Preparing for Your First Post-COVID Cruise

When the world was first thrown into the pandemic, the travel industry was hit hard. Between lockdowns and public health concerns, individuals were canceling trips left and right. Within the different sectors of travel, the cruise industry felt an immediate impact, with some travelers being quarantined on ships until further notice. Even with travel becoming popular once more, there are still some individuals who feel wary about traveling on a cruise, while others are jumping at the chance to indulge in this form of travel again.

Preparing for your first post-COVID cruise might throw you for a loop. Contrary to pre-COVID cruises, there might be a little extra preparation needed on your end, as well as some safety precautions to expect when on board. As the traveler, the cruise company will do all that they can to ease your worries and give you a stress-free experience. After all, they want to make your vacation a true vacation. But there might still be a few things you need to prepare for to embark on a safe and healthy voyage.

Vaccination and Testing

Depending on the cruise line you travel with and the destinations you intend to disembark at, you’ll want to make yourself aware of the vaccination and testing requirements prior to going. Many ports still require proof of negative test results or proof of vaccination in order to enter. Without such proof, you wouldn’t be able to explore the stops the ship makes. Because of these various requirements, many cruises will require vaccination or a negative test result in order to board so as not to infect any passengers on board. Therefore, as you prepare for your first post-COVID cruise, be aware that there are still COVID requirements that differ from country to country, and your cruise line will have to accommodate those requirements. As a passenger, you will likely be expected to follow suit and adhere to these guidelines. Make sure to schedule this within the necessary window of time.

Upon returning home, it is important that you are aware of any requirements that your home country might have. If your home country asks for proof of vaccination or a negative test result before re-entry, you will need to have figured out when and where you can get tested before your cruise comes to an end. Because many cruise lines understand the annoyance that this can bring to travelers, most have begun offering these free tests onboard at no extra cost to their guests. Check with your cruise line to see if they offer this option, as most will accommodate this need or direct you to other options.

Expect Enhanced Sanitation

Travelers can enjoy their cruise knowing that extra measures have been taken to ensure that guests have a safe and healthy experience. Guests do not need to do much in order to prepare for this, but they should also do their part to aid the crew in their desire to keep a clean environment for guests. From purified air to sanitized surfaces to clean rooms, sanitation is one of the most important aspects of cruises in the post-COVID era. As a guest, you likely will not be expected to wear a mask around the ship. Doing so will likely be your own decision, but the crew will probably wear masks around guests in order to protect them as much as possible.

Purchase Travel Insurance

While still recovering from the effects of COVID and wanting to be prepared for possible recurring spikes, investing in travel insurance is one of the smartest ways to prepare for trips and protect your finances. Travel has been a bit unpredictable in the past two years. Post-COVID travels might be filling many individuals with hope, but we are still not quite out of the danger zone. Prior to your cruise, it is recommended that you purchase travel insurance for the duration of your trip. Not only will this cover your cruise cost, but it will also cover the cost of any airfare or hotels you booked. Travel insurance policies are not too expensive of an add-on, especially given the large number of expenses that they cover and the coverage they offer due to COVID. This can especially come in handy if you happen to test positive before your trip and have to cancel. Of course, nobody wishes for this to happen, but it is a smart move to make before your cruise just in case the worst were to occur.