The new order outlined detailed guidelines for resuming cruise operations in U.S. waters. Similarly, passengers 18 years old or older sailing from other international ports will also have to be fully vaccinated. 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. The CDC dropped its cruise covid-19 reporting program last month, prompting cruise lines to announce they would loosen testing requirements for vaccinated passengers and in most cases . Enrollment required. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. 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. A guest is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the required number of doses in their vaccine series have been fully administered (e.g. The answer rhymes with Tom Cruise lips, kangaroos hips, and too much booze slips. Yes, cruise ships, as Victoria Forster described for Forbes in March 2020. 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. 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. "Boosters can be received any time prior to embarkation. 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. Unvaccinated travelers can join us for almost all U.S. The cruise company's new sailings from the Bahamas will require all adult guests "to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. After all, enormous amounts of open space may not be the first thing that you think of when it comes to cruise ships. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. This includes more contagious variants that now have sorority and fraternity sounding names, as I recently covered for Forbes. The post received nearly 100 likes since it was first tweeted. I saw a couple of crew members nicely ask passengers to pull their masks up over their noses in public spaces (and they complied). User @drsimonegold tweeted: "WOW: @RoyalCaribbean cruises is now requiring you to get an experimental vaccine to book a cruise with them. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. In exchange for the annual fee, you'll unlock access to the Amex Membership Rewards program that let you access airline and hotel transfer partners, along with new lifestyle and travel credits. 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. Rather, we focus on discussions related to local stories by our own staff. Get tested again after cruise travel. Check directly with your cruise line about their COVID-19 testing or vaccination protocols before travel. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. ", Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. While vaccination is not required, they kindly ask passengers to disclose their vaccine status during check-in. The cruise line Royal Caribbean is requiring passengers and crew members 16 or older . In the testing area, they were each given an on-site rapid antigen test. No Covid test, proof of vaccination or quarantine is required. How do you count the 14 days for full vaccination, exactly? Oh ship. Guests under the age of 12 do not have any testing requirements. 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. 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. Several luxury cruise lines are implementing new vaccine protocols, each requiring guests to show proof of having received a booster shot to board. Plus Ups are excluded. Then I was allowed to proceed to the check-in area. 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. Strongly recommended is certainly different from required. 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. Those with the vaccine were able to go anywhere onboard, and areas specially allotted for passengers who had their shots had no mask-wearing rules. 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. 2 shots of Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, etc., or 1 shot of Johnson & Johnson). Several cruise lines including Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages have already mandated the COVID-19 vaccine for its guests, crew, or both. 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. 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. Day 1. For more information on protocols specific to your sailing, visitGetting Ready To Cruise. "Effective November 2, 2022, all travelers on U.S. sailings regardless of vaccination status will no longer require pre-departure testing (excludes sailings to Colombia, Haiti, & Honduras)." Who else is with me? Beginning December 1, 2022, the line will waive vaccination requirements for all passengers on Europe and Caribbean itineraries, except where required by local regulations. Heres a hint. Royal Caribbean International has announced updated protocols for the United States, Puerto Rico, and Barbados-based cruises through March 31, 2022. 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. Visit the Newsweek VaxFacts website to learn more and to download the HealthGuard browser extension. The announcement of these select vaccinated cruises later resulted in boycott demands in late March across Facebook and Twitter. Royal Caribbean has updated its COVID-19 protocols to allow more people to sail on their ships, according to the RoyalCaribbeanblog. Royal Caribbean recommends guests be fully vaccinated and boostered against Covid19. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. News 6 is Getting Results. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian all require anyone 12 and older sailing on their ships to be fully. When I learned that the line would be creating some separate spaces and mandating masks, I wondered if the rules would be enforced and, if so, how strictly. Before the tracking system was removed, basically every ship in the program was at the "orange" level, which in theory triggered a CDC investigation. 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. Vacation cruising has nearly returned to normal. Travel + Leisure magazine may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. It is especially important that people with an increased risk of severe illness avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises.". 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. Thats Please review this document and acknowledge acceptance via the tick 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. One can download it through The app or from browser on The phone, and there is this QR-code to "check" it. 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. 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). Gee, what could possibly go wrong? 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. You can still get Covid-19 after being fully vaccinated, albeit your chances are much lower compared to those who have not been vaccinated. Business reporter, BBC News. As part of the Australian Federal and State Government protocols all WOW: @RoyalCaribbean cruises is now requiring you to get an experimental vaccine to book a cruise with them. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000. That's why precruise testing is likely to go away but the vaccination requirement for all passengers ages 12 and over will remain. Starting July 2, Royal Caribbean ships will not be requiring passengers to have covid vaccines for sailings from the U.S. Samantha started at WKMG-TV in September 2020. Here, I'll explain how various facets of the sailing look for both vaccinated and unvaccinated cruisers. Passenger operations continue to be suspended during the initial phases of this Order. 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. 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 . Starting with August 8, 2022 departures, these updates include: . Previously, the website said passengers 16 years old and older on all of the companys U.S. cruises had to meet the requirement. - As of the winter 2022 Caribbean and Central America season, Star Clippers no longer requires COVID-19 vaccinations for passengers. "Two is terrible. Royal Caribbean recommends guests be fully vaccinated and boostered against Covid19. Apparently, Dolven is referring to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently signing into law a ban on Covid-19 "vaccine passports.". 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. Silversea also provides complimentary rapid antigen tests for all disembarking passengers. Overall, the sailing was pleasant and it was great to be back on board a sailing from Florida. I showed mine, and the agent gave me a purple rubber bracelet to wear. We would appreciate if you could take a moment to provide your COVID-19 vaccination status ahead of your cruise. 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. Guests are strongly recommended to set sail fully vaccinated, if they are eligible, the company said in a statement. Where was one of the first places that SARS-CoV2 outbreaks were being noticed? (Enrollment required for select benefits.). Vaccinated guests aged 12 and over will no longer have any pre-cruise COVID-19 related protocols. Enrollment required. Four major cruise lines are dropping their vaccination requirements for some sailings next month, the . Required testing can be completed using any type of PCR or antigen COVID-19 test. 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. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. Crew members were also positioned at the entrances to restaurants, the theater and even at the Freestyle soda machines to push the buttons for passengers. "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. 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. Unfortunately, the announcement didn't come in time for this voyage. 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 Joe Raedle/Getty Images), Florida Gov. Vaccinated travelers will not be required to get tested for cruises that are 9 nights or less. . "Finally!!! Copyright 2023 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. First and foremost, it's worth noting that. The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. Passengers also had to select specific check-in times for embarkation day, ensuring that crowds stayed thin at the terminal during the boarding process. As a side note, the ship's Windjammer buffet was not open for dinner during the sailing. ", "This means that we're transitioning to the point where everyone will be able to vacation with us while always working with our destination partners to meet their regulations.". 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. 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 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. 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. The vaccine is not perfect. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. We didn't need a card at all because for the most part they don't require masks anymore. While vaccination is not required for guests under 12, we kindly ask that you fill out their status below. This will continue to evolve as new research and technology becomes available," the spokesperson added. On a practical level, the CDC had been tracking serious illness and death and the numbers were very encouraging. Caribbean. This includes unsupervised testing. Does Royal Caribbean accept a photo of the vaccine card as proof? The graphic below, produced by Statista, illustrates countries with the most COVID-19 vaccine doses administered per 100,000 people. Children will be allowed to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test within . Many and most of the destinations that we visit require a high degree of vaccination, and they expect our crew to be vaccinated.". For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. On Friday, Royal Caribbean announced new seven-night cruises aboard the Adventure of the Seas cruise ship that will depart from Nassau in the Bahamas starting in June. Further, the onboard mask rules were confusing. 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? Please view our advertising policy page for more information. This insurance would cover the cost of repatriation on a private charter flight and/or medical care if they tested positive during the sailing. Proof of a negative test can be the printed or digital results, a clear photo of your self-test result, or your actual self-test in hand. Prior to this change, unvaccinated guests had to take a Covid-19 test before their cruise. All Guests, All Aboard," Royal Caribbean's President and CEO Michael Bayley wrote on Facebook. The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway. Royal Caribbean has greatly relaxed its covid rules. (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.