does royal caribbean require covid vaccine

For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. No testing is required for vaccinated passengers on voyages of nine nights or fewer. 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. *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions. - As of the winter 2022 Caribbean and Central America season, Star Clippers no longer requires COVID-19 vaccinations for passengers. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. On the other hand, a single Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak can end up costing a cruise ship company a whole lot, including reputational damage. Follow her adventures on Instagram. Related: Cruise hack: 6 ways to turn a voyage on a mass-market ship into a luxury experience. 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. Regardless of the rules, passengers are sure to have a good time. Bayley said during the President's Cruise that testing would "be around for another couple of months.". Outside of the current welcome bonus, youre only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so its not a great card for other spending categories. Since then, more itineraries opened up to unvaccinated cruisers. 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 agency currently recommends all travelers are "up to date" with their COVID-19 vaccines before boarding a cruise. Strongly recommended is certainly different from required. Vaccinated travelers will not be required to get tested for cruises that are 9 nights or less. Cruises from Australia are also not included in this policy change. 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. This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more. Guests who have certain pre-existing medical conditions,. 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. 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. 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. Or do we need the physical card? On CocoCay, everyone was allowed to go ashore on their own and no masks were required. "Guests . Silversea, Azamara, Lindblad, and Viking will require the additional COVID-19 vaccine dose. That has worked to keepcovid under control. Royal Caribbean will now require all guests to get tested for COVID-19 for certain cruises, regardless of their vaccination status. I will be boycotting the company instead. 2 shots of Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, etc., or 1 shot of Johnson & Johnson). Regardless of the port location, guests will have to show proof of full vaccination, completed at least 14 days before the cruise departs. But at the time, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson said these boycott demands were based on a "misconception.". 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. Passenger operations continue to be suspended during the initial phases of this Order. In a statement CEO Michael Bayley thanked DeSantis and other elected officials for their support of the industry, which has been paralyzed since it was forced to shut down in March 2020 after COVID-19 outbreaks and deaths on several ships. After all, enormous amounts of open space may not be the first thing that you think of when it comes to cruise ships. "We're making it easier for more guests to sail with Royal Caribbean. Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, Credit card showdown: Alaska Airlines Visa vs. Alaska Airlines Business Visa, Disney Cruise Lines Castaway Club loyalty program: Everything you need to know, 21 new Hyatt hotels where you can get 500 extra points per night. if you received your final dose on October 1st, your 14 day countdown Both crew members and guests over 16 years old will have to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to sail on the . ", "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.". Up until now, only unvaccinated guests under the age of 12 have been allowed on Royal Caribbean ships. Get ready for cruise ships carrying people who are not vaccinated against Covid-19. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. 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. 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. 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. One can download it through The app or from browser on The phone, and there is this QR-code to "check" it. Check directly with your cruise line about their COVID-19 testing or vaccination protocols before travel. Under the voluntary program, the CDC had been tracking covid levels on ships, assigning color levels based on positive tests and exposures. Prior to this change, unvaccinated guests had to take a Covid-19 test before their cruise. #CancelCulture." Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. Ron DeSantis bars businesses, schools and government entities across Florida from asking anyone to provide proof of a COVID-19 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. The cruise line Royal Caribbean is requiring passengers and crew members 16 or older . The Miami-based operator. But against the context of everything we've seen, [that's] truly been a remarkable success.". Like what you see? Before the tracking system was removed, basically every ship in the program was at the "orange" level, which in theory triggered a CDC investigation. So, is the Florida government essentially not allowing businesses to do something that would help keep their customers and staff safer? 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. User @HardLinesBlog tweeted: "I'm saying goodbye to all venues moving to this requirement," in response to the tweet by @drsimonegold. All guests aged 4 and older are required to have a negative COVID-19 test before boarding. Cov. Oh ship. Rather, we focus on discussions related to local stories by our own staff. 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. It felt normal in many ways, but compared to two other recent cruises I took, it was a bit more controlled. 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. Receive full access to our market insights, commentary, newsletters, breaking news alerts, and more. Vaccinated guests aged 12 and over will no longer have any pre-cruise COVID-19 related protocols. 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. Follow her adventures on Instagram. How do you count the 14 days for full vaccination, exactly? In a statement, Royal Caribbean said that while all crew members will be vaccinated against COVID-19, guests are "strongly . A positive test would preclude them from embarking on the cruise. The about-face is an apparent submission to Gov. Starting Thursday, Carnival Cruise Line announced, fully vaccinated passengers will not need to take a test before boarding if the trip is . Four major cruise lines are dropping their vaccination requirements for some sailings next month, the . While vaccination is not required for guests under 12, we kindly ask that you fill out their status below. In a press release Friday announcing . Do you know about when you'd like to sail? Royal Caribbean Updates to Testing Protocols. Royal Caribbean has announced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for guests. They waved me through to security, where my carry-on was screened. "Lindblad Expeditions has announced that effective March 1, 2022, all guests 12 years of age and over who completed their primary vaccination series more than 5 months ago, are required to present proof of booster prior to embarkation," the cruise line said in a statement shared with Travel + Leisure. This voyage included calls on Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's private island, in the Bahamas. Testing Requirements: All guests 2 and older are required to submit a negative test regardless of vaccination status. 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. 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. 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.