The recently passed Florida law crafted by the Republican-controlled state Legislature and promoted by Gov. The first to set sail will be the Freedom of the Seas ship out of Miami, Florida, on July 2. Further, unvaccinated guests may embark with a negative . That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. It felt normal in many ways, but compared to two other recent cruises I took, it was a bit more controlled. Travel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. sailings.". 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. That has worked to keepcovid under control. 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. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. 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? Related: 15 ways that cruising newbies waste money on their first cruise. Royal Caribbean International has announced updated protocols for the United States, Puerto Rico, and Barbados-based cruises through March 31, 2022. The post received nearly 100 likes since it was first tweeted. "Boosters can be received any time prior to embarkation. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. 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. The 14 day time period starts the day you get your last dose. Day 1. In a press release Friday announcing . 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. Royal Caribbean recommends guests be fully vaccinated and boostered against Covid19. After all, rarely do you hear someone ask, is that person wearing a full business suit or just a suspender man thong? Several cruise lines including Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages have already mandated the COVID-19 vaccine for its guests, crew, or both. Follow her adventures on Instagram. 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. 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). Travel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. 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. 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. With NewsGuard's HealthGuard browser extension, users can verify if a website is a trustworthy source of health information. Oh ship. The venue was open to both vaccinated and unvaccinated passengers. Following August 1, this age requirement will fall to 12 years old or older. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider 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. Time is running out on free COVID tests and vaccines; what then. 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. Travelers are also required to take a COVID-19 antigen test at the terminal before boarding. After all, enormous amounts of open space may not be the first thing that you think of when it comes to cruise ships. Carnival will follow with the same at-home test allowance on Sept. 6. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images), Florida Gov. 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. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. But all the major cruise lines that sailed from the U.S. opted into the CDC program. The graphic below, produced by Statista, illustrates countries with the most COVID-19 vaccine doses administered per 100,000 people. From there, I went to the second floor to check in. 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. The agency currently recommends all travelers are "up to date" with their COVID-19 vaccines before boarding a cruise. Read more: Carnival 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. Royal Caribbean has made it a practice to provide periodic . Under the law, which takes effect on July 1, businesses can be fined up to $5,000 per violation. Hmm in my country there are no physical vaccination cards. Several people on social media have made calls to boycott cruises with Royal Caribbean after the company announced its new sailings from the Bahamas will require adult guests to be "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" in a statement on Friday. 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. 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. The post has had over 7,200 likes since it was first shared on Monday. 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? The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Guests are strongly recommended to set sail fully vaccinated, if they are eligible, the company said in a statement. 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. updated guidance from the major cruise line. Travel + Leisure magazine may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. On a practical level, the CDC had been tracking serious illness and death and the numbers were very encouraging. This insurance would cover the cost of repatriation on a private charter flight and/or medical care if they tested positive during the sailing. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. Regardless of the rules, passengers are sure to have a good time. 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. 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. Royal Caribbean cruises are back but vaccinations will be optional. Heres a hint. Without very high vaccination rates among passengers and crew members, it can be difficult for a cruise ship to prevent the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV2) once the virus has made it on board. Over the past few months that program became voluntary and masks went away while other restrictions eased. -10. 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. Learn more. regardless of vaccination status, can cruise on the . 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. 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. . There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. 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. Staff would later identify these passengers by holes punched in their SeaPass cards. Viking Cruises already has the booster requirement in place. A line-by-line guide. If your Royal Caribbean cruise visits Labadee, Roatan, or somewhere in Colombia, then unvaccinated will still need to test. 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. 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. About half of the U.S. population is now fully vaccinated, which means plenty of people still have not been vaccinated. It is typically fairly obvious if someone is wearing a slingshot mankini. Copyright 2023 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. 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. Carnival Cruise Line I noticed that the areas reserved for vaccinated passengers were rarely, if ever, crowded. 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. 2023 TheStreet, Inc. All rights reserved. Now, Royal Caribbean drops vaccine requirements for some cruises as well. While vaccination is not required, they kindly ask passengers to disclose their vaccine status during check-in. These restrictions include wearing a mask in most public spaces and limitations on areas and services unvaccinated passengers can access. More than 2.7 million people have died worldwide and more than 69.9 million have recovered as of Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University. Who else is with me? Several cruise lines are continuing to ease pandemic-era protocols by allowing passengers to self-administer COVID-19 tests. But against the context of everything we've seen, [that's] truly been a remarkable success.". Previously, the website said passengers 16 years old and older on all of the companys U.S. cruises had to meet the requirement. When you strongly recommend that proper clothing be worn to a business meeting, technically that slingshot mankini is still fair game. 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. 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. How do you count the 14 days for full vaccination, exactly? On the other hand, a single Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak can end up costing a cruise ship company a whole lot, including reputational damage. 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. The cruise line Royal Caribbean is requiring passengers and crew members 16 or older . Do you know about when you'd like to sail? Like what you see? User @HardLinesBlog tweeted: "I'm saying goodbye to all venues moving to this requirement," in response to the tweet by @drsimonegold. An aerial view of Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Sea cruise ship docked in Miami, Florida on March 2. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. 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.". "Due to evolving health protocols, imagery and messaging may not accurately reflect onboard and destination experiences, offerings, features, or itineraries. Unvaccinated adults and vaccine exemptions. Further, the onboard mask rules were confusing. After 14 days pass, you can get onboard on Day 15. Follow her adventures on Instagram. Additionally, Celebrity Cruises will allow unvaccinated travelers starting Sept. 5 on all cruises that depart from a U.S. or European port, excluding cruises that visit Canada, according to the company. "Finally!!! 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. Caribbean. I showed mine, and the agent gave me a purple rubber bracelet to wear. Tauck Sign up for notifications from Insider! No, you need to bring the card. Action Alerts PLUS is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc. But keeping track of which places were which on this voyage made my head spin. Then I was allowed to proceed to the check-in area. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. No testing is required for vaccinated passengers on voyages of nine nights or fewer. 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. All Guests, All Aboard," Royal Caribbean's President and CEO Michael Bayley wrote on Facebook. 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. This will continue to evolve as new research and technology becomes available," the spokesperson added. Currently, Celebrity requires all guests 12 and older to be fully vaccinated to sail. Changes involve the cruise line eliminating the vaccinated and unvaccinated areas onboard its ships. "I'm skeptical that's going to change in the real short term. The vaccine is not perfect. ", Odyssey of the Seas: "May 9 to October 28, 2021 sailings departing from Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy. Now, abruptly, the CDC has dropped its voluntary program and has stopped regulating or tracking covid on cruise ships. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Travelers to be Screened for 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. 2 shots of Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, etc., or 1 shot of Johnson & Johnson). Guests who have certain pre-existing medical conditions,. You can follow her daily exploits, both at sea and on land, on Instagram or Twitter @slyjabroni. Unvaccinated travelers can join us for almost all U.S. $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. Learn more. 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. The Seattle Times does not append comment threads to stories from wire services such as the Associated Press, The New York Times, The Washington Post or Bloomberg News. "We want you to be more comfortable walking onboard a ship than walking down Main Street.". The tweet received at least 145 likes since it was first posted. Both crew members and guests over 16 years old will have to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to sail on the . ", "This means that we're transitioning to the point where everyone will be able to vacation with us while always working with our destination partners to meet their regulations.". Who else is with me? Does Royal Caribbean accept a photo of the vaccine card as proof? Royal Caribbean has announced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for guests. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have removed the COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships as of Monday. Royal Caribbean has updated its healthy sail protocols. . Essentially, while the CDC set parameters, the cruise lines have been policing themselves for months. A blank Covid-19 vaccination record card; a filled-in version has become many people's prized possession. Lindblad, Silversea, Azamara cruise lines will require the additional COVID-19 vaccine dose for those eligible starting March 1. 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. Vacation cruising has nearly returned to normal. These may not be available during your voyage, may vary by ship and destination, and may be subject to change without notice. Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. 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.) 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. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). This includes unsupervised testing. 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). Regardless of the port location, guests will have to show proof of full vaccination, completed at least 14 days before the cruise departs. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. Vaccines must be approved for use by the WHO or U.S. FDA, with the exception of CanSino. Interestingly, certain shows -- such as the ice show in Studio B -- required reservations due to their lower capacity. "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. ", "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. 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. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. It will be a requirement that cruise lines will happily comply with as most already require a vaccine mandate and . Royal Caribbean expects to require its crew members to receive the vaccine before sailings return, a spokesperson told Insider. The order was most recently extended on September 30 last year but on October 30, "a Framework for Conditional Sailing Order" was issued by the CDC. Maarten.". 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. "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. Currently, the company requires all guests to "be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before sailing with all required COVID-19 vaccine doses" and "strongly" recommends guests receive the booster shot. Each person sailing was required to download the Royal Caribbean app. "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. "We want you to be more comfortable. Check here before booking an award fare. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! The major cruise line previously mandated the covid vaccine for crew members only. As part of the Australian Federal and State Government protocols all This voyage included calls on Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's private island, in the Bahamas. 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. If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. #BoycottRC pic.twitter.com/5xSNzyz0It. The SARS-CoV2 is still actively spreading in the U.S. and throughout different parts of the world. For customers looking to board Lindblad for an adventure cruise, they will need to abide by the new regulations in place. Azamara will require all vaccinated guests to show proof they have received a booster in March. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. 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. #BoycottRC." Travel + Leisure magazine may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. It is especially important that people with an increased risk of severe illness avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises.". (Photo by Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images), Royal Caribbean International has announced. Royal Caribbean wont require passengers to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 on select sailings beginning in September. Starting Thursday, Carnival Cruise Line announced, fully vaccinated passengers will not need to take a test before boarding if the trip is . For example, Silversea also provides complimentary rapid antigen tests for all disembarking passengers. As of today, 90% of all vacationers booking with Royal Caribbean are either vaccinated or planning to get vaccinated in time for their cruise, Bayley said in a statement. The major cruise line previously mandated the covid vaccine for crew members only. However, passengers on U.S.-based voyages should be aware that protocols are likely to differ by cruise line, ship and departure state. Silversea, Azamara, Lindblad, and Viking will require the additional COVID-19 vaccine dose. Overall, the sailing was pleasant and it was great to be back on board a sailing from Florida. "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. Travel agents and guests were notified of the change in policy. WOW: @RoyalCaribbean cruises is now requiring you to get an experimental vaccine to book a cruise with them. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. An attendant who was monitoring the entrance told me they were passengers waiting for their test results. All rights reserved. Currently, Royal Caribbean requires travelers 12 and older to be vaccinated on U.S. cruises. 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. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention kept Royal Caribbean (RCL) - Get Free Report, Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL) - Get Free Report, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH) - Get Free Report and every other cruise line from sailing from ports in the U.S. from March 2020 through July 2021. Our intention is to comply with all federal, state and local laws, she said via email. While there, I noticed most of the passengers in this area were parents with young children. 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.