The 14 day time period starts the day you get your last dose. Business reporter, BBC News. That's likely only partly true because Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, and the rest of the industry must also be protective of optics -- they want the easiest, most inclusive rules, but they also want customers to feel safe. Four major cruise lines are dropping their vaccination requirements for some sailings next month, the . That's because testing two days before is at best imperfect and it may not have done much to stop covid from spreading. The agency currently recommends all travelers are "up to date" with their COVID-19 vaccines before boarding a cruise. 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. Required testing can be completed using any type of PCR or antigen COVID-19 test. The new order outlined detailed guidelines for resuming cruise operations in U.S. waters. Norwegian, Cunard and more end pre-cruise COVID testing - USA TODAY Your sailing is fast approaching, and we're looking forward to welcoming you onboard. Gee, what could possibly go wrong? guests must review and accept the But keeping track of which places were which on this voyage made my head spin. What vaccines are required to travel on a cruise? | Royal Caribbean Cruises Watch News 6 as they cover breaking local, regional, and national news, plus the latest updates on weather, traffic and sports. Coronavirus has infected more than 123.3 million people, including over 29.8 million in the U.S., since it was first reported in Wuhan, China. Silversea, Azamara, Lindblad, and Viking will require the additional COVID-19 vaccine dose. Caribbean. As a side note, the ship's Windjammer buffet was not open for dinner during the sailing. Several cruise lines are continuing to ease pandemic-era protocols by allowing passengers to self-administer COVID-19 tests. Following August 1, this age requirement will fall to 12 years old or older. And that could be a real ship storm, so to speak. The tweet received at least 145 likes since it was first posted. What to expect on cruises: 'Vaccinated only' zones to revamped - CNBC "Boosters can be received any time prior to embarkation. This will continue to evolve as new research and technology becomes available," the spokesperson added. When you strongly recommend that proper clothing be worn to a business meeting, technically that slingshot mankini is still fair game. Cov. When Will Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian End Vaccine Mandate Carnival Cruise Line Then I was allowed to proceed to the check-in area. Cruise COVID Testing Rules For Vaccinated, Unvaccinated Travelers - NBC For example, #CancelCulture. 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. Royal Caribbean: COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for All Guests - Business Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our. The update on the health protocols for Royal Caribbean ships came in a letter sent to travel agents, which are now also available online. Tauck TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. 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. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. It is especially important that people with an increased risk of severe illness avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises.". Currently the CDC recommends that "all people avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises, worldwide, because the risk of COVID-19 on cruise ships is very high. Since September 2022,all travelers, regardless of vaccination status, were able to cruise on most itineraries, as long as they meet testing requirements to board. Royal Caribbean International will no longer require its cruise passengers to be vaccinated for COVID-19 as it had previously planned to. 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. Guests under the age of 12 do not have any testing requirements. The Miami Herald reported that Royal Caribbean International previously planned to only allow vaccinated passengers onto its ships, but announced in a Friday press release that they were. Long story short: They were, very strictly. 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. One can download it through The app or from browser on The phone, and there is this QR-code to "check" it. 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. 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. Therefore, the chances of someone bringing the virus on board a cruise ship is still quite high. Royal Caribbean. As cruises drop vaccine rules, they're seeing 'huge spike' in bookings "We're making it easier for more guests to sail with Royal Caribbean. Each person sailing was required to download the Royal Caribbean app. Thats COVID-19 Vaccination is no longer required to sail, with a few exceptions. These may not be available during your voyage, may vary by ship and destination, and may be subject to change without notice. Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. That has worked to keepcovid under control. The CDC has dropped its voluntary program to monitor cruise ships. Twitter user @patriottakes wrote: "MAGAs [Make America Great Again, Donald Trump's campaign slogan] are starting to boycott Royal Caribbean because they are requiring vaccinations for adult passengers and crew members when they start sailing again in June. "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.". As part of the Australian Federal and State Government protocols all 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. We would appreciate if you could take a moment to provide your COVID-19 vaccination status ahead of your cruise. User @drsimonegold tweeted: "WOW: @RoyalCaribbean cruises is now requiring you to get an experimental vaccine to book a cruise with them. If your Royal Caribbean cruise visits Labadee, Roatan, or somewhere in Colombia, then unvaccinated will still need to test. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. "Due to evolving health protocols, imagery and messaging may not accurately reflect onboard and destination experiences, offerings, features, or itineraries. Related: Will I need a COVID-19 vaccine to cruise? 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. Lindblad, Silversea, Azamara cruise lines will require the additional COVID-19 vaccine dose for those eligible starting March 1. In the testing area, they were each given an on-site rapid antigen test. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Get ready for cruise ships carrying people who are not vaccinated against Covid-19. "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. When I arrived at the Port of Miami, I had to pass through a checkpoint. Royal Caribbean has made it a practice to provide periodic . However, the cruise ship company has now done an a boat face, so to speak. Both crew members and guests over 16 years old will have to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to sail on the . 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. "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. 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. This comes more than a week after Centers for Disease Control and Prevention removed its voluntary COVID-19 reporting program for cruise ships on July 18. Further, the onboard mask rules were confusing. Passengers who didn't voluntarily show proof of vaccination, either because they weren't vaccinated (primarily children, according to Royal Caribbean executives) or didn't have their vaccine cards, were directed to a testing area. Florida's ban on vaccination proof requirements complicates U.S. cruise Boarding Requirements FAQ | Royal Caribbean Cruises Cruise giant Royal Caribbean is dropping its COVID-19 vaccine #CancelCulture." (Photo by Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images), Royal Caribbean International has announced. Time is running out on free COVID tests and vaccines; what then. 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. Find the right card for you. 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. But there is an important difference between wearing a slingshot mankini and being fully vaccinated. While there, I noticed most of the passengers in this area were parents with young children. An attendant who was monitoring the entrance told me they were passengers waiting for their test results. 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. Adventure of the Seas: "June 5 to October 14, 2021: Instead of offering sailings from Barcelona, Spain, Adventure of the Seas will now offer sailings from Nassau, Bahamas beginning June 2021," the company said. . Fully vaccinated guests and guests ages 11 and younger are exempt. The cruise line Royal Caribbean is requiring passengers and crew members 16 or older . Several luxury cruise lines are implementing new vaccine protocols, each requiring guests to show proof of having received a booster shot to board. It is unclear if cruise companies will be allowed to ask passengers if they have been vaccinated as part of the boarding process, even if they dont require vaccination to board. 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. | Become a News 6 Insider (its free!)]. Unvaccinated passengers can cruise with negative results from any commercially available test, including self-tests. 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. Stay up to date with what you want to know. 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. 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. 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. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. 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. 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. Interestingly, certain shows -- such as the ice show in Studio B -- required reservations due to their lower capacity. 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. Royal Caribbean won't require vaccinations on U.S. cruises, except in Royal Caribbean has greatly relaxed its covid rules. Royal Caribbean has updated its COVID-19 protocols to allow more people to sail on their ships, according to the RoyalCaribbeanblog. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. 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. 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. After all, enormous amounts of open space may not be the first thing that you think of when it comes to cruise ships. 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. CDC will continue to publish guidance to help cruise ships continue to provide a safer and healthier environment for passengers, crew and communities going forward. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. The most important change may be the following: Guests who are not vaccinated can sail on any cruise from the U.S. or Europe (*except. What the CDC Decision Means for Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruisers The post received over 8,100 likes and over 2,300 retweets since it was first posted on Saturday. Royal Caribbean recommends guests be fully vaccinated and boostered against Covid19. 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). 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. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). ", 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. 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.