Preparing to sail - at the terminal.
Please note, embarkation information below is applicable to all sailings from 8 May onwards on Queen Mary 2, 15 May for Queen Elizabeth and 5 June for Queen Victoria. If you are sailing before these dates please refer to the information sent to you in your pre-cruise email communications. Please ensure your email address is up to date on your booking.
Information about other port departures may be added in the future. Until then, if you are starting your Cunard holiday at a port not mentioned below, joining details will be confirmed in your pre-cruise communications before you sail.
Scroll down this page to find more information or select one of the shortcuts below to go straight to the section you're looking for.
Southampton departures.
Use the menus below to find out what your journey through Southampton cruise terminals will look like before you depart on your Cunard voyage.
Please ensure you have the following items with you when you arrive at the terminal.
- Proof of negative Covid-19 test result (see 'Pre-cruise testing for voyages departing from Southampton' section below for details).
- Health Declaration confirmation email (a printed or digital copy is fine).
- Approved evidence of vaccination status (please refer to our Covid-19 vaccination requirements).
- Evidence of travel insurance that meets the mandatory criteria.
- Passport.
- Printed e-ticket or boarding pass (if you’ve checked in online at home) or travel documents.
All guests aged five years and over will need to organise and purchase a private antigen test to be taken within one day prior to arrival at the embarkation terminal. This can be at any time the day before or on the day of embarkation. You can order your antigen test kit online through any government-approved testing provider. Guests will need to present their negative antigen test certificate at the ship's terminal.
All unvaccinated guests aged between five and 11 years will also be required to take a complimentary antigen test (in addition to their pre-cruise antigen test, as stated above) once they arrive at the terminal. Guests aged four years and under are exempt from vaccine and testing requirements.
Please arrive at the 'arrival time' stated on your e-ticket and boarding pass. This keeps our terminal and embarkation procedures safe for all our guests, crew and colleagues. If you arrive earlier you may be asked to leave the terminal area and return at the allocated time.
Your e-tickets/boarding passes, Health Declaration confirmation emails, Covid-19 test results and vaccination statuses will be checked for all guests – please help us to make the process as speedy as possible by having all your paperwork and any digital documents ready.
Definition of test.
For embarks in Southampton all guests must use a private antigen self-test that meets the criteria below. For Southampton embarks this test does not need to be medically observed.
Accepted antigen tests include:
- Antigen Lateral Flow.
- Rapid antigen test.
- Viral antigen test.
- Antigen Chromatographic Digital Immunoassay.
- Antigen Chemiluminescence Immunoassay.
What is acceptable proof of my negative Covid-19 test result?
The following formats are acceptable proofs of a negative Covid-19 test: paper negative Covid-19 test results (original only), digital or emailed Covid-19 test results; or record of Covid-19 testing from a healthcare provider including original digital email notification or personal electronic health record.
The negative Covid-19 test result must include:
- The test supplier, including information such as the name and contact information for the laboratory or healthcare personnel.
- Type of test
- A specimen collection date within the correct timeframe before cruise departure.
- Guest’s name and either date of birth, age, or passport number.
- A negative test result using words or phrases including (and not limited to): Negative; undetectable; SARS-CoV-2 RNA not detected; SARS-CoV-2 antigen not detected; Covid-19 not detected; Not reactive.
- Test results marked “invalid” are not accepted.
All USA and Canada departures.
Use the menus below to find out what your journey through your USA or Canada cruise terminal will look like before you depart on your Cunard voyage.
Please ensure you have the following items with you when you arrive at the terminal.
- Proof of negative Covid-19 test result (see 'Pre-cruise testing' sections below for details).
- Approved evidence of vaccination status (please refer to our Covid-19 vaccination requirements).
- Health Declaration confirmation email from My Cunard (a printed or digital copy is fine).
- Printed e-ticket or boarding pass (if you’ve checked in online at home on from My Cunard) or travel documents.
- Evidence of travel insurance that meets the mandatory criteria (UK guests).
- Ensure you are aware of and have organised any visa requirements for your voyage (for example an ESTA).
- Passport.
All guests flying into the USA or Canada to board their ship will need to ensure they meet the entry requirements as stated on the UK Government website. If you are a non-UK resident, please consult your local government’s equivalent guidance or the United States of America Government website.
All guests must also adhere to all protocols as stipulated by the airline you are travelling with.
A valid Covid-19 negative test result must also be shown when embarking the ship at all Cruise Terminals. For more information please see the sections below.
All fully vaccinated guests will need to organise and purchase a private observed antigen test to be taken two days prior to arrival at the embarkation terminal. This can be at any time two days before or on the day of embarkation. You can order your antigen test kit through any government-approved testing provider. Guests will need to present their negative antigen test certificate at the ship's terminal.
If you’re travelling with children aged between five and 11 years who aren’t vaccinated, you will need to organise and purchase an observed PCR test, to be taken two days prior to arrival at the embarkation terminal. You will need to present their negative test certificate at the ship's terminal.
All unvaccinated guests aged between five and 11 years will also be required to take a complimentary antigen test (in addition to their pre-cruise PCR test) once they arrive at the terminal.
If you’re looking for a test facility in the United States, this site may help: https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/community-based-testing-sites/index.html.
Guests four years and under are exempt from vaccine and testing requirements.
Please arrive at the 'arrival time' stated on your e-ticket and boarding pass. This keeps our terminal and embarkation procedures safe for all our guests, crew and colleagues. If you arrive earlier you may be asked to leave the terminal area and return at the allocated time.
Your e-tickets/boarding passes, Health Declaration confirmation emails, Covid-19 test results and vaccination statuses will be checked for all guests – please help us to make the process as speedy as possible by having all your paperwork and any digital documents ready.
All fully vaccinated guests will need to organise and purchase a private observed PCR test to be taken 72 hours, or an observed antigen test to be taken one day prior to arrival at the embarkation terminal. You can order your test kit through any government-approved testing provider. Guests will need to present their negative test certificate at the ship's terminal.
If you’re travelling with children aged between five and 11 years who aren’t vaccinated, you will need to organise and purchase an observed PCR test to be taken 72 hours prior to arrival at the embarkation terminal. You will need to present their negative test certificate at the ship's terminal.
All unvaccinated guests aged between five and 11 years will also be required to take a complimentary antigen test (in addition to their pre-cruise PCR test) once they arrive at the terminal.
If you’re looking for a test facility in Canada, this site may help: https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/flying-canada-checklist/covid-19-testing-travellers-coming-into-canada.
Guests four years and under are exempt from vaccine and testing requirements.
Please arrive at the 'arrival time' stated on your e-ticket and boarding pass. This keeps our terminal and embarkation procedures safe for all our guests, crew and colleagues. If you arrive earlier you may be asked to leave the terminal area and return at the allocated time.
Your e-tickets/boarding passes, Health Declaration confirmation emails, Covid-19 test results and vaccination statuses will be checked for all guests – please help us to make the process as speedy as possible by having all your paperwork and any digital documents ready.
Definition of an observed test.
All guests must use a medically observed self-test that meets the criteria below. Only medically observed self-tests will be accepted.
The test must be a SARS-CoV-2 viral test (nucleic acid amplification test [NAAT] or antigen test). If you’re travelling with children aged between five and 11 years who aren’t vaccinated, they will be required to take an observed PCR test.
The testing procedure must include a telehealth service affiliated with the manufacturer of the test that provides real-time supervision remotely through an audio and video connection.
The telehealth provider must confirm the person’s identity, observe the specimen collection and testing procedures, confirm the test result, and issue a report that meets the requirements of acceptable proof of a negative Covid-19 test.
Accepted antigen tests include:
- Rapid antigen test.
- Viral antigen test.
- Antigen Chromatographic Digital Immunoassay.
- Antigen Chemiluminescence Immunoassay.
- Antigen Lateral Flow Fluorescence.
NAAT tests include:
- PCR - Polymerase chain reaction.
- RT-PCR – reverse transcription real-time PCR.
- Quantitative PCR (qPCR).
- Reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) test.
- Transcription-mediated amplification (TMA) test.
- Molecular test or molecular diagnostic test.
- Isothermal amplification.
- Droplet Digital PCR or digital droplet PCR (ddPCR).
- Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR).
What is acceptable proof of my negative Covid-19 test result?
The following formats are acceptable proofs of a negative Covid-19 test: paper negative Covid-19 test results (original only), digital or emailed Covid-19 test results; or record of Covid-19 testing from a healthcare provider including original digital email notification or personal electronic health record.
The negative Covid-19 test result must include:
- Where the test was administered, including information such as the name and contact information for the laboratory or healthcare personnel who performed the test.
- Type of test (indicating it is a NAAT or antigen test).
- A specimen collection date within 2 days before cruise departure.
- Guest’s name and either date of birth, age, or passport number.
- A negative test result using words or phrases including (and not limited to): Negative; undetectable; SARS-CoV-2 RNA not detected; SARS-CoV-2 antigen not detected; Covid-19 not detected; Not reactive.
- Test results marked “invalid” are not accepted.
Mainland Europe departures.
Use the menus below to find out what your journey through Mainland Europe Cruise Terminals will look like before you depart on your Cunard voyage.
Please ensure you have the following items with you when you arrive at the terminal.
- Proof of negative Covid-19 test result (see 'Embarking the ship' section below for details).
- Approved evidence of vaccination status (please refer to our Covid-19 vaccination requirements).
- Health Declaration confirmation email from My Cunard (a printed or digital copy is fine).
- Printed e-ticket or boarding pass (if you’ve checked in online at home on My Cunard ) or travel documents.
- Evidence of travel insurance that meets the mandatory criteria (UK guests).
- Passport.
All guests flying to Germany to board their ship will need to ensure they meet the entry requirements as stated on the UK Government website . If you are a non-UK resident, please consult your local government’s equivalent guidance.
All guests must also adhere to all protocols as stipulated by the airline you are travelling with.
All fully vaccinated guests will need to organise and purchase a private observed PCR test to be taken 48 hours, or an observed antigen test to be taken 24 hours, prior to arrival at the embarkation terminal. You can order your test kit through any government-approved testing provider. Guests will need to present their negative test certificate at the ship's terminal.
If you’re travelling with children aged between five and 11 years who aren’t vaccinated, you will need to organise and purchase an observed PCR test to be taken 48 hours prior to arrival at the embarkation terminal. You will need to present their negative test certificate at the ship's terminal.
All unvaccinated guests aged between five and 11 years will also be required to take a complimentary antigen test (in addition to their pre-cruise PCR test) once they arrive at the terminal.
Please arrive at the 'arrival time' stated on your e-ticket and boarding pass. This keeps our terminal and embarkation procedures safe for all our guests, crew and colleagues. If you arrive earlier you may be asked to leave the terminal area and return at the allocated time.
Your e-tickets/boarding passes, Health Declaration confirmation emails, Covid-19 test results and vaccination statuses will be checked for all guests – please help us to make the process as speedy as possible by having all your paperwork and any digital documents ready.
All guests aged five years and over will need to organise and purchase a private observed antigen test to be taken 24 hours, prior to arrival at the embarkation terminal. You can order your test kit through any government-approved testing provider. Guests will need to present their negative test certificate at the ship's terminal.
All unvaccinated guests aged between five and 11 years will also be required to take a complimentary antigen test (in addition to their pre-cruise antigen test) once they arrive at the terminal.
Guests four years and under are exempt from vaccine and testing requirements.
Please arrive at the 'arrival time' stated on your e-ticket and boarding pass. This keeps our terminal and embarkation procedures safe for all our guests, crew and colleagues. If you arrive earlier you may be asked to leave the terminal area and return at the allocated time.
Your e-tickets/boarding passes, Health Declaration confirmation emails, Covid-19 test results and vaccination statuses will be checked for all guests – please help us to make the process as speedy as possible by having all your paperwork and any digital documents ready.
All guests aged five years and over will need to organise and purchase a private observed antigen test to be taken two days, prior to arrival at the embarkation terminal. This can be at any time two days before or on the day of embarkation. You can order your test kit through any government-approved testing provider. Guests will need to present their negative test certificate at the ship's terminal.
All unvaccinated guests aged between five and 11 years will also be required to take a complimentary antigen test (in addition to their pre-cruise antigen test) once they arrive at the terminal.
Guests four years and under are exempt from vaccine and testing requirements.
Please arrive at the 'arrival time' stated on your e-ticket and boarding pass. This keeps our terminal and embarkation procedures safe for all our guests, crew and colleagues. If you arrive earlier you may be asked to leave the terminal area and return at the allocated time.
Your e-tickets/boarding passes, Health Declaration confirmation emails, Covid-19 test results and vaccination statuses will be checked for all guests – please help us to make the process as speedy as possible by having all your paperwork and any digital documents ready.
All guests aged five years and over will need to organise and purchase a private observed antigen test to be taken two days, prior to arrival at the embarkation terminal. This can be at any time two days before or on the day of embarkation. You can order your test kit through any government-approved testing provider. Guests will need to present their negative test certificate at the ship's terminal.
All unvaccinated guests aged between five and 11 years will also be required to take a complimentary antigen test (in addition to their pre-cruise antigen test) once they arrive at the terminal.
Guests four years and under are exempt from vaccine and testing requirements.
Please arrive at the 'arrival time' stated on your e-ticket and boarding pass. This keeps our terminal and embarkation procedures safe for all our guests, crew and colleagues. If you arrive earlier you may be asked to leave the terminal area and return at the allocated time.
Your e-tickets/boarding passes, Health Declaration confirmation emails, Covid-19 test results and vaccination statuses will be checked for all guests – please help us to make the process as speedy as possible by having all your paperwork and any digital documents ready.
All guests must use a medically observed self-test that meets the criteria below. Only medically observed self-tests will be accepted.
The test must be a SARS-CoV-2 viral test (nucleic acid amplification test [NAAT] or antigen test). The testing procedure must include a telehealth service affiliated with the manufacturer of the test that provides real-time supervision remotely through an audio and video connection.
The telehealth provider must confirm the person’s identity, observe the specimen collection and testing procedures, confirm the test result, and issue a report that meets the requirements of acceptable proof of a negative Covid-19 test.
Accepted antigen tests include:
- Rapid antigen test.
- Viral antigen test.
- Antigen Chromatographic Digital Immunoassay.
- Antigen Chemiluminescence Immunoassay.
- Antigen Lateral Flow Fluorescence.
NAAT tests include:
- PCR (Polymerase chain reaction).
- RT-PCR – reverse transcription real-time PCR.
- Quantitative PCR (qPCR).
- Reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) test.
- Transcription-mediated amplification (TMA) test.
- Molecular test or molecular diagnostic test.
- Isothermal amplification.
- Droplet Digital PCR or digital droplet PCR (ddPCR).
- Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR).
What is acceptable proof of my negative Covid-19 test result?
The following formats are acceptable proofs of a negative Covid-19 test: paper negative Covid-19 test results (original only), digital or emailed Covid-19 test results; or record of Covid-19 testing from a healthcare provider including original digital email notification or personal electronic health record.
The negative Covid-19 test result must include:
- Where the test was administered, including information such as the name and contact information for the laboratory or healthcare personnel who performed the test.
- Type of test (indicating it is a NAAT or antigen test).
- A specimen collection date within the correct time frame before cruise departure.
- Guest’s name and either date of birth, age, or passport number.
- A negative test result using words or phrases including (and not limited to): Negative; undetectable; SARS-CoV-2 RNA not detected; SARS-CoV-2 antigen not detected; Covid-19 not detected; Not reactive.
Test results marked “invalid” are not accepted.
Passenger locator forms.
Some countries currently require additional documentation for anyone travelling to, from or through cruise ports.
Currently, PLFs are required for guests visiting Germany, Belgium and Canada. If this applies to your voyage, please visit our webpage for helpful guidance on where and how to complete the form.