Previously, the website said passengers 16 years old and older on all of the companys U.S. cruises had to meet the requirement. 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. While vaccination is not required, they kindly ask passengers to disclose their vaccine status during check-in. Starting September 5, 2022, all guests can sail with Royal Caribbean, regardless of vaccination status. Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card. | Trust Index: Do COVID booster shots make you more susceptible to the virus? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention kept Royal Caribbean (RCL) - Get Free Report, Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL) - Get Free Report, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH) - Get Free Report and every other cruise line from sailing from ports in the U.S. from March 2020 through July 2021. 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. The new Florida law can leave businesses like cruise ship lines caught between a rock and a hard place. Travelers are also required to take a COVID-19 antigen test at the terminal before boarding. "This Order introduces a phased approach for resuming passenger cruises. Royal Caribbean has announced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for guests. Over the past few months that program became voluntary and masks went away while other restrictions eased. Action Alerts PLUS is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. Then I was allowed to proceed to the check-in area. Learn more. All cruisers -- regardless of vaccination status -- had to wear masks in indoor spaces unless they were explicitly designated for vaccinated cruisers. 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. Carnival Cruise Line Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. That was about three weeks ago (June 28) and the CDC ruling suggests that the testing requirement could change in August, but almost certainly will by September. Please review this document and acknowledge acceptance via the tick The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a "No Sail Order" for cruise ships from March 14, 2020, as the national health body had "reason to believe that cruise ship travel may continue to introduce, transmit, or spread COVID-19.". Thats While vaccination is not required for guests under 12, we kindly ask that you fill out their status below. One of the world's biggest cruise companies says coronavirus vaccinations will be needed to get on its ships. 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. 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. Essentially, while the CDC set parameters, the cruise lines have been policing themselves for months. As Taylor Doven reported for the Miami Herald, Royal Carribean issued a statement on Friday that said, Guests are strongly recommended to set sail fully vaccinated, if they are eligible. After all, enormous amounts of open space may not be the first thing that you think of when it comes to cruise ships. 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. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Royal Caribbean International has announced it won't require US passengers to get vaccinated to go on several ships set to sail this summer. Royal Caribbean recommends guests be fully vaccinated and boostered against Covid19. Plus Ups are excluded. And when the federal agency lifted the ban, it severely restricted the industry, limiting capacity on ships, requiring masks, mandating vaccinations for anyone ages 12 and over, and insisting on precruise testing and monitoring crew positive tests. In a statement, Royal Caribbean said that while all crew members will be vaccinated against COVID-19, guests are "strongly . The first to set sail will be the Freedom of the Seas ship out of Miami, Florida, on July 2. What if I am not feeling well in the days leading up to my cruise? The cruise line said that it would only "strongly". (Enrollment required for select benefits.). 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. In the U.S., kids younger than 5 are exempt from testing and vaccination requirements. User @joanwetz agreed with the boycott, noting: "I am. 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. 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). Four major cruise lines are dropping their vaccination requirements for some sailings next month, the . Currently, Celebrity requires all guests 12 and older to be fully vaccinated to sail. MAGAs are starting to boycott Royal Caribbean because they are requiring vaccinations for adult passengers and crew members when they start sailing again in June. 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. This includes more contagious variants that now have sorority and fraternity sounding names, as I recently covered for Forbes. Check directly with your cruise line about their COVID-19 testing or vaccination protocols before travel. An aerial view of Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Sea cruise ship docked in Miami, Florida on March 2. Cruise officials said any cruise guests departing before then must adhere to the current protocols in place, which differ depending on where you are leaving from. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters, An aerial view of Royal Caribbeans Navigator of the Sea cruise ship docked in Miami, Florida on March 2. Does Royal Caribbean accept a photo of the vaccine card as proof? 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. For more information on protocols specific to your sailing, visitGetting Ready To Cruise. Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. As of today, 90% of all vacationers booking with Royal Caribbean are either vaccinated or planning to get vaccinated in time for their cruise, Bayley said in a statement. Prior to this change, unvaccinated guests had to take a Covid-19 test before their cruise. The new protocols will not apply to cruises that visit Bermuda or Canada where testing and vaccine rules will still apply. 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. as well as other partner offers and accept our. As on most ships these days, there were also Purell hand sanitizer dispensers at the entrances to all restaurants, bars, lounges and other public areas, as well as in stairwells and elevator alcoves. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. And that could be a real ship storm, so to speak. October 15th or later. I showed mine, and the agent gave me a purple rubber bracelet to wear. if you received your final dose on October 1st, your 14 day countdown American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. More Cruise Lines to Start Allowing Unvaccinated Passengers on Board, 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, Anguilla Just Dropped Its Pre-arrival Testing for Vaccinated Travelers What to Know, 10 of the Best Mediterranean Cruises for Every Type of Traveler, New Zealand Eliminates Vaccine, Testing Requirements for Travel What to Know, The CDC Will No Longer Report COVID-19 Cases on Cruises to the Public. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. 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. 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. Charleston. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. 2023 TheStreet, Inc. All rights reserved. All Guests, All Aboard," Royal Caribbean's President and CEO Michael Bayley wrote on Facebook. Carnival will follow with the same at-home test allowance on Sept. 6. When you strongly recommend that proper clothing be worn to a business meeting, technically that slingshot mankini is still fair game. 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. Feel free to visitourFAQsfor full details on vaccination requirements. Assuming that you have hundreds or even thousands of people on your cruise ships, a quick calculation with your fingers and toes will show that defying this order from the Florida state government could quickly put you out of business. #BoycottRC pic.twitter.com/5xSNzyz0It. From there, I went to the second floor to check in. They waved me through to security, where my carry-on was screened. Rather, we focus on discussions related to local stories by our own staff. Wristbands were also diligently checked in spaces intended for vaccinated cruisers. NOW WATCH: This is what it takes to be a cruise ship performer. Joe Raedle / Getty . 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. Guests are also required to wear masks in all indoor public areas, in terminals, and during shore excursions, and take a COVID-19 rapid antigen test before boarding. "We want you to be more comfortable walking on board a ship than walking down Main Street," Richard Fain, Royal Caribbean's CEO, told the BBC. 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? Several luxury cruise lines are implementing new vaccine protocols, each requiring guests to show proof of having received a booster shot to board. 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. "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. The post has had over 7,200 likes since it was first shared on Monday. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) - Royal Caribbean clarified its vaccine policy this week, stating that it will require certain guests to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 on cruises departing. Travel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. These restrictions include wearing a mask in most public spaces and limitations on areas and services unvaccinated passengers can access. Our intention is to comply with all federal, state and local laws, she said via email. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Symphony of the Seas, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention removed, voluntary COVID-19 reporting program for cruise ships. Signage was almost over-the-top prevalent to remind passengers to stay socially distant, sanitize their hands and wear a mask. The new order outlined detailed guidelines for resuming cruise operations in U.S. waters. Regardless of the port location, guests will have to show proof of full vaccination, completed at least 14 days before the cruise departs. Guests under the age of 12 do not have any testing requirements. The agency currently recommends all travelers are "up to date" with their COVID-19 vaccines before boarding a cruise. You can still get Covid-19 after being fully vaccinated, albeit your chances are much lower compared to those who have not been vaccinated. #CancelCulture." 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. 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. Travel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. Testing Requirements: All guests 2 and older are required to submit a negative test regardless of vaccination status. These new sailings are available for residents of Israel only.". Under the law, which takes effect on July 1, businesses can be fined up to $5,000 per violation. 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. News 6 is Getting Results. People still get covid, as do crew members, but only two people have died, and very few have gotten seriously ill. Get todays headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: Copyright 2022 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved. Twitter user @patriottakes wrote: "MAGAs [Make America Great Again, Donald Trump's campaign slogan] are starting to boycott Royal Caribbean because they are requiring vaccinations for adult passengers and crew members when they start sailing again in June. Does that mean covid-testing requirements and vaccine mandates will be dropped? Fully vaccinated guests and guests ages 11 and younger are exempt. The most important change may be the following: Guests who are not vaccinated can sail on any cruise from the U.S. or Europe (*except. 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. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? Royal Caribbean International has announced updated protocols for the United States, Puerto Rico, and Barbados-based cruises through March 31, 2022. But against the context of everything we've seen, [that's] truly been a remarkable success.". Strongly recommended is certainly different from required. Apr 12, 2022 10:20 AM EDT. 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. According to CDC rules, cruise ships that dont meet certain vaccination thresholds for passengers and crew must first do a successful test cruise before they can restart revenue cruises. That means, as of July 1, the Florida state government could . 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. 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. 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. You can follow her daily exploits, both at sea and on land, on Instagram or Twitter @slyjabroni. "Guests . Plus, your own feed of TPG content. It felt normal in many ways, but compared to two other recent cruises I took, it was a bit more controlled. After all, rarely do you hear someone ask, is that person wearing a full business suit or just a suspender man thong? Both crew members and guests over 16 years old will have to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to sail on the . COVID-19 Vaccination is no longer required to sail, with a few exceptions. says. This includes unsupervised testing. "Finally!!! Under the current voluntary CDC guidelines, 95% of passengers must be vaccinated. So, is the Florida government essentially not allowing businesses to do something that would help keep their customers and staff safer? Instead, Odyssey will begin her inaugural season out of a new homeport, Haifa, Israel from June to October 2021. Several cruise lines are continuing to ease pandemic-era protocols by allowing passengers to self-administer COVID-19 tests. 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. I saw a couple of crew members nicely ask passengers to pull their masks up over their noses in public spaces (and they complied). As part of the Australian Federal and State Government protocols all Credit ranges are a variation of FICO Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application. 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. Hawaii. Offers may be subject to change without notice. One can download it through The app or from browser on The phone, and there is this QR-code to "check" it. Image source: Dukas/Universal Images Group via Getty Images. 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. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have removed the COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships as of Monday. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. 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. Royal Caribbean cruises are back but vaccinations will be optional. 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. ", "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. 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. User @drsimonegold tweeted: "WOW: @RoyalCaribbean cruises is now requiring you to get an experimental vaccine to book a cruise with them. 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. Related: 15 ways that cruising newbies waste money on their first cruise. Cruises from Australia are also not included in this policy change. 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. 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.