Crystal will require all passengers on its ocean and river cruises to be fully inoculated with a COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to embarkation.
Passengers will be required to provide proof of vaccination before embarking and must have received both doses of the vaccine (if recommended by the manufacturer) by that timeline.
Crystal made the announcement Thursday as part of its Crystal Clean+ 4.0 health and safety initiatives, which also mandate negative COVID-19 tests for all passengers and crew; temperature checks at the terminal prior to embarkation; a “nimble” masking policy; physical distancing measures; enhanced cleaning and disinfection procedures; and reduced passenger capacity across the fleet.
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In outlining the company’s decision to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for all passengers, the company cited a survey by Cruise Critic earlier this month showing that a majority of respondents – 81% – said they would cruise if proof of vaccination were required.
Only 5% of 3,000 respondents said they would not cruise if a COVID-19 vaccine were to be mandated.
“We are encouraged by the progress being made with the COVID-19 vaccines and what this means for our Crystal Family and the travel industry as a whole as we eagerly look forward to exploring the world again,” said Crystal’s interim president and CEO, Jack Anderson. “We know that peace of mind is the greatest luxury; and the vaccine requirement is simply the best way to ensure the safest possible Crystal Experience for all on board. This sentiment is underscored by conversations with our guests and travel partners and a recent Cruise Critic survey of cruisers that revealed that more than 80 percent of respondents would cruise if a vaccine were required.”
Crystal joins a number of other lines, including U.K.-based Saga Cruises and American Queen Steamboat Company, in mandating proof of COVID-19 vaccination for all passengers.
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