In a statement, Royal Caribbean said that while all crew members will be vaccinated against COVID-19, guests are "strongly . Royal Caribbean recommends guests be fully vaccinated and boostered against Covid19. While there, I noticed most of the passengers in this area were parents with young children. Cov. Royal Caribbean won't require COVID-19 vaccination to - New York Post Previously, the website said passengers 16 years old and older on all of the companys U.S. cruises had to meet the requirement. 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. decision to sail less than 95% vaccinated, areas and services unvaccinated passengers can access, Will I need a COVID-19 vaccine to cruise? Royal Caribbean International's sister brand Celebrity Cruises (both owned by Royal Caribbean Group) is still requiring all passengers 16 years old or older be vaccinated on its seven-night. The summer cruises announced by Royal Caribbean International Friday are still pending approval from the CDC after each ship successfully completes a test cruise with volunteer passengers. Viking Cruises already has the booster requirement in place. Royal Caribbean Updates Vaccine Protocols Following Bahamas Order 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. Cruises from Australia are also not included in this policy change. 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. Prior to this change, unvaccinated guests had to take a Covid-19 test before their cruise. Meanwhile, Hawaii is set to abolish inter-island travel restrictions, but . The new Florida law can leave businesses like cruise ship lines caught between a rock and a hard place. 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). 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. "We want you to be more comfortable. 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. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. The cruise line Royal Caribbean is requiring passengers and crew members 16 or older . $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. Your sailing is fast approaching, and we're looking forward to welcoming you onboard. 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All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. Guests under this age requirement who haven't been vaccinated will instead have to be tested for the virus. Therefore, the chances of someone bringing the virus on board a cruise ship is still quite high. Credit ranges are a variation of FICO Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application. Travel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. If your Royal Caribbean cruise visits Labadee, Roatan, or somewhere in Colombia, then unvaccinated will still need to test. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Royal Caribbean Blog. (Photo by Ben Hasty/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images) Due to changing vaccine regulations in the Bahamas, which is a frequent stop for many cruise lines, Royal Caribbean's policy for voyages leaving from Florida will now be the same as its policy for those from all other U.S. embarkation ports -- proof of inoculation is required -- from Sept. 3 through at least Nov. 1, 2021. 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. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian May Drop Vaccine Mandate by This Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Cruise Ship Travel During COVID-19 | CDC Does Royal Caribbean accept a photo of the vaccine card as proof? Wristbands were also diligently checked in spaces intended for vaccinated cruisers. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? 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. In the testing area, they were each given an on-site rapid antigen test. 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. Those who are unvaccinated or unable to verify vaccination will be required to undergo testing and follow other protocols, which will be announced at a later date.. 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. If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000. 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. Apparently, Dolven is referring to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently signing into law a ban on Covid-19 "vaccine passports.". Royal Caribbean's Updated Protocols Effective This Friday - Cruise Hive Royal Caribbean has updated its healthy sail protocols. 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 The company had originally required guests 18 years and older to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and provide proof of vaccination to board their ships. 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. 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. Hawaii. 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. Norwegian cruises to drop vaccination requirement, ease testing rules Prior to this sweeping vaccine mandate, Royal Caribbean had been announcing select "fully vaccinated" cruises. Unfortunately, the announcement didn't come in time for this voyage. And when the federal agency lifted the ban, it severely restricted the industry, limiting capacity on ships, requiring masks, mandating vaccinations for anyone ages 12 and over, and insisting on precruise testing and monitoring crew positive tests. These new sailings are available for residents of Israel only.". . Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Royal Caribbean to require proof of vaccination on cruises from Florida 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. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. The test cruises will show whether ships can sail safely and follow CDC guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. While vaccination is not required for guests under 12, we kindly ask that you fill out their status below. These Cruise Lines Will Require a Booster Shot to Board - Travel Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty spoke about the change during an earnings call with investors earlier this year and said the change is a move to be more like other forms of leisure travel, such as theme parks, casinos, or air travel. Royal Caribbean announced Thursday its no longer requiring vaccinated guests to take a COVID-19 test prior to embarking on cruises six nights or less. Further, unvaccinated guests may embark with a negative . But there is an important difference between wearing a slingshot mankini and being fully vaccinated. Going forward, the cruise line will make pre-departure. 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. Signage was almost over-the-top prevalent to remind passengers to stay socially distant, sanitize their hands and wear a mask. Richard Fain, chief executive of Royal Caribbean, told . These may not be available during your voyage, may vary by ship and destination, and may be subject to change without notice. The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Does that mean covid-testing requirements and vaccine mandates will be dropped? ", "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. 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. TPG values it at $1,600. Ron DeSantis maintains a threat of fines under an executive order banning "vaccine passports." "Finally!!! Learn more. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a "No Sail Order" for cruise ships from March 14, 2020, as the national health body had "reason to believe that cruise ship travel may continue to introduce, transmit, or spread COVID-19.". Following August 1, this age requirement will fall to 12 years old or older. Royal Caribbean Will Not Allow Any Unvaccinated Guests Worldwide According to the statement made by Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean will not be allowing any guests onboard who have not been. Before the tracking system was removed, basically every ship in the program was at the "orange" level, which in theory triggered a CDC investigation. Similarly, on Silversea the new policy mandates that eligible passengers must receive a booster "provided the required time has passed after the completion of their primary COVID-19 vaccination series. In the U.S., kids younger than 5 are exempt from testing and vaccination requirements. NOW WATCH: This is what it takes to be a cruise ship performer. Royal Caribbean announces cruises with no vaccine requirement - The Royal Caribbean International has announced updated protocols for the United States, Puerto Rico, and Barbados-based cruises through March 31, 2022. 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. That appears to no longer be the case as the federal agency has shown: As of July 18, 2022, CDCs COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships is no longer in effect. Visitors must still fill out a health screening form prior to arrival. The US hasn't mandated the COVID vaccine for all eager cruiser goers, but the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that cruise lines with 98% of crew and 95% of passengers vaccinated can skip the "simulated voyages" that would otherwise be necessary for cruise lines to resume "restricted passenger voyages" again. Children will be allowed to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test within . Follow her adventures on Instagram. Royal Caribbean has announced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for guests. That means, as of July 1, the Florida state government could . "Effective November 2, 2022, all travelers on U.S. sailings regardless of vaccination status will no longer require pre-departure testing (excludes sailings to Colombia, Haiti, & Honduras)." 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. | Trust Index: Do COVID booster shots make you more susceptible to the virus? Plus, your own feed of TPG content. For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPGs new cruise newsletter. According to Viking's COVID-19 protocol, select at-home tests will meet Viking's travel requirement, provided they include a laboratory-certified proof of result. Royal Caribbean: COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for All Guests - Business Insider 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. But keeping track of which places were which on this voyage made my head spin. You can follow her daily exploits, both at sea and on land, on Instagram or Twitter @slyjabroni. Royal Caribbean. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Masks were not required outdoors or while eating or drinking, but I found myself constantly worrying about whether I needed to have a mask on or not. On May 26, the cruise line updated its website to say that passengers 16 years old and older on its cruises from Seattle and The Bahamas are required to be vaccinated. WOW: @RoyalCaribbean cruises is now requiring you to get an experimental vaccine to book a cruise with them. A blank Covid-19 vaccination record card; a filled-in version has become many people's prized possession. The travel company announced on Friday that an additional six ships will resume trips from US ports in Florida and Texas starting in July and August.