Travel agents and guests were notified of the change in policy. Or do we need the physical card? Does that mean covid-testing requirements and vaccine mandates will be dropped? It felt normal in many ways, but compared to two other recent cruises I took, it was a bit more controlled. 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. ", "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. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. 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. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. 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. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Symphony of the Seas (WPLG) Royal Caribbean announced Thursday it's no longer requiring vaccinated guests to take a COVID-19 test prior to embarking on. For cruises longer than 16 nights self-testing is not accepted for unvaccinated travelers. User @HardLinesBlog tweeted: "I'm saying goodbye to all venues moving to this requirement," in response to the tweet by @drsimonegold. Several people on social media have made calls to boycott cruises with Royal Caribbean after the company announced its new sailings from the Bahamas will require adult guests to be "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" in a statement on Friday. This protocol will go into place starting Aug. 8. When I arrived at the Port of Miami, I had to pass through a checkpoint. Silversea also provides complimentary rapid antigen tests for all disembarking passengers. "Guests . 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. Vaccinated travelers will not be required to get tested for cruises that are 9 nights or less. Gee, what could possibly go wrong? Over the past few months that program became voluntary and masks went away while other restrictions eased. Starting September 5, 2022, all guests can sail with Royal Caribbean, regardless of vaccination status. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? When Royal Caribbean resumed cruises in 2021, Covid-19 protocols were a major component to the onboard experience. Sign up for notifications from Insider! The CDC has dropped its voluntary program to monitor cruise ships. Royal Caribbean up for a skirmish with Florida, arnival 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, announcing select "fully vaccinated" cruises, resulted in boycott demands in late March across Facebook and Twitter. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider In recent weeks, several cruise lines have been forced to cancel sailings (and some have implemented stronger mask policies) amid the emergence of the omicron variant. Royal Caribbean CEO Michael Bayley shared some numbers the CDC had given to him, during his remarks to passengers on the 2022 President's Cruise, Royal Caribbean Blog first reported. It will be a requirement that cruise lines will happily comply with as most already require a vaccine mandate and . Lindblad, Silversea, Azamara cruise lines will require the additional COVID-19 vaccine dose for those eligible starting March 1. Fully vaccinated guests and guests ages 11 and younger are exempt. Following August 1, this age requirement will fall to 12 years old or older. Like what you see? 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. I will be boycotting the company instead. Similarly, passengers 18 years old or older sailing from other international ports will also have to be fully vaccinated. 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. During one performance, I went to the theater's upper level (where anyone, including unvaccinated passengers, was able to sit) to see what it was like. | Trust Index: Do COVID booster shots make you more susceptible to the virus? Overall, the sailing was pleasant and it was great to be back on board a sailing from Florida. Offers may be subject to change without notice. NOTE: All Royal Caribbean guests aged 12 and older must present proof of COVID-19 vaccination with the final dose of their vaccine administered at least 14 days before sailing. 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. Get ready for cruise ships carrying people who are not vaccinated against Covid-19. Then I was allowed to proceed to the check-in area. 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. sailings.". The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. 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. Does Royal Caribbean accept a photo of the vaccine card as proof? "This Order introduces a phased approach for resuming passenger cruises. The only guests who will need to test . Regardless of the port location, guests will have to show proof of full vaccination, completed at least 14 days before the cruise departs. This insurance would cover the cost of repatriation on a private charter flight and/or medical care if they tested positive during the sailing. All guests aged 4 and older are required to have a negative COVID-19 test before boarding. 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. 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. 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). An attendant who was monitoring the entrance told me they were passengers waiting for their test results. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! Additionally -- following the first departure of Adventure of the Seas two weeks ago when two teenagers tested positive and were flown home at Royal Caribbean's expense -- unvaccinated cruisers had to purchase special travel insurance. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. 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. 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. updated guidance from the major cruise line. And that could be a real ship storm, so to speak. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. 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. That's likely only partly true because Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, and the rest of the industry must also be protective of optics -- they want the easiest, most inclusive rules, but they also want customers to feel safe. With NewsGuard's HealthGuard browser extension, users can verify if a website is a trustworthy source of health information. Plus, while the Covid-19 vaccine does offer strong protection against Covid-19, it is not like a concrete full body condom (which, by the way, is not great to wear during sex.) Travel + Leisure magazine may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. 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. 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. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. If youre planning to sail on a Disney Cruise out of Port Canaveral, youre more than likely making a stop at Disneys private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay. Travel + Leisure magazine may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. 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. Ron DeSantis maintains a threat of fines under an executive order banning "vaccine passports." Going forward, the cruise line will make pre-departure. 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. 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. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. 2023 TheStreet, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian all require anyone 12 and older sailing on their ships to be fully. says. Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. Rather, we focus on discussions related to local stories by our own staff. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Symphony of the Seas, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention removed, voluntary COVID-19 reporting program for cruise ships. Further, the onboard mask rules were confusing. Both crew members and guests over 16 years old will have to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to sail on the . 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. This is one of many changes in Royal Caribbean's approach to Covid-19, which has steadily seen health protocols erode in order to be closer to other forms of leisure travel. 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.