Receive full access to our market insights, commentary, newsletters, breaking news alerts, and more. For more information on protocols specific to your sailing, visitGetting Ready To Cruise. The new order outlined detailed guidelines for resuming cruise operations in U.S. waters. Unvaccinated adults and vaccine exemptions. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. 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. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. This includes unsupervised testing. ", 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. Children will be allowed to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test within . A blank Covid-19 vaccination record card; a filled-in version has become many people's prized possession. Thats what you may see as soon as next month with the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic still a public health emergency. It felt normal in many ways, but compared to two other recent cruises I took, it was a bit more controlled. Royal Caribbean wont require passengers to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 on select sailings beginning in September. The cruise line's vaccine mandate will apply to guests who are at least 16 years old aboard ships sailing from the US or the Bahamas, according to Royal Caribbean's frequently asked questions page. Does that mean covid-testing requirements and vaccine mandates will be dropped? What the CDC Decision Means for Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruisers This protocol will go into place starting Aug. 8. News 6 is Getting Results. But at the time, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson said these boycott demands were based on a "misconception.". 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. Royal Caribbean sister brand Celebrity Cruises made a similar announcement about its COVID-19 vaccine policy late Wednesday, removing its vaccine requirement effective Sept. 5 for some but not all sailings. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider 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. $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card on one or more of the following: Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. "Guests . 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 line's decision to sail less than 95% vaccinated (which requires each ship sailing from the U.S. to complete test voyages under the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's supervision) means that there are restrictions on board. 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. Offers may be subject to change without notice. "The no vaccine question is is a huge question that none of us know the answer to," Bayley said. Royal Caribbean: COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for All Guests - Business Insider Do children need to be vaccinated to cruise? All but 1 major line say See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. 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. 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. 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. Its difficult to tell. By contrast, you cant really tell whether someone has been vaccinated unless you actually see that persons Covid-19 Vaccination Record Card and somehow verify that its not a fake. Business reporter, BBC News. Covid vaccine proof? : r/royalcaribbean - reddit Now, abruptly, the CDC has dropped its voluntary program and has stopped regulating or tracking covid on cruise ships. While vaccination is not required, they kindly ask passengers to disclose their vaccine status during check-in. From there, I went to the second floor to check in. October 15th or later. Royal Caribbean has announced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for guests. Norwegian, Cunard and more end pre-cruise COVID testing - USA TODAY Royal Caribbean Extends Vaccine Mandate Further Into 2022 - Cruise Radio 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. Guests under the age of 12 do not have any testing requirements. The announcement of these select vaccinated cruises later resulted in boycott demands in late March across Facebook and Twitter. 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. guests must review and accept the Lindblad, Silversea, Azamara cruise lines will require the additional COVID-19 vaccine dose for those eligible starting March 1. This will continue to evolve as new research and technology becomes available," the spokesperson added. Both crew members and guests over 16 years old will have to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to sail on the . In order to board these ships, all adults, including the crew, will be required to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination. Related: 15 ways that cruising newbies waste money on their first cruise. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! - 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. It is typically fairly obvious if someone is wearing a slingshot mankini. Ron DeSantis, who has insisted that there will be no exception made for cruise companies to a newly passed Florida law that fines companies $5,000 each time they ask a patron to provide proof of vaccination. The Royal Caribbean cruise line plans to drop its COVID-19 testing requirement for some guests starting on Aug. 8, according to a statement on its website. 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. No Covid test, proof of vaccination or quarantine is required. 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. 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. "Cruise passengers are at increased risk of person-to-person spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19, and outbreaks of COVID-19 have been reported on cruise ships," the CDC warns. All Guests, All Aboard," Royal Caribbean's President and CEO Michael Bayley wrote on Facebook. I saw a couple of crew members nicely ask passengers to pull their masks up over their noses in public spaces (and they complied). 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. "And the number of people who died from COVID who'd sailed on ships over the past year was two," Royal Caribbean Blog reported. For non-U.S. guests, the line will also accept Astra-Zeneca.". Royal Caribbean won't require COVID-19 vaccination to - New York Post Cruise COVID Testing Rules For Vaccinated, Unvaccinated Travelers - NBC Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. Royal Caribbean to require guests be vaccinated on all cruises - WFLA These Countries Require It for Entry, Where Can Americans Travel Right Now? Royal Caribbean will now require all guests to get tested for COVID-19 for certain cruises, regardless of their vaccination status. The major cruise line previously mandated the covid vaccine for crew members only. 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. (Photo by Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images), Royal Caribbean International has announced. That's because testing two days before is at best imperfect and it may not have done much to stop covid from spreading. Follow her adventures on Instagram. For customers looking to board Lindblad for an adventure cruise, they will need to abide by the new regulations in place. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. The major cruise line previously mandated the covid vaccine for crew members only. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. Mexico Plans on Increasing Protocols for Incoming Tourists, Could This "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. 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. Airplanes, theme parks, casinos, and hotels no longer require any such Covid protocols and have not had any requirements for months. if you received your final dose on October 1st, your 14 day countdown We didn't need a card at all because for the most part they don't require masks anymore. Every Cruise Line's Requirements for COVID Vaccines, Testing - Travel Unvaccinated travelers can join us for almost all U.S. One of the world's biggest cruise companies says coronavirus vaccinations will be needed to get on its ships. 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. 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. ", Odyssey of the Seas: "May 9 to October 28, 2021 sailings departing from Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy. 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. $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. 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. 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. Over the past few months that program became voluntary and masks went away while other restrictions eased. Starting Sept. 5, Royal Caribbean will welcome both vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers of all ages, according to the cruise line. Beginning December 1, 2022, the line will waive vaccination requirements for all passengers on Europe and Caribbean itineraries, except where required by local regulations. Cruise giant Royal Caribbean is dropping its COVID-19 vaccine 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. Royal Caribbean International has announced updated protocols for the United States, Puerto Rico, and Barbados-based cruises through March 31, 2022. When I arrived at the Port of Miami, I had to pass through a checkpoint. Started in 2010, Royal Caribbean Blog offers daily coverage of news and information related to the Royal Caribbean cruise line along with other relevant topics of cruising, such as entertainment, news, photo updates and more. Samantha started at WKMG-TV in September 2020. 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. 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? Royal Caribbean Cruises Royal Caribbean Drops Vaccine Requirement for Some Cruises An attendant who was monitoring the entrance told me they were passengers waiting for their test results. 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. I will be boycotting the company instead. 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. 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. Royal Caribbean announces cruises with no vaccine requirement - The Instead, Odyssey will begin her inaugural season out of a new homeport, Haifa, Israel from June to October 2021. The company had originally required guests 18 years and older to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and provide proof of vaccination to board their ships. 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. Wristbands were also diligently checked in spaces intended for vaccinated cruisers. 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 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. The post has had over 7,200 likes since it was first shared on Monday. Additionally -- following the first departure of Adventure of the Seas two weeks ago when two teenagers tested positive and were flown home at Royal Caribbean's expense -- unvaccinated cruisers had to purchase special travel insurance. Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. Guests can take advantage of in-person, telehealth, and self-swab tests. Starting September 5, 2022, all guests can sail with Royal Caribbean, regardless of vaccination status. 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. 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. 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. Carnival Cruise, Royal Caribbean and more to drop vaccine requirements Guests under this age requirement who haven't been vaccinated will instead have to be tested for the virus. Here, I'll explain how various facets of the sailing look for both vaccinated and unvaccinated cruisers. Bayley said during the President's Cruise that testing would "be around for another couple of months.". Cruise Ship Travel During COVID-19 | CDC The venue was open to both vaccinated and unvaccinated passengers. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian May Drop Vaccine Mandate by This COVID-19 vaccines no longer will be required for Celebrity sailings from European countries with the exception of Iceland and sailings from .