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. When Royal Caribbean resumed cruises in 2021, Covid-19 protocols were a major component to the onboard experience. -10. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. 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. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! Learn more. Royal Caribbean International has announced plans to begin sailing six of its cruise ships out of southern U.S. ports this July and August. There were physical check-in desks, but I checked in using the app, so I headed straight for the area where port workers were scanning digital SetSail Passes. A line-by-line guide. Starting Thursday, Carnival Cruise Line announced, fully vaccinated passengers will not need to take a test before boarding if the trip is . The test cruises will show whether ships can sail safely and follow CDC guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. "We want you to be more comfortable. 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, Uniworld to Become One of the First River Cruises to Drop Vaccine Requirements next Year, More Cruise Lines to Start Allowing Unvaccinated Passengers on Board, Every Cruise Line's Requirements for COVID Vaccines, Testing, These Cruise Lines Will Accept At-home Covid Tests for Unvaccinated Passengers, Will I Need a Booster Shot to Travel? When she's not in New York City, she likes to spend her time at the beach or exploring new destinations and hopes to visit every country in the world. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. Under the voluntary program, the CDC had been tracking covid levels on ships, assigning color levels based on positive tests and exposures. Beginning December 1, 2022, the line will waive vaccination requirements for all passengers on Europe and Caribbean itineraries, except where required by local regulations. Offers may be subject to change without notice. ", "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.". That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. That's why precruise testing is likely to go away but the vaccination requirement for all passengers ages 12 and over will remain. 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. All rights reserved. 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. [TRENDING: Is it illegal in Florida to back into a parking space? The change comes just over a week after Royal Caribbean first eased vaccine requirements for cruises departing from Los Angeles, Galveston, New Orleans, and any European homeport as well as weeks after Royal Caribbean eliminated testing for vaccinated passengers on shorter sailings. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? 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. Vaccinated travelers will be exempt from testing on cruises that are shorter than 10 nights, while unvaccinated travelers 5 and older will have to show proof of a negative test taken within three days of embarking on a sailing. Since then, more itineraries opened up to unvaccinated cruisers. CDC stops reporting coronavirus cases on cruise ships. October 15th or later. Four major cruise lines are dropping their vaccination requirements for some sailings next month, the . Each person sailing was required to download the Royal Caribbean app. The initial phase requires crew screening to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 among all crew members currently on cruise ships in U.S. waters," the health body advises. No Covid test, proof of vaccination or quarantine is required. Going forward, the cruise line will make pre-departure. Passenger operations continue to be suspended during the initial phases of this Order. The major cruise line previously mandated the covid vaccine for crew members only. Guests are strongly recommended to set sail fully vaccinated, if they are eligible, the company said in a statement. Richard Fain, chief executive of Royal Caribbean, told . Masks were not required outdoors or while eating or drinking, but I found myself constantly worrying about whether I needed to have a mask on or not. 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. If not, just leave blank, Royal Caribbean drops pre-cruise testing requirement for almost all cruises, Royal Caribbean Group CEO says decision will be made if covid vaccine will be mandatory to cruise, Royal Caribbean has not decided on any more cancellations following Norwegian Cruise Line announcement, Two crew members with coronavirus evacuated from Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean stock surges after COVID-19 vaccine tests are more than 90% effective, Royal Caribbean bolsters financial situation with $3.48 billion in backup financing, You might have to take a COVID-19 test to go on a Royal Caribbean cruise in the future. Regardless of the rules, passengers are sure to have a good time. 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. "I'm skeptical that's going to change in the real short term. A Country-by-country Guide, Every Cruise Line's Requirements for COVID Vaccines, Testing, Uniworld to Become One of the First River Cruises to Drop Vaccine Requirements next Year, Carnival Cruise Line to Lift Mask Requirement on Board Starting March 1, Every Caribbean Island's COVID-19 Travel Policies and What You Need to Know to Plan Your Trip, Royal Caribbean Launches Hotel Booking Platform for One-stop Trip Planning, These Caribbean Destinations Just Dropped the Pre-arrival Testing Requirement for Vaccinated Travelers, eliminated testing for vaccinated passengers, officially ended its pandemic-era program for cruise ships. Those who are unvaccinated or unable to verify vaccination will be required to undergo testing and follow other protocols, which will be announced at a later date.. "Silversea will continue to work closely with relevant governing bodies and health authorities to evolve its health and safety procedures, as new health recommendations are issued and as the fluid situation advances.". Travel agents and guests were notified of the change in policy. Sign up for notifications from Insider! Overall, the sailing was pleasant and it was great to be back on board a sailing from Florida. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Joe Raedle / Getty . "And the number of people who died from COVID who'd sailed on ships over the past year was two," Royal Caribbean Blog reported. Proof of a negative test can be the printed or digital results, a clear photo of your self-test result, or your actual self-test in hand. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. When she's not in New York City, she likes to spend her time at the beach or exploring new destinations and hopes to visit every country in the world. No testing is required for vaccinated passengers on voyages of nine nights or fewer. ", Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion, Quantum of the Seas: "Alaska sailings departing April 5 to October 14, 2021: In order to allow additional time for our preparation, Quantum of the Seas will remain in the Asia-Pacific region. Like what you see? But against the context of everything we've seen, [that's] truly been a remarkable success.". Royal Caribbean Shares Huge News on Covid Testing, Vaccine Rules President Michael Bayley gave some straight answers on pre-cruise covid testing and potentially dropping vaccine. It is especially important that people with an increased risk of severe illness avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises.". (Photo by Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images), Royal Caribbean International has announced. 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. I showed mine, and the agent gave me a purple rubber bracelet to wear. 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. Vaccinated travelers will not be required to get tested for cruises that are 9 nights or less. Royal Caribbean will now require all guests to get tested for COVID-19 for certain cruises, regardless of their vaccination status. 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. For cruises longer than 16 nights self-testing is not accepted for unvaccinated travelers. 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. On my way, I passed lots of hand sanitizer dispensers and signs reminding people about social distancing and masks. It is typically fairly obvious if someone is wearing a slingshot mankini. Previously, the website said passengers 16 years old and older on all of the companys U.S. cruises had to meet the requirement. The answer rhymes with Tom Cruise lips, kangaroos hips, and too much booze slips. Yes, cruise ships, as Victoria Forster described for Forbes in March 2020. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Guests who are fully vaccinated or age 17 and younger do not have any testing requirements. "Effective November 2, 2022, all travelers on U.S. sailings regardless of vaccination status will no longer require pre-departure testing (excludes sailings to Colombia, Haiti, & Honduras)." Travel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. 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. After 14 days pass, you can get onboard on Day 15. 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. The Miami Herald reported that Royal Caribbean International previously planned to only allow vaccinated passengers onto its ships, but announced in a Friday press release that they were. In exchange for the annual fee, you'll unlock access to the Amex Membership Rewards program that let you access airline and hotel transfer partners, along with new lifestyle and travel credits. "We're making it easier for more guests to sail with Royal Caribbean. No, you need to bring the card. Many and most of the destinations that we visit require a high degree of vaccination, and they expect our crew to be vaccinated.". On CocoCay, everyone was allowed to go ashore on their own and no masks were required. Many cruise fans and potential passengers may expect that this CDC decision means that vaccine requirements and precruise testing may soon go away. The industry-wide trend comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially ended its pandemic-era program for cruise ships last month. Guests who have certain pre-existing medical conditions,. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. Regardless of the port location, guests will have to show proof of full vaccination, completed at least 14 days before the cruise departs. as well as other partner offers and accept our. The summer cruises announced by Royal Caribbean International Friday are still pending approval from the CDC after each ship successfully completes a test cruise with volunteer passengers. . Get tested again after cruise travel. Long story short: They were, very strictly. Currently, Royal Caribbean requires travelers 12 and older to be vaccinated on U.S. cruises. Now, Royal Caribbean drops vaccine requirements for some cruises as well. The post received nearly 100 likes since it was first tweeted. 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. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. 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. One can download it through The app or from browser on The phone, and there is this QR-code to "check" it. According to Royal Caribbean's Healthy Sail Center, for all sailings departing on or after Friday, February 25, 2022, face masks will become optional for all fully vaccinated passengers - with . . 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. 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. | Become a News 6 Insider (its free!)]. Before the tracking system was removed, basically every ship in the program was at the "orange" level, which in theory triggered a CDC investigation. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Over the past few months that program became voluntary and masks went away while other restrictions eased. 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. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. I saw a couple of crew members nicely ask passengers to pull their masks up over their noses in public spaces (and they complied). Meanwhile, Hawaii is set to abolish inter-island travel restrictions, but . So, is the Florida government essentially not allowing businesses to do something that would help keep their customers and staff safer? Rather, we focus on discussions related to local stories by our own staff. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Royal Caribbean expects to require its crew members to receive the vaccine before sailings return, a spokesperson told Insider. This bracelet allowed me to access areas of the ship reserved for vaccinated passengers. This app allowed us to check in for the voyage, set up an onboard account, fill out a pre-boarding health questionnaire and complete the e-muster drill (which replaces traditional muster drills where people gather in large groups). This protocol will go into place starting Aug. 8. This insurance would cover the cost of repatriation on a private charter flight and/or medical care if they tested positive during the sailing. 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. Royal Caribbean cruises are back but vaccinations will be optional. Fully vaccinated guests and guests ages 11 and younger are exempt. The cruise company's new sailings from the Bahamas will require all adult guests "to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Signage was almost over-the-top prevalent to remind passengers to stay socially distant, sanitize their hands and wear a mask. On the other hand, a single Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak can end up costing a cruise ship company a whole lot, including reputational damage. box below. 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. 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. But there is an important difference between wearing a slingshot mankini and being fully vaccinated. Royal Caribbean recommends guests be fully vaccinated and boostered against Covid19. User @HardLinesBlog tweeted: "I'm saying goodbye to all venues moving to this requirement," in response to the tweet by @drsimonegold. Royal Caribbean has greatly relaxed its covid rules. The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. 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. "We are continuing to adapt our protocols to align more closely with how the rest of society and other travel and leisure businesses are operating. If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000. Several luxury cruise lines are implementing new vaccine protocols, each requiring guests to show proof of having received a booster shot to board. Requiring passengers to be fully vaccinated would be one of the best ways of preventing an outbreak. Similarly, passengers 18 years old or older sailing from other international ports will also have to be fully vaccinated. For more information, please see here . The tweet received at least 145 likes since it was first posted. Travel + Leisure magazine may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Guests can take advantage of in-person, telehealth, and self-swab tests. Royal Caribbean extended the suspension of sailings for its global fleet through May 31 (excluding cruises aboard the Quantum, Spectrum, Voyager and Odyssey of the Seas cruise ships) "in order to allow additional time for our return to service preparations," the company said in a statement on March 19. 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. Royal Caribbean International will no longer require its cruise passengers to be vaccinated for COVID-19 as it had previously planned to. Why the change in Royal Caribbean policy? It felt normal in many ways, but compared to two other recent cruises I took, it was a bit more controlled. I just disembarked Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas, the line's first cruise ship to sail from a U.S. port in more than 15 months. 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.
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