COVID-19 Acknowledgment for Sailings from Australia

We have consulted with leading medical experts to create an extensive response plan for mitigating and managing COVID-19 cases on our ships, and have also made arrangements with local port, health and transportation authorities to support our ships should it become necessary.

We have enhanced our shipboard medical capabilities with the necessary staffing, medications, supplies, oxygen, equipment and procedures to triage and treat multiple COVID-19 cases across the full clinical spectrum including intensive care. Our highly experienced doctors and nurses are up to date on the latest COVID-19 scientific status and trained on all relevant COVID-19 procedures.

In addition to our onboard Medical Centres, our shoreside Health Operations Centre is staffed 24/7 by our team of dedicated medical and public health professionals.

Other measures in place include, but not limited to:

• COVID-19 viral testing capabilities on board, including PCR;
• Guests will have access to free of charge COVID-19 related medical care, including testing;
• Detailed quarantine management plan including isolation cabins for COVID-19 positive cases, as well as isolation ward and beds in the medical centre;
• Required isolation and testing for close contacts of COVID-19 positive cases on board;
• Enhanced cleaning and sanitising, including guest rooms and public areas;
• Onboard signage and regular communication to guests about COVID-safe practices; and,
• Regular monitoring of disease activity and health regulations in the destinations we visit so we can adjust our cruise itineraries as necessary.

Subject to having a valid medical exemption as set out below, and subject to strict capacity limits, all guests 12 years and older are required to be 'fully vaccinated' with a COVID-19 vaccine that is approved or recognised by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to board any Princess ship.  It is strongly recommended that children under 12 years of age are also fully vaccinated against COVID-19, when eligible, before travelling on a cruise.

For children under 12 years of age at the time of cruise departure who will not be fully vaccinated, and guests with a valid recognised medical exemption to not be fully vaccinated, you will need to advise us of this at the time of booking as there is a limit on the number of guests who are not fully vaccinated that can travel on each cruise departure. Please see below.

In line with the Australian definition ‘fully vaccinated’ for the purpose of Australia’s border arrangements, you will be considered fully vaccinated if you have completed a primary course (for most vaccines, this is two doses), including a mixed dose schedule, of TGA approved or recognised vaccines, with the last does given at least 14 days prior to the cruise departure date.

Although boosters are not currently required, it is strongly recommended you are ‘up to date’ with your COVID-19 vaccinations, which includes the primary course plus booster, where eligible, prior to travelling on a cruise.

Australian public health authorities also strongly recommend all cruise ship guests receive an annual influenza vaccination at least two weeks before the start of their cruise.

Guests 12 years and older, and any guests under 12 years of age who are fully vaccinated, will need to provide proof of their vaccination status or valid recognised medical exemption before they embark their cruise. Failure to provide required proof of vaccination or a valid recognised medical exemption may result in denial of boarding.

If you or anyone on your booking are unlikely to be fully vaccinated at the time of your cruise departure (and are not under 12 years of age and do not have a valid recognised medial exemption), please refer to our Book with Confidence page and contact our Customer Service team or your travel agent.

Limit on the number of guests who are not fully vaccinated (Under 12 years of age, and Medical Exemptions)

As part of the guidelines agreed to by the cruising industry and respective Australian governments, it is a requirement that at least 95% of guests must be fully vaccinanted against COVID-19. This means there is a limit on the number of guests who are not fully vaccinated that can travel on each cruise departure. The limit applies to any children under 12 years of age who are not fully vaccinated, and any other guests who are not fully vaccinated and have a valid recognised medical exemption. Any other guests who are not fully vaccinated will not be permitted to travel.

You will need to inform us at the time of booking if you or anyone on your booking is not fully vaccinated due to a valid recognised medical exemption, or if they will be under 12 years of age at the time of the cruise departure and not fully vaccinated. Click here for more details.

You should always ensure you understand all requirements to travel from your home country and the destinations you plan to visit. Details continue to be updated regularly and official websites and apps developed by government departments & agencies, and tourism ministries are the recommended resources, including:

• smartraveller.gov
• homeaffairs.gov
• safetravel.govt.nz

Any guest reporting or exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms must notify and be reviewed by our onboard medical staff for testing. Guests who test positive to COVID-19 will be assessed and treated either in their room, or in a designated area of the Medical Centre.

Positive cases that do not require admission to the ship’s Medical Centre will most likely be moved to a different cabin for the duration of their isolation.

Anyone who was travelling in the same room as a guest who tests positive to COVID-19 will be deemed a close contact and will be required to isolate. Other guests, as determined by onboard medical staff to have been in close contact with a positive case, will also be required to isolate.

The isolation period onboard is based on the isolation period on land, as per the Australian government requirements, and are currently:

• COVID-19 cases – Isolation for 7 days. The person may leave isolation at 7 days if they have no symptoms. If they continue to have symptoms, they will need to remain in isolation until they have been symptom free for 24 hours.
• Close contacts – Isolation for 7 days and receive a COVID-19 test on day 1 and day 6. If the close contact tests positive to COVID-19, the isolation period will start again from the day they test positive.

The onboard isolation period is subject to change by the relevant state health departments.

Guests in isolation who have not completed their isolation period by the end of the cruise will need to continue their isolation upon disembarking their cruise based on the relevant state health department’s isolation requirements. View details about disembarkation arrangements for guests in isolation.

Any guest who is quarantined or medically isolated during their cruise as a result of testing positive to COVID-19, being suspected of having COVID-19, or due to being determined a close contact of a confirmed positive case, will be entitled to a Future Cruise Credit for the missed cruise days that were spent in isolation or quarantine. The Future Cruise Credit will be 100% of the value of the cruise fare paid for the number of cruise days missed and will be subject to our standard terms and conditions for Future Cruise Credits.

Each ship has a dedicated team of medical staff operating the onboard medical centre to serve general health care needs for guests and crew. Our highly experienced doctors and nurses are up to date on the latest COVID-19 scientific status and trained in relevant COVID-19 procedures. We have also enhanced our shipboard medical capabilities in terms of staffing, medications, supplies, oxygen, equipment and procedures to triage and treat multiple COVID-19 cases across the full clinical spectrum including intensive care.

You can contact the medical centre using the phone in your room to request non-urgent appointments. This avoids congregation of patients in the medical centre and allows the medical staff to pre-determine the best location for the consultation, including your room.

Whenever possible, anyone suspected of COVID-19 will be assessed and treated in their room with all medical first responders wearing full PPE. Medical staff will arrange safe transfer of any unwell individuals to the ship’s Medical Centre if additional treatment is required that cannot be provided in the guest’s room. Onboard COVID-19-related Medical Centre care and suspected case testing will be free of charge.

Non-COVID-19 related medical consultations, treatment and medication will be charged at private rates, and must be paid for by the guest and should be claimed on guests’ international travel insurance. All cruises on our ships are outside the scope of Australian Medicare, New Zealand Accident Compensation Corporation and private health insurance.

Guests will have access to free of charge COVID-19 related medical care onboard, including testing and treatment.

Non-COVID-19 related medical consultations, treatment and medication will be charged at private rates, and must be paid for by the guest and should be claimed on guests’ international travel insurance. All cruises on our ships are outside the scope of Australian Medicare, New Zealand Accident Compensation Corporation and private health insurance.

While our onboard Medical Centres are equipped to handle many medical conditions, including COVID-19, there may be occasions where it becomes necessary to disembark or evacuate a guest to receive further essential medical treatment. To ensure guest safety, this decision will be made by the onboard doctor and the Captain, in coordination with the relevant port and health authorities. Depending on the location of the ship, medical evacuation may need to take place via helicopter, medical water vessel or road ambulance, or a combination of these.

Our Customer Care team will provide support to any guest who requires medical evacuation, along with their family and travel party.

Guests will not be responsible for the costs of any evacuation required to treat COVID-19.

Guests who are in isolation onboard at the end of their cruise due to testing positive to COVID-19 or due to being a close contact, will be disembarked in a controlled manner, separate from other guests, and:

• If they have their own private transport, such as a family member picking them up from the cruise terminal, or their car is parked at the terminal, and they are well enough to travel home, they will be able to travel home to continue their isolation period;
• If a guest is unable to safely drive home, or does not have access to private transport, depending on where they live, we will arrange suitable road transport home or accommodation for the remainder of their isolation period; or,
• If a guest is unwell and requires ongoing medical care, we will make the necessary arrangements to transfer them to a local hospital or medical facility.

Please note, private transport does not include taxis, rideshare or public transport. Any remaining isolation period once off the ship is subject to relevant state health department’s isolation requirements.

Our Customer Care team will provide assistance and support, as required, to guests who test positive to COVID-19 during their cruise, their families and any close contacts, to ensure they arrive home safely.

We recommend guests seek advice from their medical practitioner about their condition and any possible risk associated with cruise travel. If you are travelling with a specific medical requirement, please let us know at the time of booking as we may require you to complete a medical questionnaire prior to travel.

Unfortunately we are unable to welcome guests onboard who are dependent on supplemental oxygen tanks or who are undergoing haemodialysis at this time. Our medical experts have determined that, for the guests own safety, this is the right decision. We remain optimistic that our approach on future departures will become more flexible.

Guests who use oxygen concentrators and those who are undergoing peritoneal dialysis are still welcome to travel, but please let us know at the time of booking.

We strongly recommend all guests purchase comprehensive international travel insurance, even for domestic cruises, to ensure they are covered if things do not go according to plan. While we will be providing free of charge COVID-19 related medical care onboard and medical evacuation should it be required, guests will be liable for any other incurred cancellation, travel change fees, non-COVID-19 related medical and medical evacuation, and other associated costs, unless they are covered under travel insurance.

Guests should ensure they read the product disclosure statement for any insurance policy they are considering to ensure it provides the level of cover they need, including COVID-19 for cruise travel, as some policies do not cover this.

Our cruise itineraries are never guaranteed and may be altered for various reasons. In the event of COVID-19 cases on board, depending on the level of transmission and perceived risk by local port and health authorities, we may not be permitted to visit certain destinations included in the cruise itinerary. Guests will be kept up to date on board of any changes to the cruise itinerary.

Where there is a potential risk of ongoing COVID-19 transmission, guests will be advised. Communication may include onboard announcements, letters to guest rooms, and additional information in the Medallion App.

If there are a small number of controlled cases, only close contacts will be notified by the onboard medical staff.

Any guest who tests positive to COVID-19, or who is a close contact of a positive case on board, will need to comply with the relevant state health requirements set by the relevant state health departments. If there is a required isolation period and that has not been completed by the guest by the end of the cruise, it will need to be continued upon disembarking the cruise, which will delay any onwards travel or accommodation arrangements.

We strongly recommend taking out appropriate international travel insurance which may be able to cover changes to post cruise travel arrangements.

Guests arriving in Australia on a cruise that has transited international ports are responsible to ensure they meet Australian government entry requirements. Failure to do so may result in denial of boarding, being issued a fine, deportation or the ship being denied entry.

Guests are responsible to ensure they meet the entry requirements of the countries included in their itinerary, including any vaccination requirements.

Details continue to be updated regularly and official websites and apps developed by government departments & agencies, and tourism ministries are the recommended resources, including: 

• smartraveller.gov
• homeaffairs.gov
• safetravel.govt.nz

Anyone who doesn’t comply with the onboard public health measures may be disembarked at the first available opportunity. Other consequences could include being denied service, required stateroom isolation and being banned from sailing with Princess Cruises and other Carnival brands in the future.

If you are non-compliant, no refund of the cruise fare for missed cruise days or travel expenses (if flying home) will be covered.

If your travel party is impacted and/or they are required or voluntarily choose to disembark with you, the same policies will apply to them: no refund of cruise fare for missed cruise days or coverage of travel expenses home.

There will be a Princess representative on-site at the terminal to support any guests who are denied boarding. However, if you are denied boarding for failure to produce proof of being fully vaccinated at time of embarkation (which means the final dose must have been received at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the cruise), any costs incurred will be at your own expense.

If you test positive to COVID-19 within 10 days to your cruise departure you will not be able to travel and you should notify us or your travel agent so we can cancel your booking. Anyone else booked on the cruise from the same household as the COVID-19 positive guest will also be deemed a close contact in line with domestic requirements and will not be permitted to travel.

Where possible, guests should make a claim through their travel insurance to recover any cancellation fees incurred. Alternatively, guests can complete a compassionate request form on our website. Valid proof of positive COVID-19 test must be provided or a medical certificate confirming a positive COVID-19 diagnosis or close contact status.

All guests are required to complete a health declaration prior to boarding confirming they do not have symptoms of COVID-19 or any other respiratory or gastrointestinal illness, are not required to quarantine/isolate due to being a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case, and have not tested positive to COVID-19. Guests will also need to confirm they have had a negative COVID-19 test result by either a PCR performed within 72 hours prior to boarding or with a RAT within 24 hours prior to boarding.

Guests aged over 12 years of age, and any guests under 12 years of age who are fully vaccinated, are also required to present proof of their vaccination status. Guests with a valid recognised medical exemption must also provide proof of this prior to boarding.

The results of any COVID-19 tests and information provided on the health declaration will be subject to the Princess Cruises Privacy Notice and shared only as needed including with Princess personnel, third parties or local health authorities as part of screening and embarkation-related health protocols.

Guests travelling from overseas to join a cruise departing from Australia must ensure they are able to meet the Australian government entry requirements. Guests should also ensure they understand any requirements to return to their home country following their cruise, including any testing requirements.

Guests from overseas should ensure the vaccination course they have received is approved or recognised by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

If a guest is required to isolate during their cruise due to testing positive to COVID-19 or due to being a close contact of a confirmed positive case, and the isolation period is required to continue after disembarking the cruise, Princess Cruises will arrange for suitable accommodation for the remainder of the isolation period. Any additional accommodation required after being released from isolation, and any other expenses incurred from needing to change post-cruise travel arrangements will be the responsibility of the guest. We strongly recommend guests obtain appropriate international travel insurance which may cover costs associated with changes to travel arrangements. 

Guests travelling from overseas should also ensure their travel insurance provides cover for COVID-19 related medical care. If ongoing medical treatment is required after disembarkation, any associated costs will be incurred by the guest.

We have a COVID-19 response management plan covering varying levels of risk determined by the number of positive COVID-19 cases, clusters and close contacts.

In the unlikely event there is an outbreak of COVID-19 onboard which is considered to be higher risk, all non-essential services will be suspended, and guests who are not isolating will be asked to minimise their movements around the ship and remain in their room as much as possible or utilise outdoor areas while maintaining physical distancing. Masks will also be required to be worn by guests at all times when outside their rooms, except while consuming food & drinks. The ship may still call at destinations for the provisioning of essential stores, subject to local health and port authority approvals, however shore visits will be suspended. In consultation with relevant health and port authorities, arrangements may be made to shorten the cruise and return to the closest suitable port to safely disembark all guests.

Where an outbreak is considered to be moderate risk, some services may be modified or suspended in order to mitigate the risk, as outlined here.

Enhanced cleaning and sanitisation will be implemented in all areas, and handwashing or sanitiser use will be enforced at all food outlets and restaurants. Masks will also be encouraged to be worn at all times except when eating or drinking.

Guests will be kept informed onboard of any COVID-19 outbreak and any changes to the situation and what this means, including any changes to onboard health protocols. In addition, guests due to board the next cruise after a COVID-19 outbreak of moderate to higher risk has occurred will be informed of this prior to boarding.

Where an outbreak is considered to be moderate risk, some activities and services may be modified or suspended in order to mitigate the risk, which may include:

• Reduced capacity in dining venues and lounges, with extended hours to facilitate physical distancing;
• Suspension of dining events, such as Chef’s table;
• Walk-up bar service suspended, and only table service will be provided;
• Modification or suspension of Kids club centre procedures and activities;
• Modification of entertainment, activities and shows, which may include reduced capacity, suspension, venue changes, shortening shows to increase frequency;
• Closure of waterslides;
• Reduced capacity in onboard shops;
• Reduced capacity in the gym, with masks required to be worn at all times and increased sanitising; and,
• Closure of self-serve guest laundries.

During a moderate level outbreak, where we are still permitted to call at a destination as determine by the local health and port authorities, some shore tours may need to be modified or cancelled.

In the unlikely event there is an outbreak of COVID-19 on board which is considered to be higher risk, all non-essential services will be suspended.