The Cruise Lines International Association has announced its plans to test every single guest and crew member before they board cruise ships as one part of a multi-layered approach that it hopes will ease restrictions against cruising and allow consumers to book and sail confidently.
The policy will be required for all ships with a capacity of 250 guests or more. Crew and guests must have a negative test result to embark the ship whether the tests are taken before they leave home or at the cruise terminal.
MSC Cruises was one of the first lines to implement testing and has done so successfully for its Mediterranean return to cruising earlier this summer. Royal Caribbean and NCL also made the recommendation calling pre-board testing the “single most important step that can be taken to prevent disease introduction onboard.