Crystal Cruises, the Los Angeles based luxury cruise operator in the Genting Hong Kong group, said that guests must be fully inoculated with a COVID-19 vaccine - with both doses if recommended by the manufacturer - at least 14 days prior to boarding any Crystal ship.

The passengers would be asked to provide proof of vaccination before embarkation. “The new requirement is in addition to existing Crystal Clean+ 4.0 measures, including negative COVID-19 tests and health screening questionnaires,” the company said in a statement.

Saga Cruises in the UK has also made vaccination against the virs a prerequisite for boarding, while Swan Hellenic, the expedition cruise line, said all crew and staff must be vaccinated.

The company expects all crew to be vaccinated; however, as it stands today this may not be a viable option for all crew members given their age and/or the availability of vaccines in their home countries.

“As part of the company’s Crystal Clean+ 4.0 measures, crew members are required to be tested for COVID-19 prior to leaving their home location to join the ship and must receive a negative result; they also will take a COVID-19 test at embarkation; quarantine for seven days upon arrival; and take a test at the end of that seven-day period and must receive a negative result, before beginning their duties. When vaccines are widely available, they will be a requirement of employment at least 14 days prior to service,” the company said.

“We understand that the widespread availability of vaccines varies according to the distribution plan of each travelers’ home country and/or state. As of today, Crystal has voluntarily paused operations through May 2021 for our River fleet with cancellations into June for our Ocean ships, through August 1 for Crystal Esprit and through August for Crystal Endeavor. We are confident that our timeline for returning to cruising this summer will allow guests sufficient time to get fully vaccinated,’ Crystal Cruises said.

Photo: Lobby on Crystal Symphony