Find the latest updates on guidance, changes to cruise line protocols or travel news here. For further information in relation to your sailing or destination, please visit your cruise line’s protocols or the Gov.uk website.
America updates travel advice - 02.05.2023
US drops Covid vaccine rule for inbound travellers: The need to show proof of vaccination against Covid to travel to the US was imposed in January 2021 in the midst of the global pandemic. The need for people arriving in the US by air to test negative for Covid was dropped last June but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccination requirements for most foreign travellers were retained.
SPAIN LIFTS ALL COVID RESTRICTIONS - 21.10.2022
As of 21 October 2022 visitors are no longer required to provide proof of vaccination status or a negative COVID test to enter Spain. The news comes in time for the October half term holiday, marking Spain one of the last European countries to impose strict Covid entry rules for foreign travellers.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have issued an update to the health safety measures for air travel, dropping the recommendation for the mandatory wearing of medical masks in airports and on board a flight, while noting that a face mask is still one of the best protections against the transmission of COVID-19.
The new recommendations on the wearing of face masks are set to come into effect from May 16, 2022. However, rules for masks will continue to vary by airline beyond that date. For example, flights to or from a destination where mask-wearing is still required on public transport should continue to encourage mask-wearing, according to the recommendations. Vulnerable passengers should continue to wear a face mask regardless of the rules.
Please see further information here on the Gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-abroad-from-england-during-coronavirus-covid-19
You can also read more about the easing of face masks on airlines on the BBC website here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-61463794
The government will remove the remaining COVID-19 international travel restrictions for all passengers from 18th March. From 4am Friday 18 March, all COVID-19 travel restrictions will be lifted, including the passenger locator form (PLF) for arrivals into UK, as well as all tests for passengers who do not qualify as vaccinated. This change, therefore, removes the need for unvaccinated passengers to take a pre-departure test and a day 2 post-arrival test.
As of 01.02.2022, all travellers to the EU member states will be required to have had their second Covid-19 vaccine within nine months from 01.02.2022. Visitors may also provide proof of recovery within the past six months or a booster vaccine in order to travel within the European Union.
From 11th February, people arriving in England from abroad will no longer have to take Covid tests if they have been fully vaccinated. Vaccinated travellers currently need to do a test within two days of arriving.
From 4 am on 11 February, all testing requirements for fully vaccinated travellers arriving in England will be removed.
Arrivals who are not fully vaccinated will only be required to take a pre-departure test and a PCR test on or before day 2 after arriving in England. They will no longer be required to self-isolate on arrival or take a test on day 8.
From 3rd February Children aged 12-15 in England will be able to demonstrate their vaccination status or proof of recovery via a digital NHS COVID pass for outbound travel.
Changes were also announced that will simplify the Passenger Locator Form (PLF). Travellers will confirm their vaccination status, travel history and contact details, and will have an extra day to complete the form before travelling.
The UK government has reduced the self-isolation period for fully-vaccinated international arrivals who test positive for Covid to 7 days from 10 days. A negative result on a lateral flow test two days in a row, on days six and seven must be provided.
As per the previous rules, those who test negative on a PCR test taken up to day two after arrival are free of self-isolation on receipt of their negative result. If a PCR test is unclear, self-isolation is required. Those who are not fully-vaccinated must quarantine for 10 full days.
Read the latest guidance from the Department for Transport here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19.
From 13 December, fully vaccinated children aged 12 to 15 can request an NHS COVID Pass letter for international travel. A person with legal responsibility for a child aged 12 to 15 (such as a parent or guardian) can also request the letter on their behalf.
The NHS COVID Pass letter is not available to children aged 12 to 15 who have only received an incomplete course of vaccination (such as 1 dose of a 2-dose vaccine). You can get a NHS COVID Pass letter online. People requiring digital assistance can call the NHS 119 telephone service to request an NHS COVID Pass travel letter. The NHS COVID Pass letter will be sent to the address held on the child’s NHS record and will show all the vaccinations they have received including any boosters. The NHS COVID Pass letter should arrive within 5 working days, but may take slightly longer in December due to the Christmas postal service. The NHS COVID Pass letter service is for international vaccination status only and not recovery or negative test results. This NHS COVID Pass letter service is not available for domestic use at venues and settings in England.
Effective 4am Tuesday 07 December 2021, anyone wishing to travel to the UK from countries and territories not on the red list must also show proof of a negative PCR or lateral flow (LFD) pre-departure test, taken in the 2 days before your service to the UK departs. This applies to vaccinated passengers and children aged 12 and above. This is confirmed by Gov.uk here, https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-testing-for-people-travelling-to-england.
As of 4am Tuesday 30th November 2021, lateral flow tests will no longer be accepted and all travellers arriving into the UK will be required to book and take COVID-19 PCR tests in accordance with their vaccination status. Travellers that arrive in the UK after 04sm Tuesday 30th November who are fully vaccinated, are required to self-isolate at home when they arrive, take a PCR test on or before Day 2, and continue to self-isolate until they receive a negative result. For those who test positive, they must isolate for 10 days. This is confirmed by Gov.uk here.
There will be no change for unvaccinated travellers.
Travellers who have already booked their lateral flow tests should contact their private testing provider, to discuss their options and ensure that they have the correct tests booked for their vaccination status and ensure the correct test details are provided on their Passenger Locator Forms. You can update or complete your Passenger Locator form here.
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