2023 TheStreet, Inc. All rights reserved. Royal Caribbean won't require vaccinations on U.S. cruises, except in Required testing can be completed using any type of PCR or antigen COVID-19 test. Royal Caribbean has announced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for guests. Watch News 6 as they cover breaking local, regional, and national news, plus the latest updates on weather, traffic and sports. As cruises drop vaccine rules, they're seeing 'huge spike' in bookings 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. 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. A Country-by-country Guide, Carnival Cruise Line to Lift Mask Requirement on Board Starting March 1, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Will No Longer Require Face Masks, Spain Now Requires Booster Shot For Travelers What To Know, Every Caribbean Island's COVID-19 Travel Policies and What You Need to Know to Plan Your Trip, Anguilla Becomes Latest Caribbean Island to Ease Entry Protocols for Vaccinated Visitors, Traveling to Italy Just Got Easier With Easing of COVID-19 Testing Requirements, Countries That Are Open to COVID-19 Vaccinated Travelers, A Country-by-country Guide to COVID-19 Entry Requirements in Europe, made its guidance optional for cruise lines. 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. The venue was open to both vaccinated and unvaccinated passengers. The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. Lindblad, Silversea, Azamara cruise lines will require the additional COVID-19 vaccine dose for those eligible starting March 1. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. For customers looking to board Lindblad for an adventure cruise, they will need to abide by the new regulations in place. Celebrity CEO says 'public ready to cruise,' as line announces North $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. . 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. Follow her adventures on Instagram. 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. Royal Caribbean International's sister brand Celebrity Cruises (both owned by Royal Caribbean Group) is still requiring all passengers 16 years old or older be vaccinated on its seven-night. 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. Where was one of the first places that SARS-CoV2 outbreaks were being noticed? Norwegian Cruise Line Requiring COVID Vaccine for Guests - Insider #BoycottRC pic.twitter.com/5xSNzyz0It. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Unvaccinated travelers (who are 5 and older on most U.S. sailings and 12 and older on select European sailings) will be required to get tested within three days of boarding. 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. The first to set sail will be the Freedom of the Seas ship out of Miami, Florida, on July 2. Now, abruptly, the CDC has dropped its voluntary program and has stopped regulating or tracking covid on cruise ships. Stay up to date with what you want to know. Mexico Plans on Increasing Protocols for Incoming Tourists, Could This Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian all require anyone 12 and older sailing on their ships to be fully. 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. 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. Several cruise lines are continuing to ease pandemic-era protocols by allowing passengers to self-administer COVID-19 tests. Royal Caribbean Drops Vaccine Requirement for Some Cruises Covid vaccine proof? : r/royalcaribbean - reddit Will I need a COVID-19 vaccine to cruise? A line-by-line guide Starting with August 8, 2022 departures, these updates include: . 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. As part of the Australian Federal and State Government protocols all Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. Vaccinated-only areas included the spa, casino, fitness center (during most operating hours), Izumi sushi and hibachi, Chef's Table and the lower decks of the main dining room and theater. The travel company announced on Friday that an additional six ships will resume trips from US ports in Florida and Texas starting in July and August. Related: 15 ways that cruising newbies waste money on their first cruise. On March 1, the cruise line also announced its first "fully vaccinated" cruise aboard the Odyssey of the Seas, which will be sailing in May from Israel. Royal Caribbean to require proof of vaccination on cruises from Florida Business reporter, BBC News. Travelers are also required to take a COVID-19 antigen test at the terminal before boarding. "I'm skeptical that's going to change in the real short term. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Royal Caribbean also said it will continue to maintain a high percentage of fully vaccinated guests, and crew members will continue to be fully vaccinated and boosted as well as tested regularly when eligible. Lindblad, Silversea, Azamara cruise lines will require the additional COVID-19 vaccine dose for those eligible starting March 1. Lyan Sierra-Caro, a spokesperson for Royal Caribbean International, said the plans to require passengers be vaccinated that the company submitted to the CDC only applied to its test cruises. Royal Caribbean International has announced it won't require US passengers to get vaccinated to go on several ships set to sail this summer. From there, I went to the second floor to check in. . - 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. Who else is with me? The major cruise line previously mandated the covid vaccine for crew members only. 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. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. 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. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. "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. MIAMI Royal Caribbean International will no longer require any of its cruise passengers to be vaccinated for COVID-19 as it had previously planned to. Passengers also had to select specific check-in times for embarkation day, ensuring that crowds stayed thin at the terminal during the boarding process. On my way, I passed lots of hand sanitizer dispensers and signs reminding people about social distancing and masks. Travel + Leisure magazine may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Unvaccinated adults and vaccine exemptions. For more information, please see here . 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. Unvaccinated guests will be allowed to use the results of a self-administered test if taken within three days of sailing. 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. Royal Caribbean Internationals sister brand Celebrity Cruises (both owned by Royal Caribbean Group) is still requiring all passengers 16 years old or older be vaccinated on its seven-night Caribbean cruises that are restarting from Port Everglades on June 26. 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. After all, rarely do you hear someone ask, is that person wearing a full business suit or just a suspender man thong? Plus Ups are excluded. But all the major cruise lines that sailed from the U.S. opted into the CDC program. 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. Vaccinated guests aged 12 and over will no longer have any pre-cruise COVID-19 related protocols. About half of the U.S. population is now fully vaccinated, which means plenty of people still have not been vaccinated. Gee, what could possibly go wrong? The about-face is an apparent submission to Gov. Hmm in my country there are no physical vaccination cards. Signage was almost over-the-top prevalent to remind passengers to stay socially distant, sanitize their hands and wear a mask. Royal Caribbean Updates to Testing Protocols. Covid Vaccine Card: What You Need to Know - The New York Times (Photo by Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images), Royal Caribbean International has announced. Heres a hint. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Royal Caribbean International has announced plans to begin sailing six of its cruise ships out of southern U.S. ports this July and August. Here, I'll explain how various facets of the sailing look for both vaccinated and unvaccinated cruisers. An aerial view of Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Sea cruise ship docked in Miami, Florida on March 2. COVID-19 Protocols, Listed by Cruise Line | TravelAge West Royal Caribbean Won't Require Covid-19 Vaccination To Ride U - Forbes The graphic below, produced by Statista, illustrates countries with the most COVID-19 vaccine doses administered per 100,000 people. Royal Caribbean recommends guests be fully vaccinated and boostered against Covid19. That has worked to keepcovid under control. If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000. The new Florida law can leave businesses like cruise ship lines caught between a rock and a hard place. I will be boycotting the company instead. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. "Due to evolving health protocols, imagery and messaging may not accurately reflect onboard and destination experiences, offerings, features, or itineraries. - As of the winter 2022 Caribbean and Central America season, Star Clippers no longer requires COVID-19 vaccinations for passengers. The Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas (left) prepares to set sail from PortMiami during the first U.S. trial cruise testing Covid-19 protocols on June 20, 2021 in Miami. 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Royal Caribbean has made it a practice to provide periodic .