It’s no secret the cruise line industry is awash in red ink and bad publicity thanks to the global pandemic. As the industry looks to rebound, future passengers should be prepared to adhere to a new set of health and safety standards.

Beginning July 1, 2021, American Queen Steamboat Company and its sister company Victory Cruise Lines will require all passengers and crew receive a Covid-19 vaccination prior to sailing.

They join United Kingdom based Saga cruises which instituted the policy beginning with the resumption of sailings in May 2021.

The vaccine requirement is in addition to masking, temperature checks and Covid testing requirements prior to boarding.

CLICK HERE to read American Queen Steamboat Companies complete Covid-19 protocols. American Queen focuses on sailings in the heartland up and down the Mississippi, Ohio, Illinois, Tennessee, Cumberland, Snake and Columbia Rivers.

Victory Cruises Lines sails the Great Lakes, Canada, New England, parts of the Southeast, the Alaskan Coast, along with Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula.

For Saga health and safety requirements CLICK HERE. Saga is a global brand with ports-of-call around the world.

While the wider cruise line industry has yet to adopt such stringent measures, stay tuned as the cruise business adjusts to a new normal, that might even include vaccine passports.