Bahamas: Cruise Passengers Must Show Proof of Vaccination to Enter

The Bahamas government announced this week that that cruise ships will not be allowed to enter ports if there are unvaccinated passengers on board aged 12 and older.

The Bahamas’ emergency order, posted Thursday on the commonwealth’s Customs and Excise Department‘s website, takes effect Sept. 3 and is valid through Nov. 1, 2021.

The order applies to all cruise ports in the Bahamas, including private islands, including Royal Caribbean’s private island Perfect Day at CocoCay, Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Cay, and Carnival Cruise Line’s Half Moon Cay.

The ruling will impact cruise lines that have gone ahead to resume cruising out of Florida ports without requiring proof of vaccinations, following Governor Ron DeSantis‘ executive order that banned them from demanding “vaccine passports” from passengers.

To dock at a port, a cruise ship’s captain will be required to transmit a “crew and passenger manifest” disclosing every person’s vaccination status to the Port Medical Officer before arrival.

All passengers who are aged 12 and older must be fully vaccinated at embarkation unless a person is exempt from receiving vaccinations due to “medical contraindications.”

Passengers entering The Bahamas on a cruise ship are also subject to testing requirements and health protocols previously mandated.