Nearly all major cruise lines are ditching mask requirements
Royal Caribbean International and Carnival Cruise Line announced plans to drop shipboard mask requirements, joining rival Norwegian Cruise Line.
It means nearly every major cruise line is ditching its mask mandate.
Royal Caribbean has scrapped a requirement to mask up indoors for fully vaccinated passengers.
Carnival Cruise Line and its other sister brands including Princess Cruises will drop the rule from March 1.
"The public health situation has continued to improve, providing confidence about these changes," said Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruise Line.
Virgin Voyages is also scrapping its mask requirement.
It leaves only MSC Cruises and Disney Cruise Line yet to announce a change.
The cruise lines revised their policies after formally agreeing to participate in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s voluntary Covid-19 program.
Cruise lines may lift mask wearing requirements when 95% of passengers and crew members are fully vaccinated under the CDC program.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings’ three brands also opted into the program.
It means fully vaccinated travelers no longer need to wear masks indoors, although cruise lines still recommend it.
Guests will have to follow all local mask rules when ashore during ports of call.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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