As the health situation related to COVID-19 continues to improve across the world, most cruise lines have started to relax the mask policy for the crew. Crew Center has talked to crew members working on several major cruise lines to find out what are the latest crew mask policies. Surprisingly most of them said that masks are now optional and not a requirement in all crew and guest areas.

The obligation for the crew to wear face masks is the latest COVID-19 measure to be relaxed as the cruise industry continues on its path to normality. 

Cruise Lines that have dropped crew mask mandates 

• NCLH
• Face Masks: Optional
• Masks are optional for the crew on all Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings brands including Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania, and Regent Seven Seas. Several crew members aboard NCL and Oceania ships said that the relaxing of the onboard mask policy was announced aboard the ships a month ago. 

• Disney Cruise Line
• Face Masks: Optional
• Disney Cruise Line updated the company mask policy for its team members one month ago.

• Royal Caribbean Group
• Face Masks: Optional
• Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises removed mask mandates for crew on October 1.
• In an email sent to the crew Royal Caribbean said that the company is dropping all mask requirements. 
• “We are happy to announce that from today masks are optional for crew. If you are willing to wear mask, it should be with the company’s logo. This is a huge step towards our return to normal life. The decision to wear a mask is up to every crew member” 

• Carnival Cruise Line
• Face Masks: Optional, except in the medical center.
• Carnival Cruise Line announced the end of the mask policy on October 14.
• “An update to face mask requirements was issued today for our shipboard team members. Face masks are still recommended but no longer required indoors – except in the medical center, where they are still required,” Carnival Cruise Line said in a statement sent to Cruise Hive.
• “Crew is now feeling that something is missing when they leave their cabins hahaha, and a wonderful sense of normality. I can finally see if people are smiling” Carnival crew member said.

• Costa Cruises
• Face Masks: Optional
• As part of Carnival Corporation, Costa Cruises is the latest cruise line to update its mask policy for the crew. 
• “Since last few days, we received now protocol about this to remove the masks if we want. It is not compulsory to use them anymore.

• Azamara
• Face Masks: Optional

• Virgin Voyages
• Face Masks: Optional

Cruise Lines requiring face coverings for the crew:

• Princess Cruises
• Face Masks: Optional on some ships
• Princess Cruises has removed mask requirements on some cruise ships. The crew aboard the ships sailing in Australia are still required to wear. 

• MSC Cruises
• Face Masks: Required in crew and guest areas 
• MSC Cruises is one of the major cruise lines who has not relaxed onboard mask protocols for crew. According to several crew members all shipboard employees need to wear masks in crew and guest areas.

• Viking Ocean Cruises
• Face Masks: Required in guest areas; Optional in crew areas.

• Ponant
• Face Masks: Required