But more than two years on, the industry has started to ease its effective – if stringent – Covid-19 health protocols. Indeed, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last month ended its programme for monitoring and reporting Covid-19 cases onboard cruise ships.

It goes hand-in-hand with the consensus among agents, who tell TTG customers are looking to these measures less frequently. Towards the end of June, P&O Cruises confirmed it would be dropping its testing requirements on five Iona sailings to the Norwegian Fjords in June and July.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) followed suit in July, confirming it was removing all testing across its three brands, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Oceania Cruises.

NCLH said all cruises would continue to operate in line with its “robust, science-backed” health and safety programme, which will evolve to reflect the “public health environment”.

However, not all companies share the same philosophy, with some still requiring pre-departure testing. One of these is Princess Cruises, which said it continues to “rigorously” follow guidelines from government, health and regulatory agencies, and other organisations.

“We continue to operate in accordance with government health guidance and have consistently updated our shipboard protocols in accordance [with] the guidelines of world health organisations,” a spokesperson said.

The line added guests “appreciate and understand” the continuation of Covid-19 safety protocols, and wished to thank its customers for adapting to “ever-evolving” circumstances on Covid testing.

Evolving Policies

Meanwhile, Fred Olsen director of product and customer service Clare Ward said the line was “continually monitoring and evolving” its Covid procedures.

Last month it changed its requirement for pre-departure testing, and now requires customers to complete a lateral flow test 24 hours before their cruise departs.

“All guests are required to show proof of is their result. We are also conducting random spot checks at the terminal,” said Ward. “By doing this, we have streamlined the check-in procedure, while still providing a level of reassurance for our guests.”

Ward claimed the move has been “largely supported” by customers, but “everyone has individual views” on the protocols.

While cruise companies are free to set their own protocols in line with specific countries’ requirements, Clia’s member policy continues to guide on Covid mitigation.

“The policy acknowledges the situation remains fluid and differs from country to country, so remains flexible and recognises entry regulations may vary,” Clia’s UK and Ireland chief Andy Harmer told TTG.

“Regardless, cruise protocols consistently go further than any other measures passengers may experience in other travel or hospitality settings. Some 97% of cruise ship passengers feel ’safe’ onboard, a reflection of the fact cruise has prioritised health and wellbeing.”

However, despite lines saying customers were open to continued testing, Alison Earnshaw, UK managing director of World Travel Holdings (WTH), said pre-departure testing remained a barrier to customers – particularly for short-term departures – with some opting for land-based holidays where testing is not required.

“Conversely, there are still some customers who see the policy as a benefit, but the feedback we’re receiving shows this is waning in terms of customer priorities,” she said.

Testing Phase

The company, parent to Cruise118, River Voyages and Six Star Cruises, has recently seen an increase in sales for P&O Cruises after the line announced it was removing testing onboard new ship Iona.

“It’s a difficult balance for the cruise lines when the industry has previously been singled out for negative publicity, and there are clearly a vast number of considerations in the determination of this policy,” Earnshaw continued.

“I would be hopeful that pre-cruise testing is removed in the not-too-distant future across the board, subject to case rates and the all-important hospitalisation data.”

Earnshaw’s concerns were echoed by Oasis Travel managing director Sandra Corkin, who said some customers have been put off fly-cruise options due to the risk of testing positive in a foreign country during the pre-embarkation testing phase.

“We don’t have many customers who cruise out of the UK,” she explained. “If they have to fly to Southampton to board anyway, they decide to fly straight to a European city instead and spend some time land-based. But the consequence of this is testing positive while in Europe, which does put people off.”

However, despite some customers showing reservations, Corkin said her clientele were a “mixed bag” when it comes to testing for a cruise holiday. “We do have some people who welcome testing because they feel safer getting on to a ship so it’s a real mixed reaction from customers,” she continued.

“Cruising feels as if it’s almost back to normal, but there are still some people who are anxious about making travel arrangements and then finding out at the last-minute they can’t go.”

Dr Jennifer Holland, cruise and tourism researcher for the University of Suffolk, said that even with a recent spike in Covid-19 cases, cruise bookings were continuing to rise with some lines reporting 2022 sales exceeding 2019 levels.

“This shows consumers are eager to travel and testing is part of that equation, as that adds an extra expense and hassle,” she said.

Perception of Safety

Data from the Global Risk Traveller Survey, though, highlighted the disparity between the perception of safety coming from a testing requirement versus a vaccine requirement.

More than a third (36%) of respondents said they felt safer knowing a negative test was required compared with 73% who said they felt safer knowing a vaccine was required.

“Knowing all joining passengers have a negative test certainly helps alleviate some concern, but look at the recent major outbreaks – all those passengers were negative before boarding too,” said Dr Holland.

“In Europe, lines are moving to reduced testing and only where required by the country of embarkation, but in the US and Australia there is still mandatory testing.”

Holland added she believed the recent spike in new Covid cases would cause the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reinstate more measures – as well as keeping pre-boarding testing – likely until spring 2023.