Cruise companies continue to eliminate COVID health protocols and HAL-Holland America is the latest to eliminate their COVID testing requirement for unvaccinated passengers on most cruises from ports in the USA.
Effectively immediately, unvaccinated passengers sailing on “Standard Protocol” voyages on Holland America will no longer need a COVID test before sailing. Checks of individual passenger vaccination status will be discontinued on Standard Protocol cruises as well (unless required by destinations).
Standard Protocol cruises' key facts (not including designated remote sailings):
- Evidence of COVID vaccination status before embarkation is no longer required
- Pre-cruise COVID testing is not required
The simpler protocols now include Panama Canal transits up to 15 nights.
HAL"s President Gus Antorcha said their guests continued to show their excitement to return to cruising, and that was "another step toward making it as easy as possible for them to safely explore the world in a way they love."
Passengers on Enhanced Protocol cruises will be provided additional information about protocols based on cruise ports visited.
Cruisers can continue to submit documents electronically/use the VeriFLY app ahead of embarkation for a faster check-in process.