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. 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. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Richard Fain, chief executive of Royal Caribbean, told . Meanwhile, Hawaii is set to abolish inter-island travel restrictions, but . To find out more about the new guidelines issued, click here. 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. Four major cruise lines are dropping their vaccination requirements for some sailings next month, the . regardless of vaccination status, can cruise on the . 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. Florida's ban on vaccination proof requirements complicates U.S. cruise Hmm in my country there are no physical vaccination cards. What are the pre-cruise testing requirements for my cruise? | Royal Plus, your own feed of TPG content. Passenger operations continue to be suspended during the initial phases of this Order. On a practical level, the CDC had been tracking serious illness and death and the numbers were very encouraging. Norwegian Cruise Line Requiring COVID Vaccine for Guests - Insider 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. 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 Cruises will now allow non-vaccinated passengers after The CDC may not be directly saying that it's done all it can, but the cruise lines clearly have taken reasonable precautions, and given the state of covid in the U.S., that's all that anyone can reasonably expect. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. 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. I am a writer, journalist, professor, systems modeler, computational and digital health expert, avocado-eater, and entrepreneur, not always in that order. #BoycottRC pic.twitter.com/5xSNzyz0It. Find the right card for you. 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.) Royal Caribbean's Covid Testing and Vaccination Rules - TheStreet Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card. 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. Guests are strongly recommended to set sail fully vaccinated, if they are eligible, the company said in a statement. Starting July 2, Royal Caribbean ships will not be requiring passengers to have covid vaccines for sailings from the U.S. 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. Bayley said during the President's Cruise that testing would "be around for another couple of months.". 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. What to expect on cruises: 'Vaccinated only' zones to revamped - CNBC But against the context of everything we've seen, [that's] truly been a remarkable success.". $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. Vaccines must be approved for use by the WHO or U.S. FDA, with the exception of CanSino. Royal Caribbean cruises are back but vaccinations will be optional. It felt normal in many ways, but compared to two other recent cruises I took, it was a bit more controlled. "This Order introduces a phased approach for resuming passenger cruises. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? 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. Does Royal Caribbean accept a photo of the vaccine card as proof? Strongly recommended is certainly different from required. When you strongly recommend that proper clothing be worn to a business meeting, technically that slingshot mankini is still fair game. This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more. Related: Cruise hack: 6 ways to turn a voyage on a mass-market ship into a luxury experience. . Azamara will require all vaccinated guests to show proof they have received a booster in March. Learn more. All guests aged 4 and older are required to have a negative COVID-19 test before boarding. 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. Vaccination Form | Royal Caribbean Cruises Unvaccinated travelers can join us for almost all U.S. 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. On all itineraries departing Sept. 6 or later vaccinated guests will not need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test except on cruises 16 days or longer, according to Carnival. 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. Cov. In a statement, Royal Caribbean said that while all crew members will be vaccinated against COVID-19, guests are "strongly . That means, as of July 1, the Florida state government could . Like what you see? Check here before booking an award fare. Going forward, the cruise line will make pre-departure. Norwegian cruises to drop vaccination requirement, ease testing rules TPG values it at $1,600. Joe Raedle / Getty . 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. 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. - As of the winter 2022 Caribbean and Central America season, Star Clippers no longer requires COVID-19 vaccinations for passengers. Changes involve the cruise line eliminating the vaccinated and unvaccinated areas onboard its ships. 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. 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. | Trust Index: Do COVID booster shots make you more susceptible to the virus? Royal Caribbean Faces Boycott Calls as Only Vaccinated - Newsweek 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. Carnival will follow with the same at-home test allowance on Sept. 6. The vaccine is not perfect. 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. Required testing can be completed using any type of PCR or antigen COVID-19 test. Royal Caribbean International has announced updated protocols for the United States, Puerto Rico, and Barbados-based cruises through March 31, 2022. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. Both crew members and guests over 16 years old will have to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to sail on the . 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian all require anyone 12 and older sailing on their ships to be fully. After 14 days pass, you can get onboard on Day 15. While vaccination is not required, they kindly ask passengers to disclose their vaccine status during check-in. Royal Caribbean has updated its healthy sail protocols. COVID-19 Vaccination is no longer required to sail, with a few exceptions. if you received your final dose on October 1st, your 14 day countdown Guests who are fully vaccinated or age 17 and younger do not have any testing requirements. 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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.". This will continue to evolve as new research and technology becomes available," the spokesperson added. Follow her adventures on Instagram. The change comes just over a week after Royal Caribbean first eased vaccine requirements for cruises departing from Los Angeles, Galveston, New Orleans, and any European homeport as well as weeks after Royal Caribbean eliminated testing for vaccinated passengers on shorter sailings. Royal Caribbean International has announced it won't require US passengers to get vaccinated to go on several ships set to sail this summer. That has worked to keepcovid under control. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. 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 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. 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. "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. Cruise COVID Testing Rules For Vaccinated, Unvaccinated Travelers - NBC The new order outlined detailed guidelines for resuming cruise operations in U.S. waters. 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 CDC has dropped its voluntary program to monitor cruise ships. Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. 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. Do children need to be vaccinated to cruise? All but 1 major line say 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. A line-by-line guide, 15 ways that cruising newbies waste money on their first cruise, Cruise hack: 6 ways to turn a voyage on a mass-market ship into a luxury experience, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. But there is an important difference between wearing a slingshot mankini and being fully vaccinated. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. 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. In recent weeks, several cruise lines have been forced to cancel sailings (and some have implemented stronger mask policies) amid the emergence of the omicron variant. Celebrity CEO says 'public ready to cruise,' as line announces North One of the world's biggest cruise companies says coronavirus vaccinations will be needed to get on its ships. Royal Caribbean Shares Huge News on Covid Testing, Vaccine Rules I noticed that the areas reserved for vaccinated passengers were rarely, if ever, crowded. 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. After all, rarely do you hear someone ask, is that person wearing a full business suit or just a suspender man thong? The CDC has dropped its voluntary program to monitor cruise ships. And that could be a real ship storm, so to speak. Cruise giant Royal Caribbean International on Friday announced plans to bring back six more ships including some of its largest for U.S. sailings starting July 2. These new sailings are available for residents of Israel only.". "And the number of people who died from COVID who'd sailed on ships over the past year was two," Royal Caribbean Blog reported. This closure is related to staffing and the logistics of keeping passengers socially distanced, despite the fact that the ship was sailing at less than 30% capacity and 93% of passengers were vaccinated.