Mixed Vaccines Acceptance Cause Cruising Conundrum
Multiple cruise lines have updated their travel requirements to prohibit travellers who have received mixed vaccine doses. The policy updates impact many Canadians who received mixed doses and follows the WHO’s announcement that the trend of mixing vaccines is “dangerous.”
However, some cruise lines advise that they will approve two different mRNA vaccines — Pfizer and Moderna — but not one dose of a vector vaccine like AstraZeneca.
Holland America Line’s website states:
If I’ve received mixed vaccinations, will that satisfy your vaccination requirements?
Guests who have received one single dose of a vector vaccine (e.g. AstraZeneca) and one single dose of a mRNA vaccine (e.g. Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna) will not be considered fully vaccinated. Guests who have received two single doses of mixed vaccines that are the same type (e.g., both are mRNA) will be considered fully vaccinated and will be permitted to sail, so long as the final dose is received at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the cruise.
Princess Cruises states:
If I’ve received mixed vaccinations, will that satisfy your vaccination requirements?
Guests who have received one single dose of a vector vaccine (e.g. AstraZeneca) and one single dose of a mRNA vaccine (e.g. Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna) will not be considered fully vaccinated. Guests who have received two single doses of mixed vaccines that are the same type (e.g., mRNA) will be considered fully vaccinated and will be permitted to sail, so long as the final dose is received at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the cruise.
Carnival Cruise Line states:
Is it acceptable that I received a Pfizer vaccine as my first dose and Moderna as my second?
Pfizer and Moderna can be mixed to complete a full vaccination series. All other vaccines in a 2-dose series are required to be of the same type.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s policy is specific to US ports:
What vaccines will be accepted?
For ships embarking or disembarking at US ports, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and/or World Health Organization (WHO) authorized single brand vaccination protocol will be accepted. Including, J&J Janssen, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca/Oxford. Mixed vaccination protocol will not be accepted (i.e. Pfizer + Moderna or AstraZeneca + Pfizer, etc).
All Other Vessels departing from a non US port will accept any U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Medicines Agency (EMA), or World Health Organization (WHO) authorized single brand vaccination protocol. Or a mixed vaccination protocol of only AstraZeneca-SK Bio, Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna combinations.
Celebrity Cruises notes:
Will I be considered fully vaccinated if my first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine is from one manufacturer and the second dose is from another?
No, at this time, Celebrity Cruises does not accept mixed doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Although its parent company has different protocols, Costa Cruises’ communications team confirmed that:
“We don’t require vaccination to embark on our ships. All passengers (both vaccinated and not vaccinated) must respect all the procedures included in our safety protocols, including double swab test (before embarkation and in the middle of the cruise), masks in inside public areas, etc…”
