Mr Fain concedes more cases could occur on cruise ships as things open up. Starting with August 8, 2022 departures, these updates include: These updates also applied to sister brand, Celebrity Cruises. Travel + Leisure magazine may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. In the past few weeks the CDC has laid out detailed instructions on how cruise operators can hold trial runs to test their coronavirus protocols. 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. Royal Caribbean International - Guests no longer need to be vaccinated nor tested to board Royal Caribbean International on most sailings. 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. Apr 12, 2022 10:20 AM EDT. Royal Caribbean has updated its healthy sail protocols. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! In the U.S., kids younger than 5 are exempt from testing and vaccination requirements. Royal Caribbean Drops Vaccine Requirement for Some Cruises. What Vaccines Do I Need for the Caribbean and Northern America? Check directly with your cruise line about their COVID-19 testing or vaccination protocols before travel. Missing from this list are cruises that visit destinations in The Bahamas or Eastern Caribbean. The new protocols are in line with the voluntary program from the CDC, which includes testing requirements, vaccination requirements, and mask requirements. 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. Where they sail: The global cruise line sails large ocean ships all around the world, from Australia to Alaska. This means that Royal Caribbean has now also removed the need for a bracelet to indicate the vaccination status. Guests who are eligible must have a booster. Norwegian Cruise Line made headlines when it announced it would end its vaccine requirement. "Guests are strongly recommended to set sail fully vaccinated, if they are eligible," said Royal Caribbean's news release. 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. If not, just leave blank, Royal Caribbean drops vaccine requirement for certain cruise ship sailings, ended its Covid-19 program for U.S. cruise ships, Where Royal Caribbean cruising is right now - December 2020, Royal Caribbean Group CEO talks about how health panel will lead to cruises resuming, Royal Caribbean will not qualify for bailout under US stimulus package, 5 things Royal Caribbean has done to boost bookings since cruises shutdown. 2. 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. I wish they had cruises where no one was injected. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. What other safety measures are in place: Guests are not required, but requested to test before departing from home (this policy is subject to change as COVID-19 trends change,) as the company states passengers should test to "be a good citizen". A All guests must ensure that they are medically and physically fit for travel. Royal Caribbean senses financial improvements are on the horizon. Vaccination requirements remain in place until further notice for any homeport not mentioned above, including all Florida sailings. "I didn't like having to do it. ABTA & ATOL Protected | FREE Champagne Gift Box T&C's Apply. Royal Caribbean released a further update to its protocols on Wednesday, which will . Guests under the age of 12 don't need to be vaccinated but will receive a COVID-19 test before boarding. 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. 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. Call 08082394989. 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. The change in policy is rooted primarily in a change in policy by the U.S. government. Cruise lines have restricted their ships to only allow adults that are fully vaccinated onboard since sailings restarted in late 2020. COVID-19 Vaccination is no longer required to sail, with a few exceptions. Passport Health is an Outlier business Passport Health es una empresa que pertenece al grupo Outlier Passport Health est une entreprise du groupe Outlier Copyright 2023, This website or its third-party tools use cookies to improve functionality and performance. Royal Caribbean wont require passengers to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 on select sailings beginning in September. What other safety measures are in place: Testing is no longer required on any river cruise. What other safety measures are in place: Luggage is then disinfected before being brought onto the ship and staterooms cleaned with electrostatic fogging. There have been outbreaks on some of the few cruises that have run around the world since the pandemic began. "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. Beginning August 4, vaccinated passengers on Carnival company sailings that last less than six days will no longer be required to provide a negative PCR or antigen test result before boarding. Guests must have received their final dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days before the beginning of the cruise and provide proof of vaccination at . Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). What other safety measures are in place: Pre-departure testing may not be necessary depending on the port. Guests that have received a booster dose will qualify regardless of the amount of time that has passed since receiving their booster. Are you happy with this change or did you like knowing that everyone onboard was vaccinated? Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. ", "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. American Queen Voyages is known for its Mississippi River cruises as well as sailings down other U.S. rivers like the Columbia and Snake rivers, using classic paddle wheeler ships for a throwback, romantic vibe. A guide to every major cruise line's health requirements for safe sailing. Heidi is a physical therapist by profession, cruise enthusiast at heart, and Princess all the time! Drop us an anchor below to share your thoughts on this recent cruise news. Who needs the vaccine: Vaccinations are not required on most cruise itineraries, unvaccinated guests will be required to present a negative test taken within three days of embarkation. What other safety measures are in place: All crew members must be vaccinated for COVID-19 and the cruise line states there are vaccination requirements on board (but does not specify). Now that they dropped them, we can do business again. Beyond the U.S., Victory Cruise Lines sails to Mexico's Yucatn Peninsula. Learn more. Who needs the vaccine: All guests are welcome, however, unvaccinated guests may not be welcome on all sailings depending on local regulations. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. They must test within three days of. Changes involve the cruise line eliminating the vaccinated and unvaccinated areas onboard its ships. Guests can feel free to enjoy the theater, spa, and gym! What Are the Entry Requirements in the Caribbean and Northern America. Offers may be subject to change without notice. The new policy, which was announced as the cruise line detailed summer sailings out of Florida and Texas, will allow unvaccinated passengers to board a Royal Caribbean cruise as long as they "undergo testing and follow other protocols." Royal Caribbean believes that even by allowing unvaccinated passengers onboard, their health protocols far exceed that of other forms of leisure travel, "We continue to maintain additional layers of protection that far exceed any other vacation experience. We recommend that you check with your health care professional or a Travel Medicine Specialist certified by the WHO for guidance. ", Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. 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. Mr Fain is hopeful that customers will be encouraged to return soon by a range of new safety measures, including reduced capacity, social distancing and enhanced cleaning processes. Follow her adventures on Instagram. Unless significant changes come within the next few weeks, the health protocols as released by Royal Caribbean this week will be valid through April 14, 2022. Visas are only required for a few countries within the Caribbean and Northern America region. Royal Caribbean has greatly relaxed its covid rules. Where they sail: Carnival sails large ships around the world, including popular trips to the Caribbean. What vaccines are required to travel on a Royal Caribbean cruise? 2 Aruba. 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 material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Royal Caribbean Blog. See the below table for more information: Embassy information for each country is available on its own destination advice page. Adults have needed to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccine to cruise on all of its itineraries around the world. Starting July 2, Royal Caribbean ships will not be requiring passengers to have covid vaccines for sailings from the U.S. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. Unvaccinated adults and vaccine exemptions. Link to comment Share on other sites. Rivals such as Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line have felt similar financial pain. Self-administered tests are accepted. Below, we break down each line's list of regulations to sail as well as what travelers need to know to plan. Even those who have gone and found other jobs, say: 'Oh, I'm really happy, I can go back on board.' Are There Other Health Concerns in the Caribbean and Northern America? The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) provide guidelines as to which vaccinations are required in each country. Boosters are highly encouraged and are recommended to be administered at least one week prior to travel. Crew will be tested regularly while on board. The cruise line states some itineraries will require proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to travel, and that instructors will be sent out 30 days prior to travel. . Alternatively it says sailings can resume if 98% of crew and 95% of passengers are vaccinated. Like what you see? Unvaccinated passengers under 18 will be required to undergo a PCR test within 72 hours of their departure. See the tables below for more information: A few different types of infections are present in the Caribbean and Northern America region. This summer, Viking will sail several voyages, including around England for UK residents, to Bermuda, and to Iceland in June. Caribbean. Vaccine requirements remain a touchy issue as some people have chosen not to be vaccinated and that means they cannot cruise. What other safety measures are in place: Vaccinated passengers traveling on ships for less than 16 days excluding itineraries with the Panama Canal, trans-ocean, and other selected itineraries will no longer be required to test. 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 must be fully vaccinated (14 days after their final shot). On Thursday, Royal Caribbean announced that it would change its vaccine policy for ships sailing from Florida to the Bahamas - including its private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay - to comply. Required fields are marked *. Travel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. Beginning Dec. 1, 2022, the company plans to drop the vaccine requirement for departures from the U.S. and Europe. This allowed the cruise lines to develop their own protocols, instead of it being mandated. From the snows of Greenland to the seasides of Jamaica, there is something for everyone. Currently cruises leaving from Bermuda, Canada, and Greece will require a test. Arriving people who test positive must quarantine for 10 days. What other safety measures are in place: Testing is no longer required for any passenger regardless of vaccination status with the exception of local government mandates. In another caveat, passengers on Europe sailings who aren't up to date on a COVID-19 vaccine series per European standards will need to take a COVID-19 test on board in order to get off the ship in Greece and Spain. I am glad you brought this up because I had considered that cruise and now I will not. 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.