Offers may be subject to change without notice. It wasn't immediately clear what other protocols would be required for unvaccinated guests. Boosters are recommended but not required. Read about our approach to external linking. 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. What other safety measures are in place: Only unvaccinated guests will be required to show proof of a negative PCR or antigen test taken 72 hours prior to boarding. Vaccine required? Royal Caribbean is requiring vaccination for travelers ages 12 and over. Unvaccinated travelers will need a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of embarkation. Puerto. Get up to $300 back per calendar year on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. Many of those who work in the cruise industry are crew who have returned to their homes around the world and sought alternative employment during the pandemic. To be considered fully vaccinated by the countries we visit: A guest is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the required number of doses in their vaccine series have been fully administered (e.g. Who needs the vaccine: All guests and crew 12 and older will be required to be fully vaccinated at least two weeks before boarding a ship. . Carnival Cruise Line. 5 The Bahamas. Vaccines will be needed to get on ships such as Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Sea, seen here in Miami in March By Jonathan Josephs Business reporter, BBC News One of the world's biggest. has written about cruising for more than 25 years and for many years oversaw USA Todays award-winning cruise site. At this time,only the following sailings have COVID-19 vaccination requirements: Guestsage12 and older must be fully vaccinated againstCOVID-19in order to sail: Vaccines that are fully approved or authorized for emergency use by theWorld Health Organization (with the exception of CanSino), and the European Medicines Agency (EMA), will be accepted by the ports we sail to. Follow her adventures on Instagram. Travel + Leisure magazine may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Dengue, Zika and malaria are found in various parts of the region. Previously, guests who were not fully vaccinated were not allowed in areas such as the Schooner Bar, Chefs Table, the Spa, and the Casino. The Cruise line also has a full list of enhanced cleaning protocols. Royal Caribbean requires vaccination on cruises from Hawaii to Vancouver. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter. What vaccines are required to travel on a Royal Caribbean cruise? Royal Caribbean reversed course on its vaccine policy last week, making the jab optional for most of its cruises after the company initially planned to require it. "Those who are unvaccinated or unable to verify vaccination will be. All crew will continue to be fully vaccinated and boosted when eligible, and tested regularly. Please note, currently, only guests that show a valid vaccination record can get off the ship in Grand Cayman. . In addition, even for the itineraries out of Texas and Louisiana for which vaccines no longer will be required, passengers will need to show proof of vaccination if they plan to get off the ship in Grand Cayman a common stop on sailings from those states. An exception to the new policy is those boarding a ship to Alaska where the cruise line will still require guests 16 and older to be vaccinated, and 12 and older starting Aug. 1. We have 15 Pictures about Royal Caribbean reverses vaccination mandate for passengers on cruises like Alaska Cruises: Everything You Need to Know - Park West Gallery, Royal Caribbean Cruises Alaska 2022 / 2023 - Alaska Cruise Specialists and also Alaska Cruise Weather in May, June and July: What to Expect in the. Changes involve the cruise line eliminating the vaccinated and unvaccinated areas onboard its ships. Vaccinated guests aged 12 and over will no longer have any pre-cruise COVID-19 related protocols. These are all the cruise lines that will require COVID-19 vaccinations for guests and crew. Are you ready to embark on your journey to sea the world, one port at a time? The health guidelines released this week align mostly with what Royal Caribbean had already implemented: Also Read: Royal Caribbean Provides Update to Guests Booked on Sailings to Russia. Previously, certain areas onboard. 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. The CDC still makes recommendations to the lines, but ultimately, cruise lines craft protocols as they see fit, similar to other forms of leisure travel. Guests that have received a booster dose will qualify regardless of the amount of time that has passed since receiving their booster. What other safety measures are in place: Masks are recommended onboard in most indoor venues and the casinos are frequently sanitized. We want to ensure a great experience going ashore at these ports, for guests of any vaccination status, while meeting local health regulations.". The twin announcements came just two days after Norwegian Cruise Line and sister lines Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises became the first major cruise brands to announce an end to their COVID-19 vaccination requirements. It adds that the "CDC acknowledges that it is not possible for cruising to be a zero-risk activity for spread of Covid-19". That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. On July 3, the Odyssey of the Seas will sail from Fort Lauderdale on 6- and 8-night Caribbean cruises, followed by sailings out of Port Canaveral, Seattle, and Galveston later in the summer. Guests under the age of 12 don't need to be vaccinated but will receive a COVID-19 test before boarding. 3 Puerto Rico. Where they sail: Holland America sails large ships all over the world, including to the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Europe, and more. No pre-travel Covid test is required; however, all visitors, regardless of vaccination status will be tested upon arrival. Unvaccinated passengers can cruise with negative results from any commercially available test, including self . Royal Caribbean International has announced it won't require US passengers to get vaccinated to go on several ships set to sail this summer. See our What Vaccines section to learn more. What other safety measures are in place: Vaccinated travelers will no longer need a negative test on sailings shorter than 10 nights. Who needs the vaccine: All guests are now welcome. Vaccines must be approved for use by the country they are sailing from. Where they sail: Grand Circle Cruise Line sails small ships and river cruises all over the world, including an extensive list of European itineraries. ", Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. The changes began shortly after the CDC ended a pandemic-era policy of publicly displaying COVID-19 cases onboard, different cruise lines to the public in July 2022. Mailbag: Why can't cruise ships sail from other countries instead? In a statement, it said it was working towards "the prospective resumption of passenger operations in the United States by mid-summer". The plan will need approval from the federal government before it can be implemented, while uncertainty also exists which vaccines would be acceptable for entry. Editorial disclaimer: 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. They'll still be required for most passengers on sailings out of all other U.S. states including Florida, where the line has many of its biggest hubs, and several other countries. The three latter brands said their new no-vaccine-required policies were fleetwide. Who needs the vaccine: All guests must be fully vaccinated to board a ship. Children who have received one dose (unless Johnson & Johnson) do not count as fully vaccinated. What other safety measures are in place: All guests will undergo a health screening upon arrival and luggage will be disinfected. We are Don and Heidi, the husband and wife travel team behind EatSleepCruise.com. Testing requirements have not been finalized, All sailings departing from the UK and Europe (with the exception of Iceland), All sailings departing from Los Angeles to Mexican Riviera. The new protocols are in line with the voluntary program from the CDC, which includes testing requirements, vaccination requirements, and mask requirements. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) provide guidelines as to which vaccinations are required in each country. 4 U.S. Virgin Islands. Mr Fain concedes more cases could occur on cruise ships as things open up. In many cases inoculations are recommended, but in some circumstances, they are required by the country from which your cruise departs or countries we visit. Some routine vaccinations are also recommended, this includes: measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap), influenza, chickenpox, pneumonia, meningitis and polio. 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. However, Mr Fain doesn't think he will face any staffing shortages. 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 Updates to Testing Protocols Starting with August 8, 2022 departures, these updates include: Requiring testing for unvaccinated guests on all sailings, and for vaccinated guests on sailings that are six nights or longer. Celebrity kept its vaccine requirement for sailings from Florida and a number of other places. Royal Caribbean requires proof at certain ports, but none in Florida, and this week introduced a requirement complicating trips for the unvaccinated: those passengers must show proof of travel . This summer, Viking will sail several voyages, including around England for UK residents, to Bermuda, and to Iceland in June. To be considered up to date by all European countries, your vaccination must meet both of the following requirements: 1. Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. Link to comment Share on other sites. In a statement sent to TPG, Royal Caribbean suggested it hoped to eventually make its new "no vaccine required" policy more universal. 2 Aruba. 2. Further, unvaccinated guests may embark with a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to departure, subject to local regulations. What other safety measures are in place: Virgin Voyages was the first cruise line to eliminate pre-departure testing for vaccinated guests. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. At least one booster is required to sail. A pre-travel Covid test is still required for all sailings longer than six nights. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Who needs the vaccine: All guests and crew will be required to be vaccinated before boarding, and will be required to show physical proof prior to boarding. It's why, he says, procedures will be in place to isolate any passengers who show symptoms. What Are the Entry Requirements in the Caribbean and Northern America. One of the world's biggest cruise companies says coronavirus vaccinations will be needed to get on its ships. All guests can go to all public areas onboard with the new protocols. Other informational resources can be accessed on theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention traveler's health websiteor by calling toll-free (877) FYI-TRIP and on theWorld Health Organization website. Cruise giant Royal Caribbean is dropping its COVID-19 vaccine requirement but there's a catch, This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. NCL's policy also applies to sister brands Oceania and Regent Seven Seas. These Cruise Lines Will Accept At-home Covid Tests for Unvaccinated Passengers, Norwegian Cruises to Allow Unvaccinated Passengers Starting in September, These Major Cruise Lines Just Dropped COVID-19 Testing Requirements for Shorter Sailings What to Know, More Cruise Lines to Start Allowing Unvaccinated Passengers on Board. Related: The ultimate guide to Royal Caribbean, "We are collaborating with local governments throughout the Caribbean to align on vaccination requirements for additional itineraries," Royal Caribbean said in the statement. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. Who needs the vaccine: All guests 12 and older need to be vaccinated before boarding. Royal Caribbean will cover the costs of the PCR and antigen tests. Below, we break down each line's list of regulations to sail as well as what travelers need to know to plan. Some countries are only. 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. The company plans to start sailing again in August, including to Greece, Turkey, and Italy. And so we are making those steps, we feel comfortable that we will be able to continue to crew them in the way we have in the past". Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. On top of that, shows in Studio B were only accessible during select hours, as was the case for the gym. . The injections were the biggest failure in my lifetime. Depending on the location of the cruise a pre-departure COVID-19 test may or may not be required. Earlier this year, several states including Florida and Texas banned the concept of vaccine passports, directly affecting some cruise lines that mandated vaccines, including Norwegian Cruise Line. Many have expressed their disappointment with the health protocols as released by the CDC; for vaccinated guests, the cruise experience is as close to normal as weve seen in the last two years. . The cruise line also offers the opportunity to take the ship one way to the Bahamas to allow guests to stay at the Margaritaville resort, and then take the ship back to the Bahamas at a later date. Royal Caribbean Vaccine required? Monique Giese, who tracks the shipping industry for the consultancy KPMG says it's important for the industry that cruise ships do get back to sea this summer, particularly before the good weather disappears in the Caribbean and Mediterranean. 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. 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. P&O Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises - along with all cruise lines currently operating right now - have vaccine policies in place that passengers must be aware of. Unvaccinated passengers will be required to test 3-days before embarkation. Where they sail: Disney sails family-friendly journeys including to the Caribbean, Europe, and Alaska. Planning a cruise? Major cruise lines like Carnival, Celebrity, and Royal Caribbean are dropping vaccine requirements and easing COVID rules for pre-boarding testing. Unvaccinated travelers on a cruise to Bermuda will be required to purchase travel insurance (children under 12 are exempt as long as they are traveling with vaccinated parents). Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. "Unvaccinated guests will be required to take one test within 3 days of departure . Where they sail: Royal Caribbean sails large ocean ships all over the world, including many popular itineraries throughout the Caribbean and Asia. We took our first cruise vacation together 13 years ago and have been hooked ever since. What happens to the ships some cruise lines have scrapped during the pandemic? Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Princess Cruises will also begin welcoming a small amount of unvaccinated adults onboard. All guests must ensure that they are medically and physically fit for travel. Caribbean. Where they sail: Lindblad Expeditions is known for its adventurous trips to hard-to-reach destinations like Antarctica and the Russian Far East, partnering with National Geographic to add to the experience. Where they sail: Regent Seven Seas offers all-inclusive luxury cruises around the globe, which include perks like free airfare, free excursions, and complimentary unlimited drinks on board. He doesn't think that there are security issues around the paper documents issued to show vaccines have been given in countries such as the US and UK. CRUISE HIVE LTD 2008-2023. Vacation cruising has nearly returned to normal. For now, there is no more restriction. Read about our approach to external linking. "I didn't like having to do it. What vaccines are required to travel on a Royal Caribbean cruise? $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. (Enrollment required for select benefits.).