Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises are dropping the need for passengers to be fully vaccinated on certain cruises.

From 5 September, Royal Caribbean will end the vaccine requirement on select departures from Europe, Los Angeles, Galveston in Texas and New Orleans.

Celebrity Cruises will allow unvaccinated passengers onto cruises from the UK and Europe (except Iceland) and from LA, also from 5 September.

Both cruise lines said passengers will still need to meet testing requirements and any COVID protocols in the destinations they visit as part of their cruise.

Testing rules on Royal cruises

In Europe, unvaccinated guests will have to take a test onboard to be allowed ashore in Greece or Spain.

For cruises out of Galveston and New Orleans that visit Grand Cayman, only passengers that show a valid vaccination record can go ashore.

For departures five nights or less out of Los Angeles and Galveston, unvaccinated guests aged two and over must show a negative test result to sail.

Vaccinated guests, regardless of age, no longer need to test for the cruises of five nights or less.

For cruises of six nights or more, all guests aged two and over must take a supervised negative test within three days of departure.

Testing requirements for sailings in Europe are unchanged.

Cruises to the Bahamas

For cruises to the Bahamas, all guests aged 12 and over must be vaccinated.

Royal Caribbean said: “We are working with local governments in the Eastern Caribbean to align on vaccination requirements for more itineraries. We want to ensure a great experience going ashore at these ports, for guests of any vaccination status, while meeting local health regulations.”