Royal Caribbean Updates to Testing Protocols. Ron DeSantis bars businesses, schools and government entities across Florida from asking anyone to provide proof of a COVID-19 vaccination. Offers may be subject to change without notice. These Major Cruise Lines Just Dropped COVID-19 Testing Requirements for Shorter Sailings What to Know, Norwegian Cruises to Allow Unvaccinated Passengers Starting in September, Uniworld to Become One of the First River Cruises to Drop Vaccine Requirements next Year, More Cruise Lines to Start Allowing Unvaccinated Passengers on Board, Every Cruise Line's Requirements for COVID Vaccines, Testing, These Cruise Lines Will Accept At-home Covid Tests for Unvaccinated Passengers, Will I Need a Booster Shot to Travel? The first to set sail will be the Freedom of the Seas ship out of Miami, Florida, on July 2. However, the cruise ship company has now done an a boat face, so to speak. Florida's ban on vaccination proof requirements complicates U.S. cruise We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Or do we need the physical card? "I'm skeptical that's going to change in the real short term. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. The Seattle Times does not append comment threads to stories from wire services such as the Associated Press, The New York Times, The Washington Post or Bloomberg News. $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. More than 2.7 million people have died worldwide and more than 69.9 million have recovered as of Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University. This decision seems shocking only because the CDC, at least during the period where the cruise industry was shut down from U.S. ports, seemed to have an adversarial relationship with the companies it regulated. As a side note, the ship's Windjammer buffet was not open for dinner during the sailing. No testing is required for vaccinated passengers on voyages of nine nights or fewer. October 15th or later. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. Royal Caribbean recommends guests be fully vaccinated and boostered against Covid19. NOTE: All Royal Caribbean guests aged 12 and older must present proof of COVID-19 vaccination with the final dose of their vaccine administered at least 14 days before sailing. I just disembarked Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas, the line's first cruise ship to sail from a U.S. port in more than 15 months. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. "Cruise passengers are at increased risk of person-to-person spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19, and outbreaks of COVID-19 have been reported on cruise ships," the CDC warns. Silversea, Azamara, Lindblad, and Viking will require the additional COVID-19 vaccine dose. "And the number of people who died from COVID who'd sailed on ships over the past year was two," Royal Caribbean Blog reported. This will continue to evolve as new research and technology becomes available," the spokesperson added. In order to board these ships, all adults, including the crew, will be required to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination. The Miami-based operator. Many cruise fans and potential passengers may expect that this CDC decision means that vaccine requirements and precruise testing may soon go away. 2 shots of Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, etc., or 1 shot of Johnson & Johnson). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Viking Cruises already has the booster requirement in place. Do children need to be vaccinated to cruise? All but 1 major line say How do you count the 14 days for full vaccination, exactly? The cruises will depart from Bermuda and the Bahamas, and adult passengers must be. While vaccination is not required, they kindly ask passengers to disclose their vaccine status during check-in. Of course, nothing is foolproof: Royal Caribbean recently canceled the first sailings of its newest ship, Odyssey of the Seas, after eight crew members tested positive for Covid; six were. Get todays headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: Copyright 2022 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved. Cruise COVID Testing Rules For Vaccinated, Unvaccinated Travelers - NBC Therefore, the chances of someone bringing the virus on board a cruise ship is still quite high. Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, Credit card showdown: Alaska Airlines Visa vs. Alaska Airlines Business Visa, Disney Cruise Lines Castaway Club loyalty program: Everything you need to know, 21 new Hyatt hotels where you can get 500 extra points per night. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. An attendant who was monitoring the entrance told me they were passengers waiting for their test results. The tweet received at least 145 likes since it was first posted. Royal Caribbean no longer requires vaccinated guests to take COVID test COVID-19 vaccines no longer will be required for Celebrity sailings from European countries with the exception of Iceland and sailings from . Check here before booking an award fare. Up until now, only unvaccinated guests under the age of 12 have been allowed on Royal Caribbean ships. User @FunTimeFred1 wrote: "I'm 100% with you, Simone Any company that make this a requirement will go bust," in a reply to the message by @drsimonegold. Royal Caribbean made headlines a week ago when it announced that it would begin sailing from Florida in early July with ships where vaccinations would be recommended but not required. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. On all itineraries departing Sept. 6 or later vaccinated guests will not need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test except on cruises 16 days or longer, according to Carnival. Cruise giant Royal Caribbean International on Friday announced plans to bring back six more ships including some of its largest for U.S. sailings starting July 2. You're supposed to take a covid test two days before either at a testing center or with a proctored testing kit that they sell on their website and the test kit does have an app to show your results. At the same time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made its guidance optional for cruise lines and has warned against boarding a cruise ship at the moment, regardless of a person's vaccination status. I showed mine, and the agent gave me a purple rubber bracelet to wear. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention kept Royal Caribbean (RCL) - Get Free Report, Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL) - Get Free Report, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH) - Get Free Report and every other cruise line from sailing from ports in the U.S. from March 2020 through July 2021. No Covid test, proof of vaccination or quarantine is required. The agency currently recommends all travelers are "up to date" with their COVID-19 vaccines before boarding a cruise. Travel + Leisure magazine may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. If you are sailing on a cruise that departs on or before April 30, 2023, you will receive: 100% cruise fare refund for you and your Travelling Party, if any of you test positive for COVID-19 within 10 days prior to the cruise or at the terminal. In the past when Royal Caribbean relaxed travel requirements, they've reinforced their ships are still a step ahead of other travel in terms of protocols, "We continue to maintain additional layers of protection that far exceed any other vacation experience. Additionally -- following the first departure of Adventure of the Seas two weeks ago when two teenagers tested positive and were flown home at Royal Caribbean's expense -- unvaccinated cruisers had to purchase special travel insurance. Regardless of the rules, passengers are sure to have a good time. Long story short: They were, very strictly. Royal Caribbean extended the suspension of sailings for its global fleet through May 31 (excluding cruises aboard the Quantum, Spectrum, Voyager and Odyssey of the Seas cruise ships) "in order to allow additional time for our return to service preparations," the company said in a statement on March 19. Time is running out on free COVID tests and vaccines; what then. Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. This insurance would cover the cost of repatriation on a private charter flight and/or medical care if they tested positive during the sailing. But at the time, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson said these boycott demands were based on a "misconception.". "We want you to be more comfortable. Guests under this age requirement who haven't been vaccinated will instead have to be tested for the virus. Who else is with me? About half of the U.S. population is now fully vaccinated, which means plenty of people still have not been vaccinated. A guest is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the required number of doses in their vaccine series have been fully administered (e.g. Royal Caribbean As with so many cruises around the world, requirements will vary by itinerary, but new policies that went into effect earlier this month eliminated vaccination. "Finally!!! If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000. The major cruise line previously mandated the covid vaccine for crew members only. A blank Covid-19 vaccination record card; a filled-in version has become many people's prized possession. MIAMI Royal Caribbean International will no longer require any of its cruise passengers to be vaccinated for COVID-19 as it had previously planned to. Royal Caribbean Won't Require Covid-19 Vaccination To Ride U - Forbes Royal Caribbean has announced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for guests. Guests are also required to wear masks in all indoor public areas, in terminals, and during shore excursions, and take a COVID-19 rapid antigen test before boarding. Bayley said during the President's Cruise that testing would "be around for another couple of months.". Royal Caribbean also said it will continue to maintain a high percentage of fully vaccinated guests, and crew members will continue to be fully vaccinated and boosted as well as tested regularly when eligible. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Symphony of the Seas (WPLG) Royal Caribbean announced Thursday it's no longer requiring vaccinated guests to take a COVID-19 test prior to embarking on. Now, Royal Caribbean drops vaccine requirements for some cruises as well. NOW WATCH: This is what it takes to be a cruise ship performer. On my way, I passed lots of hand sanitizer dispensers and signs reminding people about social distancing and masks. A positive test would preclude them from embarking on the cruise. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Carnival cruise lines are easing their pandemic-era protocol by allowing unvaccinated travelers on more sailings, as well as accepting at-home COVID-19 tests for boarding. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. Royal Caribbean International has announced plans to begin sailing six of its cruise ships out of southern U.S. ports this July and August. In recent weeks, several cruise lines have been forced to cancel sailings (and some have implemented stronger mask policies) amid the emergence of the omicron variant. As summer travelers prepare to sail, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is lowering its threshold for cruise ships to meet a highly vaccinated status. Travel + Leisure magazine may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. A Country-by-country Guide, Carnival Cruise Line to Lift Mask Requirement on Board Starting March 1, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Will No Longer Require Face Masks, Spain Now Requires Booster Shot For Travelers What To Know, Every Caribbean Island's COVID-19 Travel Policies and What You Need to Know to Plan Your Trip, Anguilla Becomes Latest Caribbean Island to Ease Entry Protocols for Vaccinated Visitors, Traveling to Italy Just Got Easier With Easing of COVID-19 Testing Requirements, Countries That Are Open to COVID-19 Vaccinated Travelers, A Country-by-country Guide to COVID-19 Entry Requirements in Europe, made its guidance optional for cruise lines. Children will be allowed to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test within . Norwegian Cruise Line Requiring COVID Vaccine for Guests - Insider Strongly recommended is certainly different from required. The cruise company's new sailings from the Bahamas will require all adult guests "to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. After 14 days pass, you can get onboard on Day 15. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. Does Royal Caribbean accept a photo of the vaccine card as proof? The test cruises will show whether ships can sail safely and follow CDC guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As Taylor Doven reported for the Miami Herald, Royal Carribean issued a statement on Friday that said, Guests are strongly recommended to set sail fully vaccinated, if they are eligible. Boarding Requirements FAQ | Royal Caribbean Cruises Travelers to be Screened for COVID-19. This bracelet allowed me to access areas of the ship reserved for vaccinated passengers. Royal Caribbean's Updated Protocols Effective This Friday - Cruise Hive If not, just leave blank, Royal Caribbean drops pre-cruise testing requirement for almost all cruises, Royal Caribbean Group CEO says decision will be made if covid vaccine will be mandatory to cruise, Royal Caribbean has not decided on any more cancellations following Norwegian Cruise Line announcement, Two crew members with coronavirus evacuated from Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean stock surges after COVID-19 vaccine tests are more than 90% effective, Royal Caribbean bolsters financial situation with $3.48 billion in backup financing, You might have to take a COVID-19 test to go on a Royal Caribbean cruise in the future. Royal Caribbean CEO Michael Bayley shared some numbers the CDC had given to him, during his remarks to passengers on the 2022 President's Cruise, Royal Caribbean Blog first reported. The CDC has dropped its voluntary program to monitor cruise ships. "The new itineraries departing through August, which will sail with vaccinated crew, will be available to adult guests who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and those under the age of 18 with negative test results," the statement said. Norwegian cruises to drop vaccination requirement, ease testing rules The cruise line said that it would only "strongly". I will be boycotting the company instead. Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. When she's not in New York City, she likes to spend her time at the beach or exploring new destinations and hopes to visit every country in the world. Those with the vaccine were able to go anywhere onboard, and areas specially allotted for passengers who had their shots had no mask-wearing rules. User @HardLinesBlog tweeted: "I'm saying goodbye to all venues moving to this requirement," in response to the tweet by @drsimonegold. On sailings of a certain length, further requirements for unvaccinated passengers include two more tests after embarkation: one during the sailing and one just prior to departure from the ship. The major cruise line previously mandated the covid vaccine for crew members only. "Two is terrible. Royal Caribbean has made it a practice to provide periodic . TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. ", The cruise industry came to a halt last year amid the COVID-19 outbreak. - Only non-vaccinated guests will be required to present a negative test (an antigen test taken within 48 hours or a PCR test taken within 72 hours) to board. WOW: @RoyalCaribbean cruises is now requiring you to get an experimental vaccine to book a cruise with them. The update on the health protocols for Royal Caribbean ships came in a letter sent to travel agents, which are now also available online. Where was one of the first places that SARS-CoV2 outbreaks were being noticed? A Country-by-country Guide, Every Cruise Line's Requirements for COVID Vaccines, Testing, Uniworld to Become One of the First River Cruises to Drop Vaccine Requirements next Year, Carnival Cruise Line to Lift Mask Requirement on Board Starting March 1, Every Caribbean Island's COVID-19 Travel Policies and What You Need to Know to Plan Your Trip, Royal Caribbean Launches Hotel Booking Platform for One-stop Trip Planning, These Caribbean Destinations Just Dropped the Pre-arrival Testing Requirement for Vaccinated Travelers, eliminated testing for vaccinated passengers, officially ended its pandemic-era program for cruise ships. The cruise line's vaccine mandate will apply to guests who are at least 16 years old aboard ships sailing from the US or the Bahamas, according to Royal Caribbean's frequently asked questions page. In the testing area, they were each given an on-site rapid antigen test. Essentially, while the CDC set parameters, the cruise lines have been policing themselves for months. St. Maarten / St. Martin : open to vaccinated and unvaccinated . Royal Caribbean Informs Guests of Updated Protocols - Cruise Hive This is one of many changes in Royal Caribbean's approach to Covid-19, which has steadily seen health protocols erode in order to be closer to other forms of leisure travel. When you strongly recommend that proper clothing be worn to a business meeting, technically that slingshot mankini is still fair game. Her favorite cities include London; Amsterdam; Krakow, Poland; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Dawson City, Yukon; and anywhere known for outstanding pizza and theater. Similarly, passengers 18 years old or older sailing from other international ports will also have to be fully vaccinated.