Viking Cruises already has the booster requirement in place. 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. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian May Drop Vaccine Mandate by This 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. The agency currently recommends all travelers are "up to date" with their COVID-19 vaccines before boarding a cruise. 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. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. Travel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. Check directly with your cruise line about their COVID-19 testing or vaccination protocols before travel. 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. The Miami-based operator. Some destinations may also require testing, so no change in policy is likely to be absolute, but the CDC's decision does seem to pave the way for the cruise lines to mostly drop the testing requirement. 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. Many and most of the destinations that we visit require a high degree of vaccination, and they expect our crew to be vaccinated.". 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.. After 14 days pass, you can get onboard on Day 15. Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to bea useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean. Royal Caribbean Updates Vaccine Protocols Following Bahamas Order These Cruise Lines Are Ending Vaccine Requirements Starting with August 8, 2022 departures, these updates include: . Who else is with me? 2023 TheStreet, Inc. All rights reserved. Once you are on a cruise ship how can you then tell who should be following additional precautions such as wearing face masks and staying at least six feet or one Denzel (because Denzel Washington is about six feet tall) away from others? 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. News 6 is Getting Results. Since September 2022,all travelers, regardless of vaccination status, were able to cruise on most itineraries, as long as they meet testing requirements to board. Royal Caribbean Cruises will now allow non-vaccinated passengers after Lindblad, Silversea, Azamara cruise lines will require the additional COVID-19 vaccine dose for those eligible starting March 1. When Will Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian End Vaccine Mandate says. In a statement, Royal Caribbean said that while all crew members will be vaccinated against COVID-19, guests are "strongly . So, is the Florida government essentially not allowing businesses to do something that would help keep their customers and staff safer? 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. 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. Royal Caribbean: Avoid Florida If You Want An All-Vaccinated - Forbes Royal Caribbean International has announced plans to begin sailing six of its cruise ships out of southern U.S. ports this July and August. Will I need a COVID-19 vaccine to cruise? A line-by-line guide Royal Caribbean will now require all guests to get tested for COVID-19 for certain cruises, regardless of their vaccination status. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. The cruise line said that it would only "strongly". Royal Caribbean to require proof of vaccination on cruises from Florida Instead, Odyssey will begin her inaugural season out of a new homeport, Haifa, Israel from June to October 2021. Airplanes, theme parks, casinos, and hotels no longer require any such Covid protocols and have not had any requirements for months. Oh ship. Royal Caribbean wont require passengers to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 on select sailings beginning in September. 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. October 15th or later. These Cruise Lines Will Accept At-home Covid Tests for - Travel 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. This includes unsupervised testing. ", Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. I saw a couple of crew members nicely ask passengers to pull their masks up over their noses in public spaces (and they complied). The initial phase requires crew screening to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 among all crew members currently on cruise ships in U.S. waters," the health body advises. That has worked to keepcovid under control. Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. Assuming that you have hundreds or even thousands of people on your cruise ships, a quick calculation with your fingers and toes will show that defying this order from the Florida state government could quickly put you out of business. if you received your final dose on October 1st, your 14 day countdown We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. . Maarten.". Caribbean. Health, Travel & Risk Acknowledgement. We didn't need a card at all because for the most part they don't require masks anymore. Does Royal Caribbean accept a photo of the vaccine card as proof? In the U.S., kids younger than 5 are exempt from testing and vaccination requirements. #CancelCulture. #CancelCulture." Vaccination Form | Royal Caribbean Cruises "And the number of people who died from COVID who'd sailed on ships over the past year was two," Royal Caribbean Blog reported. COVID-19 Vaccination is no longer required to sail, with a few exceptions. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Over the past few months that program became voluntary and masks went away while other restrictions eased. Heres a hint. Royal Caribbean has announced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for guests. 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. Get todays headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: Copyright 2022 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images), Florida Gov. That's why precruise testing is likely to go away but the vaccination requirement for all passengers ages 12 and over will remain. Unfortunately, the announcement didn't come in time for this voyage. This bracelet allowed me to access areas of the ship reserved for vaccinated passengers. 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. The cruises will depart from Bermuda and the Bahamas, and adult passengers must be. 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. Royal Caribbean expects to require its crew members to receive the vaccine before sailings return, a spokesperson told Insider. Gee, what could possibly go wrong? A guest is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the required number of doses in their vaccine series have been fully administered (e.g. Norwegian cruises to drop vaccination requirement, ease testing rules "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)." Enrollment required. 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. Lindblad, Silversea, Azamara cruise lines will require the additional COVID-19 vaccine dose for those eligible starting March 1. 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. For more information on protocols specific to your sailing, visitGetting Ready To Cruise. 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. 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. Enrollment required. Royal Caribbean Won't Require Florida Passengers To Get Vaccine The cruise company's new sailings from the Bahamas will require all adult guests "to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Royal Caribbean Updates COVID-19 Testing Policy for - Travel + Leisure With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! 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. Learn more. 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. 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. sailings.". It felt normal in many ways, but compared to two other recent cruises I took, it was a bit more controlled. 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. In a press release Friday announcing . Overall, the sailing was pleasant and it was great to be back on board a sailing from Florida. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Symphony of the Seas, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention removed, voluntary COVID-19 reporting program for cruise ships. 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. "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. User @HardLinesBlog tweeted: "I'm saying goodbye to all venues moving to this requirement," in response to the tweet by @drsimonegold. Twitter user @patriottakes wrote: "MAGAs [Make America Great Again, Donald Trump's campaign slogan] are starting to boycott Royal Caribbean because they are requiring vaccinations for adult passengers and crew members when they start sailing again in June. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. No Covid test, proof of vaccination or quarantine is required. Like Norwegian which also mandated the COVID-19 vaccine in April this request for proof of the vaccine could setRoyal Caribbean up for a skirmish with Florida, which has already barred vaccine passports and local businesses from requiring them. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. Like what you see? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have removed the COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships as of Monday. "Boosters can be received any time prior to embarkation. 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. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. "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. Offers may be subject to change without notice. The announcement of these select vaccinated cruises later resulted in boycott demands in late March across Facebook and Twitter.