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. I will be boycotting the company instead. The CDC has dropped its voluntary program to monitor cruise 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. 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. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Symphony of the Seas (WPLG) Royal Caribbean announced Thursday it's no longer requiring vaccinated guests to take a COVID-19 test prior to embarking on. Why the change in Royal Caribbean policy? updated guidance from the major cruise line. Regardless of the rules, passengers are sure to have a good time. Royal Caribbean Updates to Testing Protocols. 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. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian all require anyone 12 and older sailing on their ships to be fully. 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. 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. (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. October 15th or later. Royal Caribbean has updated its healthy sail protocols. 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. [TRENDING: Is it illegal in Florida to back into a parking space? I am a writer, journalist, professor, systems modeler, computational and digital health expert, avocado-eater, and entrepreneur, not always in that order. 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. 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. Passengers no longer have to wear masks onboard while they are indoors, and while capacities have not returned to 100% . This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Here, I'll explain how various facets of the sailing look for both vaccinated and unvaccinated cruisers. Fully vaccinated guests and guests ages 11 and younger are exempt. Guests under the age of 12 do not have any testing requirements. I showed mine, and the agent gave me a purple rubber bracelet to wear. After all, rarely do you hear someone ask, is that person wearing a full business suit or just a suspender man thong? If they are more likely, then you could easily end up on a ship where less than half of the passengers are fully vaccinated. Royal Caribbean has announced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for guests. 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). sailings.". Stay up to date with what you want to know. Vaccinated travelers will not be required to get tested for cruises that are 9 nights or less. That's why precruise testing is likely to go away but the vaccination requirement for all passengers ages 12 and over will remain. Further, the onboard mask rules were confusing. "I'm skeptical that's going to change in the real short term. 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. Ron DeSantis bars businesses, schools and government entities across Florida from asking anyone to provide proof of a COVID-19 vaccination. Royal Caribbean wont require passengers to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 on select sailings beginning in September. "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. Visit the Newsweek VaxFacts website to learn more and to download the HealthGuard browser extension. According to CDC rules, cruise ships that dont meet certain vaccination thresholds for passengers and crew must first do a successful test cruise before they can restart revenue cruises. In the testing area, they were each given an on-site rapid antigen test. COVID-19 Vaccination is no longer required to sail, with a few exceptions. People still get covid, as do crew members, but only two people have died, and very few have gotten seriously ill. While vaccination is not required for guests under 12, we kindly ask that you fill out their status below. 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. All rights reserved. starts on October 1st, and you would be permitted to board the ship on Silversea, Azamara, Lindblad, and Viking will require the additional COVID-19 vaccine dose. Royal Caribbean International has announced updated protocols for the United States, Puerto Rico, and Barbados-based cruises through March 31, 2022. Charleston. Richard Fain, chief executive of Royal Caribbean, told . Bayley noted that the CDC shared some information with him about the "millions" of people who have sailed from U.S. ports over the past 12 months. Time is running out on free COVID tests and vaccines; what then. 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? Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. 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. That's because testing two days before is at best imperfect and it may not have done much to stop covid from spreading. "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.". Royal Caribbean recommends guests be fully vaccinated and boostered against Covid19. Further, unvaccinated guests may embark with a negative . If your cruise line does not have a specific testing requirement, get tested as close to time of cruise departure as possible (no more than 3 days before you travel). as well as other partner offers and accept our. You're supposed to take a covid test two days before either at a testing center or with a proctored testing kit that they sell on their website and the test kit does have an app to show your results. This includes unsupervised testing. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. A Country-by-country Guide, Carnival Cruise Line to Lift Mask Requirement on Board Starting March 1, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Will No Longer Require Face Masks, Spain Now Requires Booster Shot For Travelers What To Know, Every Caribbean Island's COVID-19 Travel Policies and What You Need to Know to Plan Your Trip, Anguilla Becomes Latest Caribbean Island to Ease Entry Protocols for Vaccinated Visitors, Traveling to Italy Just Got Easier With Easing of COVID-19 Testing Requirements, Countries That Are Open to COVID-19 Vaccinated Travelers, A Country-by-country Guide to COVID-19 Entry Requirements in Europe, made its guidance optional for cruise lines. These restrictions include wearing a mask in most public spaces and limitations on areas and services unvaccinated passengers can access. 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. Wristbands were also diligently checked in spaces intended for vaccinated cruisers. The about-face is an apparent submission to Gov. Vaccinated guests aged 12 and over will no longer have any pre-cruise COVID-19 related protocols. Many and most of the destinations that we visit require a high degree of vaccination, and they expect our crew to be vaccinated.". 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. 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. 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. "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)." Starting with August 8, 2022 departures, these updates include: . 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 cruise company's new sailings from the Bahamas will require all adult guests "to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 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. Viking Cruises already has the booster requirement in place. Plus, while the Covid-19 vaccine does offer strong protection against Covid-19, it is not like a concrete full body condom (which, by the way, is not great to wear during sex.) Enrollment required. Regardless of the port location, guests will have to show proof of full vaccination, completed at least 14 days before the cruise departs. The cruise company's new sailings from the Bahamas will require all adult guests "to be . Do you know about when you'd like to sail? We didn't need a card at all because for the most part they don't require masks anymore. An attendant who was monitoring the entrance told me they were passengers waiting for their test results. This includes more contagious variants that now have sorority and fraternity sounding names, as I recently covered for Forbes. Travel agents and guests were notified of the change in policy. 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 graphic below, produced by Statista, illustrates countries with the most COVID-19 vaccine doses administered per 100,000 people. These Countries Require It for Entry, Where Can Americans Travel Right Now? 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 International has announced it won't require US passengers to get vaccinated to go on several ships set to sail this summer. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. The CDC dropped its cruise covid-19 reporting program last month, prompting cruise lines to announce they would loosen testing requirements for vaccinated passengers and in most cases . The post has had over 7,200 likes since it was first shared on Monday. Prior to this sweeping vaccine mandate, Royal Caribbean had been announcing select "fully vaccinated" cruises. 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. 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. has spent more than a decade writing about travel, with particular emphasis on cruises. Learn more. One can download it through The app or from browser on The phone, and there is this QR-code to "check" it. 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. Interestingly, certain shows -- such as the ice show in Studio B -- required reservations due to their lower capacity. Who else is with me? This includes vaccination of all crew and keeping them up to date with boosters when eligible, routine surveillance of all crew, enhanced testing and treatment capabilities in our onboard medical centers, and much more. The cruise line Royal Caribbean is requiring passengers and crew members 16 or older . #BoycottRC pic.twitter.com/5xSNzyz0It. A blank Covid-19 vaccination record card; a filled-in version has become many people's prized possession. Following August 1, this age requirement will fall to 12 years old or older. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Royal Caribbean will now require all guests to get tested for COVID-19 for certain cruises, regardless of their vaccination status. 2 shots of Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, etc., or 1 shot of Johnson & Johnson). 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. 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. MAGAs are starting to boycott Royal Caribbean because they are requiring vaccinations for adult passengers and crew members when they start sailing again in June. 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. While vaccination is not required, they kindly ask passengers to disclose their vaccine status during check-in. #CancelCulture. But at the time, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson said these boycott demands were based on a "misconception.". A positive test would preclude them from embarking on the cruise. 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. guests must review and accept the Prior to this change, unvaccinated guests had to take a Covid-19 test before their cruise. 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. Our intention is to comply with all federal, state and local laws, she said via email. 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. Bayley said during the President's Cruise that testing would "be around for another couple of months.". For example, 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. No Covid test, proof of vaccination or quarantine is required. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. This bracelet allowed me to access areas of the ship reserved for vaccinated passengers. 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. 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. Carnival, Royal Caribbean and more to drop vaccination requirements for select sailings. If not, just leave blank, Royal Caribbean drops pre-cruise testing requirement for almost all cruises, Royal Caribbean Group CEO says decision will be made if covid vaccine will be mandatory to cruise, Royal Caribbean has not decided on any more cancellations following Norwegian Cruise Line announcement, Two crew members with coronavirus evacuated from Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean stock surges after COVID-19 vaccine tests are more than 90% effective, Royal Caribbean bolsters financial situation with $3.48 billion in backup financing, You might have to take a COVID-19 test to go on a Royal Caribbean cruise in the future. Meanwhile, Hawaii is set to abolish inter-island travel restrictions, but . 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. For more information, please see here . Travelers to be Screened for COVID-19. 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. Hmm in my country there are no physical vaccination cards. Health, Travel & Risk Acknowledgement. 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Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. Image source: Dukas/Universal Images Group via Getty Images. The update on the health protocols for Royal Caribbean ships came in a letter sent to travel agents, which are now also available online. Find the right card for you. 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. 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. Under the current voluntary CDC guidelines, 95% of passengers must be vaccinated. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Since then, more itineraries opened up to unvaccinated cruisers. Samantha started at WKMG-TV in September 2020. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. Royal Caribbean Cruises 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. At this checkpoint, an agent told me that if I wanted to present a vaccine card, that was the time to do so. Speaking to Newsweek, a spokesperson for Royal Caribbean said that "vaccinations will be required for the upcoming sailings from [the] Bahamas and St. . 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. 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. Unfortunately, the announcement didn't come in time for this voyage. "We want you to be more comfortable walking on board a ship than walking down Main Street," Richard Fain, Royal Caribbean's CEO, told the BBC. 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. 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. "Boosters can be received any time prior to embarkation. The first to set sail will be the Freedom of the Seas ship out of Miami, Florida, on July 2. | Become a News 6 Insider (its free!)]. 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. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. 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.
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