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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. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. The major cruise line previously mandated the covid vaccine for crew members only. Airplanes, theme parks, casinos, and hotels no longer require any such Covid protocols and have not had any requirements for months. 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. Of all the new health protocols and changes, perhaps no single rule is as hotly debated right now as if cruise lines, Norwegian Cruise Line announced on Tuesday it will extend its cruise cancellations through the end of September (minus, Two crew members from Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas were evacuated off Oasis of the Seas in Port Everglades on, If you own Royal Caribbean stock, today is a great start to your portfolio for the week.Royal Caribbean, and the entire, Royal Caribbean's recent filingwith the SEC indicates it has taken advantageof$3.48 billion in backup financing, Taking a test for COVID-19 before you get on a Royal Caribbean cruise might be one of the many steps the cruise line. The major cruise line previously mandated the covid vaccine for crew members only. The Miami-based operator. This bracelet allowed me to access areas of the ship reserved for vaccinated passengers. These restrictions include wearing a mask in most public spaces and limitations on areas and services unvaccinated passengers can access. Cruises from Australia are also not included in this policy change. Now, Royal Caribbean drops vaccine requirements for some cruises as well. 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. 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. 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. Lindblad, Silversea, Azamara cruise lines will require the additional COVID-19 vaccine dose for those eligible starting March 1. Staff would later identify these passengers by holes punched in their SeaPass cards. I will be boycotting the company instead. The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. 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. For cruises longer than 16 nights self-testing is not accepted for unvaccinated travelers. 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. 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. as well as other partner offers and accept our. 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. Prior to this sweeping vaccine mandate, Royal Caribbean had been announcing select "fully vaccinated" cruises. Royal Caribbean will require vaccinated guests 5 and older to take a pre-cruise test on 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. 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. Further, the onboard mask rules were confusing. While vaccination is not required, they kindly ask passengers to disclose their vaccine status during check-in. 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. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. 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. Beginning Sept. 5, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity will also accept at-home tests on trips from U.S. ports that don't visit Canada or Bermuda. 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. Lindblad, Silversea, Azamara cruise lines will require the additional COVID-19 vaccine dose for those eligible starting March 1. Masks were not required outdoors or while eating or drinking, but I found myself constantly worrying about whether I needed to have a mask on or not. 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. guests must review and accept the Ron DeSantis maintains a threat of fines under an executive order banning "vaccine passports." 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. Vaccinated guests aged 12 and over will no longer have any pre-cruise COVID-19 related protocols. Royal Caribbean recommends guests be fully vaccinated and boostered against Covid19. Unvaccinated travelers can join us for almost all U.S. 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. User @joanwetz agreed with the boycott, noting: "I am. Watch News 6 as they cover breaking local, regional, and national news, plus the latest updates on weather, traffic and sports. 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. Guests can take advantage of in-person, telehealth, and self-swab tests. Azamara does not require negative test results in order to board unless mandated by local governments in the ports where the line's ships sail. #BoycottRC pic.twitter.com/5xSNzyz0It. *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions. A blank Covid-19 vaccination record card; a filled-in version has become many people's prized possession. If they are more likely, then you could easily end up on a ship where less than half of the passengers are fully vaccinated. With few exceptions, Royal Caribbean has dropped its pre-cruise testing requirements across the board. Follow her adventures on Instagram. 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. Who else is with me? "Two is terrible. Joe Raedle / Getty . Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. 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. One can download it through The app or from browser on The phone, and there is this QR-code to "check" it. Regardless of the port location, guests will have to show proof of full vaccination, completed at least 14 days before the cruise departs. 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 high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. 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. Does that mean covid-testing requirements and vaccine mandates will be dropped? 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. Instead, Odyssey will begin her inaugural season out of a new homeport, Haifa, Israel from June to October 2021. That's why precruise testing is likely to go away but the vaccination requirement for all passengers ages 12 and over will remain. It can be professionally proctored at your doctor or drugstore, or it can be a test you administer to yourself at home without supervision. Get ready for cruise ships carrying people who are not vaccinated against Covid-19. This decision seems shocking only because the CDC, at least during the period where the cruise industry was shut down from U.S. ports, seemed to have an adversarial relationship with the companies it regulated. Vacation cruising has nearly returned to normal. The cruise line said that it would only "strongly". Visit the Newsweek VaxFacts website to learn more and to download the HealthGuard browser extension. 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. For non-U.S. guests, the line will also accept Astra-Zeneca.". When you strongly recommend that proper clothing be worn to a business meeting, technically that slingshot mankini is still fair game. The graphic below, produced by Statista, illustrates countries with the most COVID-19 vaccine doses administered per 100,000 people. | Trust Index: Do COVID booster shots make you more susceptible to the virus? TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) - Royal Caribbean clarified its vaccine policy this week, stating that it will require certain guests to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 on cruises departing. To find out more about the new guidelines issued, click here. In a press release Friday announcing . "Boosters can be received any time prior to embarkation. Well, heres what Dolven tweeted: Apparently, Dolven is referring to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently signing into law a ban on Covid-19 vaccine passports. That means, as of July 1, the Florida state government could fine a cruise ship operator $5,000 each and every time the cruise ship operator requires proof of vaccination to use their services. A positive test would preclude them from embarking on the cruise. Charleston. What if I am not feeling well in the days leading up to my cruise? This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. St. Maarten / St. Martin : open to vaccinated and unvaccinated . Essentially, while the CDC set parameters, the cruise lines have been policing themselves for months. 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. For more information, please see here . The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Reminders going from indoors to outdoors and vice-versa were especially helpful. WOW: @RoyalCaribbean cruises is now requiring you to get an experimental vaccine to book a cruise with them. You can still get Covid-19 after being fully vaccinated, albeit your chances are much lower compared to those who have not been vaccinated. These may not be available during your voyage, may vary by ship and destination, and may be subject to change without notice. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. "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 the testing area, they were each given an on-site rapid antigen test. Silversea also provides complimentary rapid antigen tests for all disembarking passengers. Unfortunately, the announcement didn't come in time for this voyage. An attendant who was monitoring the entrance told me they were passengers waiting for their test results. TPG values it at $1,600. All rights reserved. However, the cruise ship company has now done an a boat face, so to speak. Related: Cruise hack: 6 ways to turn a voyage on a mass-market ship into a luxury experience. It will be a requirement that cruise lines will happily comply with as most already require a vaccine mandate and . This is one of many changes in Royal Caribbean's approach to Covid-19, which has steadily seen health protocols erode in order to be closer to other forms of leisure travel. 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. The CDC has so far approved nine cruise ships, including Freedom of the Seas, Carnival Horizon and MSC Meraviglia from PortMiami, for test cruises, meaning the ships wont meet a CDC threshold of 95% of passengers and 98% of crew be vaccinated, and two ships Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Equinox from Port Everglades for revenue cruises. This voyage included calls on Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's private island, in the Bahamas. But at the time, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson said these boycott demands were based on a "misconception.". 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. Children will be allowed to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test within . The first to set sail will be the Freedom of the Seas ship out of Miami, Florida, on July 2. (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. Rather, we focus on discussions related to local stories by our own staff. While vaccination is not required for guests under 12, we kindly ask that you fill out their status below. 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. 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. ", Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion, Quantum of the Seas: "Alaska sailings departing April 5 to October 14, 2021: In order to allow additional time for our preparation, Quantum of the Seas will remain in the Asia-Pacific region. Guests who have certain pre-existing medical conditions,. 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 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. Previously, the website said passengers 16 years old and older on all of the companys U.S. cruises had to meet the requirement. It is typically fairly obvious if someone is wearing a slingshot mankini. 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. After all, enormous amounts of open space may not be the first thing that you think of when it comes to cruise ships. "We want you to be more comfortable. Following August 1, this age requirement will fall to 12 years old or older. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! 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. 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. Vaccines must be approved for use by the WHO or U.S. FDA, with the exception of CanSino. However, passengers on U.S.-based voyages should be aware that protocols are likely to differ by cruise line, ship and departure state. The post received over 8,100 likes and over 2,300 retweets since it was first posted on Saturday. All of this have prompted a fair number of tweets to use the words petri dish. For example: Think back to February 2020 right before the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak officially became a pandemic. We would appreciate if you could take a moment to provide your COVID-19 vaccination status ahead of your cruise. Enrollment required. Royal Caribbean International has announced it won't require US passengers to get vaccinated to go on several ships set to sail this summer. Under the law, which takes effect on July 1, businesses can be fined up to $5,000 per violation. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. And that could be a real ship storm, so to speak. This includes more contagious variants that now have sorority and fraternity sounding names, as I recently covered for Forbes. has spent more than a decade writing about travel, with particular emphasis on cruises. 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. Speaking to Newsweek, a spokesperson for Royal Caribbean said that "vaccinations will be required for the upcoming sailings from [the] Bahamas and St. - Only non-vaccinated guests will be required to present a negative test (an antigen test taken within 48 hours or a PCR test taken within 72 hours) to board. 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. Guests are also required to wear masks in all indoor public areas, in terminals, and during shore excursions, and take a COVID-19 rapid antigen test before boarding. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. 2023 TheStreet, Inc. All rights reserved. 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? Long story short: They were, very strictly. 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. Breeze through security with CLEAR lanes available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your membership when you use your Card. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. "We want you to be more comfortable walking onboard a ship than walking down Main Street.". #BoycottRC." The recently passed Florida law crafted by the Republican-controlled state Legislature and promoted by Gov. 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. Royal Caribbean Updates to Testing Protocols. Requiring passengers to be fully vaccinated would be one of the best ways of preventing an outbreak. Several luxury cruise lines are implementing new vaccine protocols, each requiring guests to show proof of having received a booster shot to board. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. 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. Please complete the short form below. Health, Travel & Risk Acknowledgement. Feel free to visitourFAQsfor full details on vaccination requirements. Then I was allowed to proceed to the check-in area. 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.) 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. Your sailing is fast approaching, and we're looking forward to welcoming you onboard. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. Does Royal Caribbean accept a photo of the vaccine card as proof? They waved me through to security, where my carry-on was screened. This insurance would cover the cost of repatriation on a private charter flight and/or medical care if they tested positive during the sailing. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). The company said all crew members will be vaccinated. The CDC has dropped its voluntary program to monitor cruise ships. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. Please review this document and acknowledge acceptance via the tick 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. All guests aged 4 and older are required to have a negative COVID-19 test before boarding. -10. Bayley said during the President's Cruise that testing would "be around for another couple of months.". 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. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. 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? Travelers are also required to take a COVID-19 antigen test at the terminal before boarding. Follow her adventures on Instagram. 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). Related: 15 ways that cruising newbies waste money on their first cruise. decision to sail less than 95% vaccinated, areas and services unvaccinated passengers can access, Will I need a COVID-19 vaccine to cruise? During one performance, I went to the theater's upper level (where anyone, including unvaccinated passengers, was able to sit) to see what it was like. Or do we need the physical card? 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. Royal Caribbean has greatly relaxed its covid rules. COVID-19 Vaccination is no longer required to sail, with a few exceptions. Prior to this change, unvaccinated guests had to take a Covid-19 test before their cruise. When Royal Caribbean resumed cruises in 2021, Covid-19 protocols were a major component to the onboard experience. Stay up to date with what you want to know. I saw a couple of crew members nicely ask passengers to pull their masks up over their noses in public spaces (and they complied). Both crew members and guests over 16 years old will have to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to sail on the . The company plans to "resume further operation in June" but noted updates on extended suspensions for the following ships and sailings: The company warns: "Health and safety protocols, guest conduct rules, and regional travel restrictions vary by ship and destination, and are subject to change without notice. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Royal Caribbean has announced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for guests. CDC stops reporting coronavirus cases on cruise ships. Currently, Royal Caribbean requires travelers 12 and older to be vaccinated on U.S. cruises. First and foremost, it's worth noting that. 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 vaccine is not perfect. Travelers to be Screened for COVID-19. Several cruise lines including Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages have already mandated the COVID-19 vaccine for its guests, crew, or both. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. The venue was open to both vaccinated and unvaccinated passengers. ", Odyssey of the Seas: "May 9 to October 28, 2021 sailings departing from Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy. 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. Unvaccinated adults and vaccine exemptions. This includes unsupervised testing. The tweet received at least 145 likes since it was first posted. 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. When I arrived at the Port of Miami, I had to pass through a checkpoint. Now, its not clear whether the unvaccinated half may be more or less likely to ride cruise ships. Vaccinated travelers will not be required to get tested for cruises that are 9 nights or less. 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. At this time, only the following sailings have COVID-19 vaccination requirements: Guests age 12 and older must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to sail: Cruises from Australia Learn more about cruising from Australia Transatlantic and Transpacific Sailings Overall, the sailing was pleasant and it was great to be back on board a sailing from Florida. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. 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? #CancelCulture. Four major cruise lines are dropping their vaccination requirements for some sailings next month, the . Several cruise lines are continuing to ease pandemic-era protocols by allowing passengers to self-administer COVID-19 tests. Beginning December 1, 2022, the line will waive vaccination requirements for all passengers on Europe and Caribbean itineraries, except where required by local regulations.