The CDC has dropped its voluntary program to monitor cruise ships. 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. 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. as well as other partner offers and accept our. Silversea also provides complimentary rapid antigen tests for all disembarking passengers. Where was one of the first places that SARS-CoV2 outbreaks were being noticed? Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. 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. As a side note, the ship's Windjammer buffet was not open for dinner during the sailing. Guests are strongly recommended to set sail fully vaccinated, if they are eligible, the company said in a statement. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. Now, its not clear whether the unvaccinated half may be more or less likely to ride cruise ships. All guests aged 4 and older are required to have a negative COVID-19 test before boarding. 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. COVID-19 Vaccine Card Question : r/royalcaribbean - reddit Find the right card for you. Royal Caribbean updates COVID protocols, opens more sailings to - WJXT The cruises will depart from Bermuda and the Bahamas, and adult passengers must be. Carnival, Royal Caribbean cruises loosen coronavirus testing rules Norwegian's moves to loosen pandemic-era protocols follow similar decisions by industry leaders Carnival and Royal. For cruises longer than 16 nights self-testing is not accepted for unvaccinated travelers. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. Royal Caribbean International has announced it won't require US passengers to get vaccinated to go on several ships set to sail this summer. For customers looking to board Lindblad for an adventure cruise, they will need to abide by the new regulations in place. Ron DeSantis maintains a threat of fines under an executive order banning "vaccine passports." Enrollment required. The only guests who will need to test . COVID-19 Vaccination is no longer required to sail, with a few exceptions. Cruise Ship Travel During COVID-19 | CDC The Miami-based operator. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. 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. The recently passed Florida law crafted by the Republican-controlled state Legislature and promoted by Gov. Fully vaccinated guests and guests ages 11 and younger are exempt. 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. Get tested again after cruise travel. Norwegian Cruise Line Requiring COVID Vaccine for Guests - Insider Joe Raedle / Getty . We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Since then, more itineraries opened up to unvaccinated cruisers. These Cruise Lines Will Accept At-home Covid Tests for - Travel Do children need to be vaccinated to cruise? All but 1 major line say 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. 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? 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. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Her favorite cities include London; Amsterdam; Krakow, Poland; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Dawson City, Yukon; and anywhere known for outstanding pizza and theater. Stay up to date with what you want to know. It is especially important that people with an increased risk of severe illness avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises.". Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian all require anyone 12 and older sailing on their ships to be fully. Royal Caribbean Updates COVID-19 Testing Policy for - Travel + Leisure Why the change in Royal Caribbean policy? The new order outlined detailed guidelines for resuming cruise operations in U.S. waters. In the testing area, they were each given an on-site rapid antigen test. Many cruise fans and potential passengers may expect that this CDC decision means that vaccine requirements and precruise testing may soon go away. The CDC has dropped its voluntary program to monitor cruise ships. 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. Plus Ups are excluded. Travelers are also required to take a COVID-19 antigen test at the terminal before boarding. 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? Following August 1, this age requirement will fall to 12 years old or older. Royal Caribbean: Avoid Florida If You Want An All-Vaccinated - Forbes Silversea, Azamara, Lindblad, and Viking will require the additional COVID-19 vaccine dose. Unfortunately, the announcement didn't come in time for this voyage. 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. This will continue to evolve as new research and technology becomes available," the spokesperson added. Under the voluntary program, the CDC had been tracking covid levels on ships, assigning color levels based on positive tests and exposures. Enrollment required. When you strongly recommend that proper clothing be worn to a business meeting, technically that slingshot mankini is still fair game. The cruise line said that it would only "strongly". I saw a couple of crew members nicely ask passengers to pull their masks up over their noses in public spaces (and they complied). 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. If they are more likely, then you could easily end up on a ship where less than half of the passengers are fully vaccinated. Passengers also had to select specific check-in times for embarkation day, ensuring that crowds stayed thin at the terminal during the boarding process. Apparently, Dolven is referring to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently signing into law a ban on Covid-19 "vaccine passports.". 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. "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. Caribbean travel: Covid entry rules, island by island - Travel Weekly 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. Royal Caribbean CEO Michael Bayley shared some numbers the CDC had given to him, during his remarks to passengers on the 2022 President's Cruise, Royal Caribbean Blog first reported. Watch News 6 as they cover breaking local, regional, and national news, plus the latest updates on weather, traffic and sports. 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 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. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Travel + Leisure magazine may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. 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. However, passengers on U.S.-based voyages should be aware that protocols are likely to differ by cruise line, ship and departure state. While vaccination is not required, they kindly ask passengers to disclose their vaccine status during check-in. NOW WATCH: This is what it takes to be a cruise ship performer. 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. To find out more about the new guidelines issued, click here. But there is an important difference between wearing a slingshot mankini and being fully vaccinated. Vaccinated-only areas included the spa, casino, fitness center (during most operating hours), Izumi sushi and hibachi, Chef's Table and the lower decks of the main dining room and theater. Guests who have certain pre-existing medical conditions,. However, it shied away from creating a blanket COVID-19 vaccine mandate for guests, although the cruise line previously said it would expect crew members to be vaccinated before sailings return. 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. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider The post has had over 7,200 likes since it was first shared on Monday. For non-U.S. guests, the line will also accept Astra-Zeneca.". ", Odyssey of the Seas: "May 9 to October 28, 2021 sailings departing from Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy. Long story short: They were, very strictly. Royal Caribbean has announced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for guests. "Finally!!! These Cruise Lines Will Require a Booster Shot to Board - Travel Caribbean. Before the tracking system was removed, basically every ship in the program was at the "orange" level, which in theory triggered a CDC investigation. Most major cruise lines require proof of vaccination for all passengers age 12 and up, and some require them for kids as young as 5 years old (Pfizer's . 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. Testing Requirements: All guests 2 and older are required to submit a negative test regardless of vaccination status. 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. Gee, what could possibly go wrong? [TRENDING: Is it illegal in Florida to back into a parking space? Follow her adventures on Instagram. User @joanwetz agreed with the boycott, noting: "I am. Staff would later identify these passengers by holes punched in their SeaPass cards. The company said all crew members will be vaccinated. Royal Caribbean drops pre-cruise testing requirement for almost all (Photo by Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images), Royal Caribbean International has announced. The post received nearly 100 likes since it was first tweeted. Lindblad, Silversea, Azamara cruise lines will require the additional COVID-19 vaccine dose for those eligible starting March 1. Tauck After 14 days pass, you can get onboard on Day 15. It is typically fairly obvious if someone is wearing a slingshot mankini. Royal Caribbean just announced 'fully vaccinated' cruises to the This voyage included calls on Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's private island, in the Bahamas. While vaccination is not required for guests under 12, we kindly ask that you fill out their status below. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Related: Will I need a COVID-19 vaccine to cruise? Essentially, while the CDC set parameters, the cruise lines have been policing themselves for months. Royal Caribbean International Updates Health Protocols - Cruise Hive 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.