Two Cruise Lines Now Require Covid Vaccination for Guests
The CDC has mandated face masks on all modes of transportation. Masks are required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation, including ships, traveling into, within, or out of the United States and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. But two cruise line companies are going a step further by announcing that all passengers and crew must get the COVID-19 vaccine in order to sail.
American Queen Steamboat Company and Victory Cruise Lines both issued guidance that states a vaccination is required for all sailings beginning July 1, 2021. Both cruise lines are part of the Hornblower Group.
American Queen Steamboat Company offers multiday river cruises in the U.S. such as the Columbia and Snake Rivers and the Mississippi. Victory Cruise Lines sails around the Great Lakes, but they also have international cruises to Canada, The Bahamas, Alaska and Mexico.
The case for mandating Covid vaccination is made easier by the fact that most passengers for both cruise lines are over the age of 65. That means that they should be eligible to receive the vaccine before the July 1 mandate goes into effect. The crew is also eligible for the Covid vaccine since they are employees of a transportation company.
Both companies will actually resume cruises in April with coronavirus precautions such as masks and temperature checks.
