There were physical check-in desks, but I checked in using the app, so I headed straight for the area where port workers were scanning digital SetSail Passes. 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. "We're making it easier for more guests to sail with Royal Caribbean. Currently, Royal Caribbean requires travelers 12 and older to be vaccinated on U.S. cruises. guests must review and accept the Thats what you may see as soon as next month with the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic still a public health emergency. Royal Caribbean won't require U.S. cruise passengers to get vaccinated Carnival, Royal Caribbean cruises ease covid testing rules - The Royal Caribbean no longer says Florida cruise passengers must receive the coronavirus vaccine, instead noting the shots are "strongly recommended." The reversal comes as 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. Royal Caribbean Updates Vaccine Protocols Following Bahamas Order I will be boycotting the company instead. Why the change in Royal Caribbean policy? Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. 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. 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. They waved me through to security, where my carry-on was screened. "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. Covid Vaccine Card: What You Need to Know - The New York Times In Nassau, vaccinated passengers were allowed to explore however they wished, but unvaccinated cruisers were required to take ship-sponsored excursions to leave the ship. Royal Caribbean to require proof of vaccination on cruises from Florida Travelers to be Screened for COVID-19. For cruises longer than 16 nights self-testing is not accepted for unvaccinated travelers. 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. Royal Caribbean Cruises updated guidance from the major cruise line. The cruise line said that it would only "strongly". Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. When Will Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian End Vaccine Mandate Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. 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 for boarding. An attendant who was monitoring the entrance told me they were passengers waiting for their test results. According to Royal Caribbean's Healthy Sail Center, for all sailings departing on or after Friday, February 25, 2022, face masks will become optional for all fully vaccinated passengers - with . 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. $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. The graphic below, produced by Statista, illustrates countries with the most COVID-19 vaccine doses administered per 100,000 people. While vaccination is not required for guests under 12, we kindly ask that you fill out their status below. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? You can still get Covid-19 after being fully vaccinated, albeit your chances are much lower compared to those who have not been vaccinated. Each person sailing was required to download the Royal Caribbean app. . 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. Regardless of the port location, guests will have to show proof of full vaccination, completed at least 14 days before the cruise departs. Unfortunately, the announcement didn't come in time for this voyage. ", The cruise industry came to a halt last year amid the COVID-19 outbreak. (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. "Finally!!! Watch News 6 as they cover breaking local, regional, and national news, plus the latest updates on weather, traffic and sports. Stay up to date with what you want to know. While vaccination is not required, they kindly ask passengers to disclose their vaccine status during check-in. Ron DeSantis recently signed into law, a ban on "vaccine passports" that would find businesses $5,000 each time they required proof of Covid-19 vaccination to use their services. Vacation cruising has nearly returned to normal. Royal Caribbean International has announced plans to begin sailing six of its cruise ships out of southern U.S. ports this July and August. Where was one of the first places that SARS-CoV2 outbreaks were being noticed? 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? 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. ", "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. Or do we need the physical card? On the other hand, a single Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak can end up costing a cruise ship company a whole lot, including reputational damage. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. Norwegian cruises to drop vaccination requirement, ease testing rules 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. Lindblad, Silversea, Azamara cruise lines will require the additional COVID-19 vaccine dose for those eligible starting March 1. 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. Changes involve the cruise line eliminating the vaccinated and unvaccinated areas onboard its ships. The cruise company's new sailings from the Bahamas will require all adult guests "to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Both crew members and guests over 16 years old will have to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to sail on the . The new protocols will not apply to cruises that visit Bermuda or Canada where testing and vaccine rules will still apply. No Covid test, proof of vaccination or quarantine is required. 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. Prior to this sweeping vaccine mandate, Royal Caribbean had been announcing select "fully vaccinated" cruises. Cruise giant Royal Caribbean is dropping its COVID-19 vaccine Now, its not clear whether the unvaccinated half may be more or less likely to ride cruise ships. 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. 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. Travel agents and guests were notified of the change in policy. Then I was allowed to proceed to the check-in area. 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. The cruises will depart from Bermuda and the Bahamas, and adult passengers must be. 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. 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For non-U.S. guests, the line will also accept Astra-Zeneca.". Royal Caribbean Shares Huge News on Covid Testing, Vaccine Rules Now, abruptly, the CDC has dropped its voluntary program and has stopped regulating or tracking covid on cruise ships. Of course, nothing is foolproof: Royal Caribbean recently canceled the first sailings of its newest ship, Odyssey of the Seas, after eight crew members tested positive for Covid; six were. Royal Caribbean International will no longer require its cruise passengers to be vaccinated for COVID-19 as it had previously planned to. Enrollment required. 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. 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. Royal Caribbean has updated its COVID-19 protocols to allow more people to sail on their ships, according to the RoyalCaribbeanblog. Bayley noted that the CDC shared some information with him about the "millions" of people who have sailed from U.S. ports over the past 12 months. At this checkpoint, an agent told me that if I wanted to present a vaccine card, that was the time to do so. The update on the health protocols for Royal Caribbean ships came in a letter sent to travel agents, which are now also available online. The 14 day time period starts the day you get your last dose. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Symphony of the Seas, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention removed, voluntary COVID-19 reporting program for cruise ships. These Countries Require It for Entry, Where Can Americans Travel Right Now? WOW: @RoyalCaribbean cruises is now requiring you to get an experimental vaccine to book a cruise with them. How do you count the 14 days for full vaccination, exactly? Guests are strongly recommended to set sail fully vaccinated, if they are eligible, the company said in a statement. 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. 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. Fully vaccinated guests and guests ages 11 and younger are exempt. 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. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. In order to board these ships, all adults, including the crew, will be required to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination. Royal Caribbean Won't Require Florida Passengers To Get Vaccine Offers may be subject to change without notice. Unvaccinated travelers can join us for almost all U.S. starts on October 1st, and you would be permitted to board the ship on "We want you to be more comfortable walking onboard a ship than walking down Main Street.". 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. COVID-19 Vaccine Card Question : r/royalcaribbean - reddit Azamara will require all vaccinated guests to show proof they have received a booster in March. Overall, the sailing was pleasant and it was great to be back on board a sailing from Florida. 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.