Vaccination Status and Documentation

You book a cruise thinking you just need a passport and sunscreen, right? Nope. Now I’m printing out my vaccine card for the third time, even after uploading it, and everyone pretends these rules don’t change every other month. Cruise lines are obsessed with your Covid-19 status—down to which app you used or if a photo of your card is legit.

Fully Vaccinated Guidelines

CDC’s “voluntary program” ended, but cruise lines made up their own patchwork. Carnival says “fully vaccinated” means two mRNA shots or one J&J, at least 14 days before boarding. But if you mixed brands or got your shots out of order, get ready for more paperwork.

International sailings? Total chaos. UK ships follow NHS, Greece wants an EU certificate, nobody says why. Disney’s strict, Norwegian relaxed this year (I think? That’s what CruiseDirect claims). Sometimes boosters count, sometimes not. I’ve seen people denied because their booster was “too old.” If you want answers, don’t ask ground staff.

Proof of Vaccination Procedures

I wish a screenshot of my CDC card worked everywhere. It doesn’t. Staff sometimes want paper copies, QR-coded digital passes (like VeriFLY), even batch numbers. Carnival and Royal Caribbean flip between paper and digital depending on where you board. Florida? Print it. Italy? They might want it translated.

Get ready for multiple scans, double uploads, and a nurse checking your vaccine card against your passport—awkward if your name’s spelled differently. I’ve seen European cards get the third degree. One tiny paperwork mismatch and your vacation stalls out. Staff are trained to spot fake CDC cards, but foreign certificates? Good luck.

Handling Exemptions and Exceptions

Stories are everywhere—someone with a doctor’s note begging for a last-minute exemption. Carnival and a few others sometimes allow “medical exemptions,” but only if you apply weeks ahead and some panel approves it. No clear rules: some want a doctor’s letter with diagnosis codes (Celebrity Cruises says so), others need a specialist’s signature.

If you’re not vaccinated and get on board, brace yourself: quarantine cabins, daily checks, extra tests. Destination matters—Alaska sometimes lets unvaccinated kids sail with paperwork, but Caribbean lines just say no. I watched a family get booted before they even cleared security because their exemption expired. No staff ever agrees on the rules, especially when a new variant pops up. Sometimes it’s not even the cruise line’s rule—it’s the port, and nobody updates the website until after someone gets left behind.

Updated Restrictions on Personal Items

No one warns you that arguing with security about your Nalgene bottle is pointless—just makes you sweat more while everyone behind you glares. Every year, they add new bans and medical rules pop up in the weirdest places, all “for safety.” If you’re not already anxious, your bag is now a minefield. What even counts as ‘just stuff’ anymore?

Water Bottles and Outside Drinks

Somewhere in the middle of the terminal I’m clutching my crusty Hydro Flask, feeling like I’m hiding something illegal. Security agent gives me that look—“Water bottles—empty?” Not even a hint of a smile. Carnival, Royal Caribbean, whatever, they’re obsessed: bottles must be clear, nothing refilled, no glass, and stainless steel? Apparently a federal offense, or so they act. I get it, sort of, but come on—hydration matters, unless you want to cough up $18 for a plastic bottle that tastes like regret.

Honestly, does anyone understand these “drink package” things? Unlimited soda, maybe, if you buy early, but don’t even think about sneaking a six-pack of LaCroix in your bag (just Google “Royal Caribbean banned list” and try not to spiral). Alcohol’s a hard no, but get this—sealed juice boxes get flagged too. One of the port guys told me he “confiscates dozens of reusable bottles every day.” Good luck getting yours back. Suddenly I’m second-guessing everything in my carry-on. What if they think my sports drink powder is some weird supplement? Do I look suspicious? Am I overthinking this? Probably.

Medication Packaging Rules

Last year, boarding a Princess cruise, I watched a retired pharmacist (gray ponytail, super organized) get his vitamins dumped out for “authenticity checks.” That just means someone poked through it all with a gloved finger. It’s nonsense. Sure, the rules say meds need to be in original containers (FDA and cruise FAQs are obsessed with this), but everyone I know uses those weekly pill boxes. Put your loose pills in a sandwich bag? Prepare for a lecture and maybe a supervisor.

Prescriptions? Keep the pharmacy label, make sure your name matches your passport, or expect drama. Over-the-counter stuff gets even weirder—big unlabeled tubs of supplements, apparently, are “suspicious.” Melatonin? Suddenly a problem. I’ve watched families toss gummy vitamins or beg a medical officer for mercy. If you’re running late, it’s a nightmare. Someone once told me (guest relations manager, face like stone): print out your med list with both brand and generic names, and bring a doctor’s note for anything injectable, insulin pens included. They don’t post this anywhere obvious; you just find out when you’re sweating under fluorescent lights, digging through your toiletries while everyone watches.