 days prior to departure (antigen test will not be accepted for not fully vaccinated guests).
• Telehealth self-tests taken at home will be accepted for fully vaccinated guests provided the following requirements are met:
  • The test must have Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. FDA.
  • The self-test process must happen under live supervision on a video call with a telehealth representative.
  • The telehealth provider must issue a result document that includes all the necessary information.
  • An example of one test that meets these parameters is the supervised Abbott BinaxNow COVID-19 Ag Card Test available through the Abbott Navica app or eMed.com.
  • Note that this test kit must be shipped to the home in most cases and may take up to 5 business days to arrive (in the U.S.) after the order is placed.

Important update to pre-cruise COVID-19 testing requirements for guests sailing on MSC Cruises departing from PortMiami and Port Canaveral September 3 - October 31, 2021

• All guests age 2 and older – regardless of vaccination status – must provide documentation of a negative COVID-19 test at the pier.
  • The test must be taken no more than 2 days before arriving at the terminal for embarkation and the guest is responsible for the test and cost.
    • Fully vaccinated guests must provide either a negative RT-PCR test, negative NAAT or negative antigen test.
    • Not fully vaccinated guests must provide a negative RT-PCR test or NAAT (antigen is not accepted).
  • Tests must be taken with an accredited test provider, such as a drugstore chain or diagnostic lab, taken no more than 2 days before arriving at the terminal for embarkation.
• Guests will be required to show their negative test result upon arriving at the pier.
  • The results can be printed out, or can be presented on your phone, such as the email result from your test provider.
  • Test results will need to clearly show the testing location/provider’s name, negative result, the guest’s name, date of birth, and date and time the test was taken.

3. Vaccine & Travel Protection Requirements

MSC Cruises will welcome vaccinated, unvaccinated and COVID-19 recovery guests. MSC Cruises highly recommends guests are fully vaccinated in order to enjoy a superior experience while sailing. 

The Bahamas has just announced new protocols requiring any visitors (12 years and older) to be fully vaccinated. Due to this latest requirement, MSC Cruises will now be requiring all guests 12 years and older to be fully vaccinated on all sailings beginning September 3, 2021 through and including sailings of October 31, 2021 departing from PortMiami and Port Canaveral.

Vaccinated Guests:

• Must provide a copy of your CDC vaccination card up to 48 hours prior to your cruise (if proof is not shown, you will be required to follow the not fully vaccinated guest requirements).
• If you are traveling to Europe, regardless of your vaccination status, you MUST have travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage to travel. If you purchase insurance other than the one offered by MSC Cruises, you are required to purchase MSC Cruises COVID-19 Protection. Travel protection must be purchased prior to making final payment.

Unvaccinated Guests:

• Will be required to purchase MSC Cruises’ Travel Insurance & COVID-19 Protection Services, which must be purchased prior to making final payment, and will be subject to more stringent protocols on board
• At the present, these protocols include but are not limited to the required purchase of a MSC Cruises sponsored shore excursions in order to go ashore and required testing upon embarkation and while on board.
• If you are traveling to Europe, regardless of your vaccination status, you MUST have travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage to travel. If you purchase insurance other than the one offered by MSC Cruises, you are required to purchase MSC Cruises COVID-19 Protection. Travel protection must be purchased prior to making final payment.

COVID-19 Recovered within 90 days of cruise

• PROOF OF COVID-19 RECOVERED REQUIRED: You must show proof you have recovered from COVID-19 within the past 6 months and provide documentation (paper or electronic) at the pier.
• If you are unable or unwilling to provide proof of recovery, you must comply with the requirements for not fully vaccinated guests.

Travel Insurance Policy:

• Caribbean / Bahamas Cruises: A travel protection plan with coverage for COVID-19 is required for guests 12 years and older who are NOT fully vaccinated or unable or unwilling to provide proof of vaccination.
• Europe Cruises: A Travel Protection Plan with coverage for COVID-19 is required for all guests.

Things to know:

• Additionally, any fully vaccinated guest in the same stateroom with a not fully vaccinated guest (12 years and older) will be required to purchase a travel protection plan with coverage for COVID-19.
• A travel protection plan must be purchased prior to making final payment on your cruise. If you’ve already booked your cruise and have not purchased a travel protection plan with coverage for COVID-19, contact your travel advisor to add this to your booking prior to final payment. If insurance is not purchased within the allotted time frame, you will be denied boarding.
• Guests wanting to purchase their own travel insurance, it is required to provide sufficient coverage with COVID-19 protection.
  • Guests that purchase insurance other than the one offered by MSC Cruises must provide proof of their valid travel insurance policy that has a minimum of
    • (a) $25,000 per person in medical expense coverage and (b) $50,000 coverage for emergency medical evacuation, both with no COVID-19 exclusions.
    • The insurance policy must name the guest as the policy holder or beneficiary.
• Guests must bring a printed version of the insurance policy, showing the name of each of the covered guest(s) and a description of the coverage in the policy to the pier. This documentation will be reviewed by our staff at the terminal prior to boarding.
• If the above requirements have not been met within the travel insurance policy, guests will be denied boarding.
• Guests that purchase insurance other than the one offered by MSC Cruises will also be required to purchase a COVID-19 Protection Plan from MSC.
  • The COVID-19 Protection Services is for all guests 3 years and older and costs are:
    • $100 per guest for cruises 4 nights or less;
    • $150 per guest for cruises 5 nights or longer.

We do not collect vaccination cards or store proof of vaccination. Those cruise lines that have vaccine requirements to cruise will likely ask for proof at the time of boarding.

Please note that these guidelines are subject to change.

4. Mask Requirements:

All guests are required to wear a mask throughout the cruise while indoors and in public areas, regardless of vaccination status.

Things to know:

• Mask use is not required outdoors.
• Where social distancing is not possible outdoors, mask use is recommended for all guests.
• You must wear your mask during disembarkation and throughout the terminal as well.
• If you become symptomatic during your cruise, you will be required to take a RT-PCR test on board (covered by MSC Cruises)

5. Getting off Ship at port:

According to the CDC's Conditional Sailing Order cruise ship operators, at their discretion, may advise passengers and crew that — if they are fully vaccinated — they may engage in self-guided or independent exploration during port stops, if they wear a mask while indoors. The cruise ship operator is additionally advised that foreign jurisdictions may have their own requirements.

Things to know:

• Vaccinated Guests are free to go ashore in each port of call or enjoy one of many offered shore excursions.
  • PLEASE NOTE: Fully vaccinated guests in the same traveling party with a not fully vaccinated guest or a child 11 years old or younger are considered not fully vaccinated for the purposes of shore excursions
• Unvaccinated Guests will not be allowed to go ashore unless purchased a shore excursion. This is to help ensure everyone is following the same health and safety protocol.
  • On MSC's exclusive private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, you may need to book a shore excursion to travel the island as per Bahamas government implementing the new protocols for sailings September 3, 2021 through and including sailings of October 31, 2021.

These restrictions are under the control of local government and are subject to change without advance notice, so we encourage guests to come prepared for potential mask requirements ashore.

Health & Safety on the Ship

MSC Cruise Health & Safety guidelines are design to exceed guidelines provided by health authorities and include measures that encompass air quality, improved contactless services, and enhanced medical services.

MSC Cruises has not yet made an announcement about how buffets will operate.

Things to know:

• All staterooms & public space now feature 100% fresh air with no re-circulation
• Guests can pre-book packages online, utilize easy to use QR codes, and take advantage of the MSC For Me app featuring activities, packages & more
• Hospital-grade disinfectants, electrostatic sprayers, deep sanitization & hand sanitizers are available throughout the ship
• Enhanced medical supplies & additional medical staff are there to help you every step of the way
• Cruises from Florida feature our exclusive private island with socially distanced cabanas & over 2 miles of tropical beaches to spread out and relax

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Check here for the most up to date information on each Cruise Destination, including vaccination requirements, mask mandates, shore excursions, and insurance requirements.