if you received your final dose on October 1st, your 14 day countdown 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. Travelers looking to set sail with Viking Cruises must take a COVID-19 PCR laboratory test before leaving their home country 72 hours prior to departure of the first flight, or 24 hours before with a laboratory certified antigen test. Up until now, only unvaccinated guests under the age of 12 have been allowed on Royal Caribbean ships. Going forward, the cruise line will make pre-departure. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. The Royal Caribbean cruise line plans to drop its COVID-19 testing requirement for some guests starting on Aug. 8, according to a statement on its website. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Learn more. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Therefore, the chances of someone bringing the virus on board a cruise ship is still quite high. Apr 12, 2022 10:20 AM EDT. If youre planning to sail on a Disney Cruise out of Port Canaveral, youre more than likely making a stop at Disneys private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay. "We have followed the science and used our learnings about COVID-19 to develop comprehensive health and safety protocols to make cruising safer by preventing and mitigating the spread of infectious diseases, in general, and of COVID-19, in particular. That has worked to keepcovid under control. Mexico Plans on Increasing Protocols for Incoming Tourists, Could This Royal Caribbean Faces Boycott Calls as Only Vaccinated - Newsweek Royal Caribbean Shares Huge News on Covid Testing, Vaccine Rules President Michael Bayley gave some straight answers on pre-cruise covid testing and potentially dropping vaccine. 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. 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. I will be boycotting the company instead. Royal Caribbean will require vaccinated guests 5 and older to take a pre-cruise test on sailings from the U.S . Passengers no longer have to wear masks onboard while they are indoors, and while capacities have not returned to 100% . Enrollment required. All cruisers -- regardless of vaccination status -- had to wear masks in indoor spaces unless they were explicitly designated for vaccinated cruisers. This protocol will go into place starting Aug. 8. A positive test would preclude them from embarking on the cruise. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). Boarding Requirements FAQ | Royal Caribbean Cruises The change comes just over a week after Royal Caribbean first eased vaccine requirements for cruises departing from Los Angeles, Galveston, New Orleans, and any European homeport as well as weeks after Royal Caribbean eliminated testing for vaccinated passengers on shorter sailings. 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 and earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. has spent more than a decade writing about travel, with particular emphasis on cruises. Royal Caribbean recommends guests be fully vaccinated and boostered against Covid19. The about-face is an apparent submission to Gov. 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. 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. Carnival Cruise Line Lyan Sierra-Caro, a spokesperson for Royal Caribbean International, said the plans to require passengers be vaccinated that the company submitted to the CDC only applied to its test cruises. No Covid test, proof of vaccination or quarantine is required. Azamara does not require negative test results in order to board unless mandated by local governments in the ports where the line's ships sail. When I reached the third floor on my way to the gangway, I passed by a small waiting area with several groups of bored-looking people. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. User @joanwetz agreed with the boycott, noting: "I am. Maarten.". "Due to evolving health protocols, imagery and messaging may not accurately reflect onboard and destination experiences, offerings, features, or itineraries. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. For more information on protocols specific to your sailing, visitGetting Ready To Cruise. Related: 15 ways that cruising newbies waste money on their first cruise. Guests under this age requirement who haven't been vaccinated will instead have to be tested for the virus. Unvaccinated passengers can cruise with negative results from any commercially available test, including self-tests. Further, the onboard mask rules were confusing. Before the tracking system was removed, basically every ship in the program was at the "orange" level, which in theory triggered a CDC investigation. Virgin Voyages Becomes First Major Cruise Line to Eliminate Pre-embarkation COVID Testing in the U.S. Margaritaville at Sea Becomes Latest Cruise Line to Ease Pre-boarding COVID Testing Requirement, Where Can Americans Travel Right Now? #CancelCulture." These Countries Require It for Entry, Where Can Americans Travel Right Now? With NewsGuard's HealthGuard browser extension, users can verify if a website is a trustworthy source of health information. Ron DeSantis bars businesses, schools and government entities across Florida from asking anyone to provide proof of a COVID-19 vaccination. Does that mean covid-testing requirements and vaccine mandates will be dropped? Royal Caribbean. NOW WATCH: This is what it takes to be a cruise ship performer. 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. 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. The announcement is a reversal from previous statements and vaccine protocols the company submitted to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last month that said it would require all passengers at least 18 years old and older to be vaccinated. Every Cruise Line's Requirements for COVID Vaccines, Testing - Travel Royal Caribbean has announced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for guests. Royal Caribbean reversed course on its vaccine policy last week, making the jab optional for most of its cruises after the company initially planned to require it. The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway. Royal Caribbean to drop COVID-19 testing requirement for some guests Currently, Royal Caribbean requires travelers 12 and older to be vaccinated on U.S. cruises. Enrollment required. On Friday, Royal Caribbean announced new seven-night cruises aboard the Adventure of the Seas cruise ship that will depart from Nassau in the Bahamas starting in June. Many and most of the destinations that we visit require a high degree of vaccination, and they expect our crew to be vaccinated.". Changes involve the cruise line eliminating the vaccinated and unvaccinated areas onboard its ships. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Symphony of the Seas, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention removed, voluntary COVID-19 reporting program for cruise ships. 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. I saw a couple of crew members nicely ask passengers to pull their masks up over their noses in public spaces (and they complied). I noticed that the areas reserved for vaccinated passengers were rarely, if ever, crowded. Royal Caribbean Updates COVID-19 Testing Policy for - Travel + Leisure Royal Caribbean Drops Vaccine Requirement for Some Cruises 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. Vaccinated vs. unvaccinated: Two different experiences on Royal The test cruises will show whether ships can sail safely and follow CDC guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Of all the new health protocols and changes, perhaps no single rule is as hotly debated right now as if cruise lines, Norwegian Cruise Line announced on Tuesday it will extend its cruise cancellations through the end of September (minus, Two crew members from Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas were evacuated off Oasis of the Seas in Port Everglades on, If you own Royal Caribbean stock, today is a great start to your portfolio for the week.Royal Caribbean, and the entire, Royal Caribbean's recent filingwith the SEC indicates it has taken advantageof$3.48 billion in backup financing, Taking a test for COVID-19 before you get on a Royal Caribbean cruise might be one of the many steps the cruise line. October 15th or later. A line-by-line guide. 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. 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. Thats Time is running out on free COVID tests and vaccines; what then. as well as other partner offers and accept our. That's because testing two days before is at best imperfect and it may not have done much to stop covid from spreading. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Covid Vaccine Card: What You Need to Know - The New York Times Royal Caribbean Extends Vaccine Mandate Further Into 2022 - Cruise Radio The industry-wide trend comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially ended its pandemic-era program for cruise ships last month. COVID-19 Vaccination is no longer required to sail, with a few exceptions. 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. 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. 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. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. ", Odyssey of the Seas: "May 9 to October 28, 2021 sailings departing from Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy. But all the major cruise lines that sailed from the U.S. opted into the CDC program. Hmm in my country there are no physical vaccination cards. During one performance, I went to the theater's upper level (where anyone, including unvaccinated passengers, was able to sit) to see what it was like. Joe Raedle / Getty . 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. Crew will be tested regularly while on board. ", The cruise industry came to a halt last year amid the COVID-19 outbreak. 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 just announced a new collection of seven-night summer cruises to the Bahamas and Mexico, but don't consider booking a spot unless you plan on being fully vaccinated against. Related: Cruise hack: 6 ways to turn a voyage on a mass-market ship into a luxury experience. 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. The new protocols will not apply to cruises that visit Bermuda or Canada where testing and vaccine rules will still apply. All Guests, All Aboard," Royal Caribbean's President and CEO Michael Bayley wrote on Facebook. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. "Guests . Will I need a COVID-19 vaccine to cruise? A line-by-line guide After all, rarely do you hear someone ask, is that person wearing a full business suit or just a suspender man thong? Or do we need the physical card? Since then, more itineraries opened up to unvaccinated cruisers. Silversea, Azamara, Lindblad, and Viking will require the additional COVID-19 vaccine dose. Unvaccinated adults and vaccine exemptions. Travelers to be Screened for COVID-19. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. 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.