Royal Caribbean sister brand Celebrity Cruises made a similar announcement about its COVID-19 vaccine policy late Wednesday, removing its vaccine requirement effective Sept. 5 for some but not all sailings. Day 1. This voyage included calls on Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's private island, in the Bahamas. Learn more. On March 1, the cruise line also announced its first "fully vaccinated" cruise aboard the Odyssey of the Seas, which will be sailing in May from Israel. This comes more than a week after Centers for Disease Control and Prevention removed its voluntary COVID-19 reporting program for cruise ships on July 18. "Silversea will continue to work closely with relevant governing bodies and health authorities to evolve its health and safety procedures, as new health recommendations are issued and as the fluid situation advances.". 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. . COVID-19 Vaccine Card Question : r/royalcaribbean - reddit They waved me through to security, where my carry-on was screened. Starting July 2, Royal Caribbean ships will not be requiring passengers to have covid vaccines for sailings from the U.S. Bayley said during the President's Cruise that testing would "be around for another couple of months.". Royal Caribbean won't require COVID-19 vaccination to - New York Post Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters, An aerial view of Royal Caribbeans Navigator of the Sea cruise ship docked in Miami, Florida on March 2. "Boosters can be received any time prior to embarkation. In the U.S., kids younger than 5 are exempt from testing and vaccination requirements. Royal Caribbean Internationals 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 Caribbean cruises that are restarting from Port Everglades on June 26. Vaccinated-only areas included the spa, casino, fitness center (during most operating hours), Izumi sushi and hibachi, Chef's Table and the lower decks of the main dining room and theater. "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. 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. Carnival Cruise, Royal Caribbean and more to drop vaccine requirements Royal Caribbean has updated its COVID-19 protocols to allow more people to sail on their ships, according to the RoyalCaribbeanblog. 1:03 Royal Caribbean International is resuming cruises aimed at U.S. vacationers this summer - with a twist. 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. Currently, Royal Caribbean requires travelers 12 and older to be vaccinated on U.S. cruises. Vaccinated travelers will be exempt from testing on cruises that are shorter than 10 nights, while unvaccinated travelers 5 and older will have to show proof of a negative test taken within three days of embarking on a sailing. Airplanes, theme parks, casinos, and hotels no longer require any such Covid protocols and have not had any requirements for months. These may not be available during your voyage, may vary by ship and destination, and may be subject to change without notice. Covid vaccine proof? : r/royalcaribbean - reddit 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. Royal Caribbean Cruises will now allow non-vaccinated passengers after Several luxury cruise lines are implementing new vaccine protocols, each requiring guests to show proof of having received a booster shot to board. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. What Cruise Lines Need To Admit To Unvaccinated Passengers - Forbes Stay up to date with what you want to know. While vaccination is not required, they kindly ask passengers to disclose their vaccine status during check-in. Thats what you may see as soon as next month with the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic still a public health emergency. You can still get Covid-19 after being fully vaccinated, albeit your chances are much lower compared to those who have not been vaccinated. All guests aged 4 and older are required to have a negative COVID-19 test before boarding. 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. starts on October 1st, and you would be permitted to board the ship on Carnival will follow with the same at-home test allowance on Sept. 6. "The no vaccine question is is a huge question that none of us know the answer to," Bayley said. The cruise company's new sailings from the Bahamas will require all adult guests "to be . Vaccinated guests aged 12 and over will no longer have any pre-cruise COVID-19 related protocols. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? No Covid test, proof of vaccination or quarantine is required. 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. At this checkpoint, an agent told me that if I wanted to present a vaccine card, that was the time to do so. Previously, certain areas onboard. The 14 day time period starts the day you get your last dose. 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. I will not do business with anyone requiring a vaccine," in a post that received over 130 likes since it was first shared. 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. Silversea also provides complimentary rapid antigen tests for all disembarking passengers. On my way, I passed lots of hand sanitizer dispensers and signs reminding people about social distancing and masks. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Starting Thursday, Carnival Cruise Line announced, fully vaccinated passengers will not need to take a test before boarding if the trip is . Celebrity CEO says 'public ready to cruise,' as line announces North Get up to $300 back per calendar year on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. I will be boycotting the company instead. In a statement, Royal Caribbean said that while all crew members will be vaccinated against COVID-19, guests are "strongly . The venue was open to both vaccinated and unvaccinated passengers. 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. The post received over 8,100 likes and over 2,300 retweets since it was first posted on Saturday. Does Royal Caribbean accept a photo of the vaccine card as proof? Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Oh ship. 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. 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. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. All rights reserved. Get ready for cruise ships carrying people who are not vaccinated against Covid-19. Check directly with your cruise line about their COVID-19 testing or vaccination protocols before travel. The cruises will depart from Bermuda and the Bahamas, and adult passengers must be. The cruise line said that it would only "strongly". While vaccination is not required for guests under 12, we kindly ask that you fill out their status below. Eager cruisers looking to resume sailing with Royal Caribbean will now have to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to updated guidance from the major cruise line. regardless of vaccination status, can cruise on the . 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. Travel agents and guests were notified of the change in policy. The cruise line Royal Caribbean is requiring passengers and crew members 16 or older . 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. On CocoCay, everyone was allowed to go ashore on their own and no masks were required. Lindblad, Silversea, Azamara cruise lines will require the additional COVID-19 vaccine dose for those eligible starting March 1. Ron DeSantis, who has insisted that there will be no exception made for cruise companies to a newly passed Florida law that fines companies $5,000 each time they ask a patron to provide proof of vaccination. Royal Caribbean recommends guests be fully vaccinated and boostered against Covid19. 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. Royal Caribbean Shares Huge News on Covid Testing, Vaccine Rules 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 . 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. 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. The new protocols will not apply to cruises that visit Bermuda or Canada where testing and vaccine rules will still apply. 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. Norwegian, Cunard and more end pre-cruise COVID testing - USA TODAY Passengers who didn't voluntarily show proof of vaccination, either because they weren't vaccinated (primarily children, according to Royal Caribbean executives) or didn't have their vaccine cards, were directed to a testing area. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. That's likely only partly true because Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, and the rest of the industry must also be protective of optics -- they want the easiest, most inclusive rules, but they also want customers to feel safe. Travel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. Enrollment required. 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. updated guidance from the major cruise line. Viking Cruises already has the booster requirement in place. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. Guests age 12 and up who are not fully vaccinated have 3 days to take a test before their cruise, regardless the duration of the cruise. Richard Fain, chief executive of Royal Caribbean, told . Royal Caribbean sent out an update on Wednesday with new protocols that have removed the need to conduct a pre-cruise Covid-19 test, even if you are unvaccinated. We didn't need a card at all because for the most part they don't require masks anymore. We would appreciate if you could take a moment to provide your COVID-19 vaccination status ahead of your cruise. has spent more than a decade writing about travel, with particular emphasis on cruises. Royal Caribbean drops pre-cruise testing requirement for almost all It can be professionally proctored at your doctor or drugstore, or it can be a test you administer to yourself at home without supervision. 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. Royal Caribbean to require guests be vaccinated on all cruises - WFLA as well as other partner offers and accept our. The post has had over 7,200 likes since it was first shared on Monday. Required testing can be completed using any type of PCR or antigen COVID-19 test. Feel free to visitourFAQsfor full details on vaccination requirements. 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. Speaking to Newsweek, a spokesperson for Royal Caribbean said that "vaccinations will be required for the upcoming sailings from [the] Bahamas and St. Royal Caribbean up for a skirmish with Florida, arnival and Royal Caribbean salaries revealed: From $32,000 to $383,000, here's how much the cruise industry's power players pay some of their employees, announcing select "fully vaccinated" cruises, resulted in boycott demands in late March across Facebook and Twitter. "I'm skeptical that's going to change in the real short term. Currently the CDC recommends that "all people avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises, worldwide, because the risk of COVID-19 on cruise ships is very high. 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 . As a side note, the ship's Windjammer buffet was not open for dinner during the sailing. As on most ships these days, there were also Purell hand sanitizer dispensers at the entrances to all restaurants, bars, lounges and other public areas, as well as in stairwells and elevator alcoves. Cruise giant Royal Caribbean is dropping its COVID-19 vaccine A guest is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the required number of doses in their vaccine series have been fully administered (e.g. ", Odyssey of the Seas: "May 9 to October 28, 2021 sailings departing from Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy. The announcement of these select vaccinated cruises later resulted in boycott demands in late March across Facebook and Twitter. Visitors must still fill out a health screening form prior to arrival. A line-by-line guide. 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. 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. Long story short: They were, very strictly. 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. #CancelCulture." "We are continuing to adapt our protocols to align more closely with how the rest of society and other travel and leisure businesses are operating. In late June, the Royal Caribbean cruise line will, be allowed to operate test cruises out of South Florida after receiving approval from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its not great PR to be known as that place where the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak occurred, unless you are specifically running a cruise for viruses who want to have a nice human buffet available. On the other hand, a single Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak can end up costing a cruise ship company a whole lot, including reputational damage. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. If they are more likely, then you could easily end up on a ship where less than half of the passengers are fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated travelers can join us for almost all U.S. Royal Caribbean Updates to Testing Protocols. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card on one or more of the following: Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Symphony of the Seas, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention removed, voluntary COVID-19 reporting program for cruise ships.