Royal Caribbean recommends guests be fully vaccinated and boostered against Covid19. Hawaii. 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. According to Royal Caribbean's Healthy Sail Center, for all sailings departing on or after Friday, February 25, 2022, face masks will become optional for all fully vaccinated passengers - with . Passengers also had to select specific check-in times for embarkation day, ensuring that crowds stayed thin at the terminal during the boarding process. It will be a requirement that cruise lines will happily comply with as most already require a vaccine mandate and . Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. 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. I saw a couple of crew members nicely ask passengers to pull their masks up over their noses in public spaces (and they complied). But against the context of everything we've seen, [that's] truly been a remarkable success.". 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. Now, abruptly, the CDC has dropped its voluntary program and has stopped regulating or tracking covid on cruise ships. 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. 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 includes more contagious variants that now have sorority and fraternity sounding names, as I recently covered for Forbes. 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. Most major cruise lines require proof of vaccination for all passengers age 12 and up, and some require them for kids as young as 5 years old (Pfizer's . Royal Caribbean International has announced it won't require US passengers to get vaccinated to go on several ships set to sail this summer. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. Guests under this age requirement who haven't been vaccinated will instead have to be tested for the virus. The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. That's why precruise testing is likely to go away but the vaccination requirement for all passengers ages 12 and over will remain. 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. The most important change may be the following: Guests who are not vaccinated can sail on any cruise from the U.S. or Europe (*except. Royal Caribbean won't require COVID-19 vaccination to - New York Post Carnival Cruise, Royal Caribbean and more to drop vaccine requirements Celebrity CEO says 'public ready to cruise,' as line announces North The graphic below, produced by Statista, illustrates the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. Newsweek, in partnership with NewsGuard, is dedicated to providing accurate and verifiable vaccine and health information. Royal Caribbean updates COVID protocols, opens more sailings to - WJXT 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. Why the change in Royal Caribbean policy? No Covid Vaccines Needed To Cruise On Royal Caribbean Ships Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card. It felt normal in many ways, but compared to two other recent cruises I took, it was a bit more controlled. Royal Caribbean has made it a practice to provide periodic . 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. Get tested again after cruise travel. What to expect on cruises: 'Vaccinated only' zones to revamped - CNBC Will I need a COVID-19 vaccine to cruise? A line-by-line guide Before joining the News 6 team, Samantha was a political reporter for The Villages Daily Sun and has had freelance work featured in the Evansville Courier-Press and The Community Paper. On my way, I passed lots of hand sanitizer dispensers and signs reminding people about social distancing and masks. Royal Caribbean's Covid Testing and Vaccination Rules - TheStreet ", Odyssey of the Seas: "May 9 to October 28, 2021 sailings departing from Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy. That was about three weeks ago (June 28) and the CDC ruling suggests that the testing requirement could change in August, but almost certainly will by September. Staff would later identify these passengers by holes punched in their SeaPass cards. The test cruises will show whether ships can sail safely and follow CDC guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 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. In Nassau, vaccinated passengers were allowed to explore however they wished, but unvaccinated cruisers were required to take ship-sponsored excursions to leave the ship. regardless of vaccination status, can cruise on the . Caribbean travel: Covid entry rules, island by island - Travel Weekly First and foremost, it's worth noting that. 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. Does that mean covid-testing requirements and vaccine mandates will be dropped? Carnival Cruise Line "The no vaccine question is is a huge question that none of us know the answer to," Bayley said. Signage was almost over-the-top prevalent to remind passengers to stay socially distant, sanitize their hands and wear a mask. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. The SARS-CoV2 is still actively spreading in the U.S. and throughout different parts of the world. Royal Caribbean International will no longer require its cruise passengers to be vaccinated for COVID-19 as it had previously planned to. Carnival will follow with the same at-home test allowance on Sept. 6. Several luxury cruise lines are implementing new vaccine protocols, each requiring guests to show proof of having received a booster shot to board. Royal Caribbean will now require all guests to get tested for COVID-19 for certain cruises, regardless of their vaccination status. In a statement CEO Michael Bayley thanked DeSantis and other elected officials for their support of the industry, which has been paralyzed since it was forced to shut down in March 2020 after COVID-19 outbreaks and deaths on several ships. Under the voluntary program, the CDC had been tracking covid levels on ships, assigning color levels based on positive tests and exposures. Where was one of the first places that SARS-CoV2 outbreaks were being noticed? Currently, the company requires all guests to "be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before sailing with all required COVID-19 vaccine doses" and "strongly" recommends guests receive the booster shot. Unvaccinated travelers (who are 5 and older on most U.S. sailings and 12 and older on select European sailings) will be required to get tested within three days of boarding. User @joanwetz agreed with the boycott, noting: "I am. All Guests, All Aboard," Royal Caribbean's President and CEO Michael Bayley wrote on Facebook. Viking Cruises already has the booster requirement in place. 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. While Americans filled arenas for concerts and sporting events, theme parks operated without any restrictions, and pretty much every business returned to normal, the CDC kept its thumb on the cruise industry. Royal Caribbean has greatly relaxed its covid rules. Cruise officials said any cruise guests departing before then must adhere to the current protocols in place, which differ depending on where you are leaving from. Learn more. Royal Caribbean Cruises When not writing, she enjoys travelling and performing improv comedy. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Unfortunately, the announcement didn't come in time for this voyage. Then I was allowed to proceed to the check-in area. Ron DeSantis recently signed into law, a ban on "vaccine passports" that would find businesses $5,000 each time they required proof of Covid-19 vaccination to use their services. Royal Caribbean won't require U.S. cruise passengers to get vaccinated has spent more than a decade writing about travel, with particular emphasis on cruises. Prior to this sweeping vaccine mandate, Royal Caribbean had been announcing select "fully vaccinated" cruises. If your Royal Caribbean cruise visits Labadee, Roatan, or somewhere in Colombia, then unvaccinated will still need to test. For non-U.S. guests, the line will also accept Astra-Zeneca.". A line-by-line guide. Every Cruise Line's Requirements for COVID Vaccines, Testing - Travel Therefore, the chances of someone bringing the virus on board a cruise ship is still quite high. A guest is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the required number of doses in their vaccine series have been fully administered (e.g. On the one hand, no business wants to shell out $5,000 (which would be equivalent to at least 2,500 hot dogs) per customer just for the heck of it. Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley, who was also on the sailing, said he expects the CDC to roll back mask mandates on ships with a large percentage of vaccinated passengers as early as this week. For cruises longer than 16 nights self-testing is not accepted for unvaccinated travelers. "Finally!!! It is unclear if cruise companies will be allowed to ask passengers if they have been vaccinated as part of the boarding process, even if they dont require vaccination to board. Apr 12, 2022 10:20 AM EDT. Joe Raedle / Getty . How do you count the 14 days for full vaccination, exactly? $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. "This Order introduces a phased approach for resuming passenger cruises. That has worked to keepcovid under control. "Boosters can be received any time prior to embarkation. Samantha started at WKMG-TV in September 2020. Beginning December 1, 2022, the line will waive vaccination requirements for all passengers on Europe and Caribbean itineraries, except where required by local regulations. The CDC may not be directly saying that it's done all it can, but the cruise lines clearly have taken reasonable precautions, and given the state of covid in the U.S., that's all that anyone can reasonably expect. -10. Crew members were also positioned at the entrances to restaurants, the theater and even at the Freestyle soda machines to push the buttons for passengers. These restrictions include wearing a mask in most public spaces and limitations on areas and services unvaccinated passengers can access. 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. A positive test would preclude them from embarking on the cruise. On a practical level, the CDC had been tracking serious illness and death and the numbers were very encouraging. Royal Caribbean has updated its COVID-19 protocols to allow more people to sail on their ships, according to the RoyalCaribbeanblog. These Countries Require It for Entry, Where Can Americans Travel Right Now? Essentially, while the CDC set parameters, the cruise lines have been policing themselves for months. The line's decision to sail less than 95% vaccinated (which requires each ship sailing from the U.S. to complete test voyages under the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's supervision) means that there are restrictions on board. Richard Fain, chief executive of Royal Caribbean, told . This app allowed us to check in for the voyage, set up an onboard account, fill out a pre-boarding health questionnaire and complete the e-muster drill (which replaces traditional muster drills where people gather in large groups). Vaccination Form | Royal Caribbean Cruises Your sailing is fast approaching, and we're looking forward to welcoming you onboard. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. "The combination of the vaccines and testing and contact tracing, all these kinds of protocols really helps us reach our objective, which is to make cruising safer than in your home community," Richard Fain, Royal Caribbean's CEO, told the BBC. ", "At Silversea, our top priority has always been to safeguard the health and safety of our guests, crew, and the communities we visit," the company wrote. Royal Caribbean Won't Require Florida Passengers To Get Vaccine #BoycottRC pic.twitter.com/5xSNzyz0It. The answer rhymes with Tom Cruise lips, kangaroos hips, and too much booze slips. Yes, cruise ships, as Victoria Forster described for Forbes in March 2020. Royal Caribbean's vaccine policies out of U.S. and Caribbean ports are remarkably consistent: For cruises from Seattle, guests who are 16 years of age or older must be fully vaccinated. NOW WATCH: This is what it takes to be a cruise ship performer. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. The post received nearly 100 likes since it was first tweeted. 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? Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Bayley said during the President's Cruise that testing would "be around for another couple of months.". Related: Cruise hack: 6 ways to turn a voyage on a mass-market ship into a luxury experience. "We want you to be more comfortable walking onboard a ship than walking down Main Street.". Royal Caribbean will accept a variety of tests as proof to board, including simply taking a photo of a self-administered home test, a new rule that Bayley also noted on social media. Additionally, Celebrity Cruises will allow unvaccinated travelers starting Sept. 5 on all cruises that depart from a U.S. or European port, excluding cruises that visit Canada, according to the company. To find out more about the new guidelines issued, click here. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. Caribbean. Vaccines, however, have clearly helped limit the number of severe cases onboard, and showing vaccination cards is a much smaller ask of passengers than requiring them to get tested no more than two days before their cruises. The company said all crew members will be vaccinated. Silversea currently requires all guests to have received their second vaccine shot, or a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, at least two weeks before their sail date. Up until now, only unvaccinated guests under the age of 12 have been allowed on Royal Caribbean ships. Mexico Plans on Increasing Protocols for Incoming Tourists, Could This Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. What if I am not feeling well in the days leading up to my cruise? People still get covid, as do crew members, but only two people have died, and very few have gotten seriously ill. 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. An aerial view of Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Sea cruise ship docked in Miami, Florida on March 2. Several cruise lines are continuing to ease pandemic-era protocols by allowing passengers to self-administer COVID-19 tests. Previously, certain areas onboard. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. #CancelCulture. "We're making it easier for more guests to sail with Royal Caribbean. Does that mean covid-testing requirements and vaccine mandates will be dropped? 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Royal Caribbean has updated its healthy sail protocols. 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. In a press release Friday announcing cruises for sale on eight of its ships from U.S. ports this summer, starting with Freedom of the Seas from PortMiami on July 2, the company said it will recommend passengers get the COVID-19 vaccine, but not require it. That's because testing two days before is at best imperfect and it may not have done much to stop covid from spreading. Who else is with me? Covid vaccine proof? : r/royalcaribbean - reddit Related: Will I need a COVID-19 vaccine to cruise? No, you need to bring the card. As a side note, the ship's Windjammer buffet was not open for dinner during the sailing. Children will be allowed to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test within . Maarten.". The new Florida law can leave businesses like cruise ship lines caught between a rock and a hard place. Several people on social media have made calls to boycott cruises with Royal Caribbean after the company announced its new sailings from the Bahamas will require adult guests to be "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" in a statement on Friday. Beginning Sept. 5, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity will also accept at-home tests on trips from U.S. ports that don't visit Canada or Bermuda. While vaccination is not required for guests under 12, we kindly ask that you fill out their status below. The cruise line will still require unvaccinated guests and vaccinated guests embarking on cruises six nights or longer, to take a COVID-19 test within three days of their departure date. Norwegian cruises to drop vaccination requirement, ease testing rules Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. CDC stops reporting coronavirus cases on cruise ships. Outside of the current welcome bonus, youre only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so its not a great card for other spending categories. Tauck At this time, only the following sailings have COVID-19 vaccination requirements: Guests age 12 and older must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to sail: Cruises from Australia Learn more about cruising from Australia Transatlantic and Transpacific Sailings In addition to having more rules in place than some other cruise lines, Royal Caribbean also enforced those protocols more strictly, with crew checking for wristbands in vaccinated-only venues and checking for masks in indoor places accessible to everyone. 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. 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.