Outside of the current welcome bonus, youre only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so its not a great card for other spending categories. "We have followed the science and used our learnings about COVID-19 to develop comprehensive health and safety protocols to make cruising safer by preventing and mitigating the spread of infectious diseases, in general, and of COVID-19, in particular. "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. 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. Richard Fain, chief executive of Royal Caribbean, told . Several luxury cruise lines are implementing new vaccine protocols, each requiring guests to show proof of having received a booster shot to board. 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 vaccine is not perfect. 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? Day 1. To find out more about the new guidelines issued, click here. Enrollment required. 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.. 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. In the testing area, they were each given an on-site rapid antigen test. Regardless of the port location, guests will have to show proof of full vaccination, completed at least 14 days before the cruise departs. Beginning December 1, 2022, the line will waive vaccination requirements for all passengers on Europe and Caribbean itineraries, except where required by local regulations. Guests can take advantage of in-person, telehealth, and self-swab tests. Royal Caribbean Updates Vaccine Protocols Following Bahamas Order Royal Caribbean will require vaccinated guests 5 and older to take a pre-cruise test on sailings from the U.S . "Boosters can be received any time prior to embarkation. "The new itineraries departing through August, which will sail with vaccinated crew, will be available to adult guests who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and those under the age of 18 with negative test results," the statement said. 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. At this checkpoint, an agent told me that if I wanted to present a vaccine card, that was the time to do so. Royal Caribbean Cruises will now allow non-vaccinated passengers after For more information on protocols specific to your sailing, visitGetting Ready To Cruise. NOW WATCH: This is what it takes to be a cruise ship performer. Cruise giant Royal Caribbean International on Friday announced plans to bring back six more ships including some of its largest for U.S. sailings starting July 2. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. This includes more contagious variants that now have sorority and fraternity sounding names, as I recently covered for Forbes. The announcement is a reversal from previous statements and vaccine protocols the company submitted to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last month that said it would require all passengers at least 18 years old and older to be vaccinated. Going forward, the cruise line will make pre-departure. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. Vaccinated travelers will not be required to get tested for cruises that are 9 nights or less. 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. This voyage included calls on Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's private island, in the Bahamas. Royal Caribbean International has announced plans to begin sailing six of its cruise ships out of southern U.S. ports this July and August. For more information, please see here . 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. Carnival Cruise Line Cruise COVID Testing Rules For Vaccinated, Unvaccinated Travelers - NBC When I reached the third floor on my way to the gangway, I passed by a small waiting area with several groups of bored-looking people. On Friday, Royal Caribbean announced new seven-night cruises aboard the Adventure of the Seas cruise ship that will depart from Nassau in the Bahamas starting in June. But there is an important difference between wearing a slingshot mankini and being fully vaccinated. Breeze through security with CLEAR lanes available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your membership when you use your Card. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. 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. As a side note, the ship's Windjammer buffet was not open for dinner during the sailing. About half of the U.S. population is now fully vaccinated, which means plenty of people still have not been vaccinated. Stay up to date with what you want to know. Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to bea useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean. The announcement of these select vaccinated cruises later resulted in boycott demands in late March across Facebook and Twitter. Lindblad, Silversea, Azamara cruise lines will require the additional COVID-19 vaccine dose for those eligible starting March 1. COVID-19 Vaccination is no longer required to sail, with a few exceptions. On May 26, the cruise line updated its website to say that passengers 16 years old and older on its cruises from Seattle and The Bahamas are required to be vaccinated. The update on the health protocols for Royal Caribbean ships came in a letter sent to travel agents, which are now also available online. 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 . Signage was almost over-the-top prevalent to remind passengers to stay socially distant, sanitize their hands and wear a mask. Norwegian cruises to drop vaccination requirement, ease testing rules Vaccines Will Now Be Optional on Most Royal Caribbean Cruises - Travel Essentially, while the CDC set parameters, the cruise lines have been policing themselves for months. 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. Your sailing is fast approaching, and we're looking forward to welcoming you onboard. Royal Caribbean just announced a new collection of seven-night summer cruises to the Bahamas and Mexico, but don't consider booking a spot unless you plan on being fully vaccinated against. After 14 days pass, you can get onboard on Day 15. No Covid Vaccines Needed To Cruise On Royal Caribbean Ships All of this have prompted a fair number of tweets to use the words petri dish. For example: Think back to February 2020 right before the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak officially became a pandemic. No testing is required for vaccinated passengers on voyages of nine nights or fewer. In a press release Friday announcing . In addition to having more rules in place than some other cruise lines, Royal Caribbean also enforced those protocols more strictly, with crew checking for wristbands in vaccinated-only venues and checking for masks in indoor places accessible to everyone. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian May Drop Vaccine Mandate by This The about-face is an apparent submission to Gov. These Cruise Lines Will Require a Booster Shot to Board - Travel Many and most of the destinations that we visit require a high degree of vaccination, and they expect our crew to be vaccinated.". With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! 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. When I arrived at the Port of Miami, I had to pass through a checkpoint. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. Watch News 6 as they cover breaking local, regional, and national news, plus the latest updates on weather, traffic and sports. Royal Caribbean Reverses Vaccine Mandate on Ships in Florida - Insider 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. "Due to evolving health protocols, imagery and messaging may not accurately reflect onboard and destination experiences, offerings, features, or itineraries. Silversea also provides complimentary rapid antigen tests for all disembarking passengers. In Nassau, vaccinated passengers were allowed to explore however they wished, but unvaccinated cruisers were required to take ship-sponsored excursions to leave the ship. Unfortunately, the announcement didn't come in time for this voyage. Royal Caribbean: Avoid Florida If You Want An All-Vaccinated - Forbes 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. Since then, more itineraries opened up to unvaccinated cruisers. "We want you to be more comfortable walking onboard a ship than walking down Main Street.". Like what you see? 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. Well, heres what Dolven tweeted: Apparently, Dolven is referring to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently signing into law a ban on Covid-19 vaccine passports. That means, as of July 1, the Florida state government could fine a cruise ship operator $5,000 each and every time the cruise ship operator requires proof of vaccination to use their services. Can I go on a cruise if I'm not vaccinated? - CNET 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. A Royal Caribbean-owned cruise line just announced a vaccine Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. The CDC may not be directly saying that it's done all it can, but the cruise lines clearly have taken reasonable precautions, and given the state of covid in the U.S., that's all that anyone can reasonably expect. Of course, nothing is foolproof: Royal Caribbean recently canceled the first sailings of its newest ship, Odyssey of the Seas, after eight crew members tested positive for Covid; six were. User @drsimonegold tweeted: "WOW: @RoyalCaribbean cruises is now requiring you to get an experimental vaccine to book a cruise with them. While vaccination is not required, they kindly ask passengers to disclose their vaccine status during check-in. | Become a News 6 Insider (its free!)]. 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. Prior to this sweeping vaccine mandate, Royal Caribbean had been announcing select "fully vaccinated" cruises. ", 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. Starting July 2, Royal Caribbean ships will not be requiring passengers to have covid vaccines for sailings from the U.S. Vacation cruising has nearly returned to normal. Interestingly, certain shows -- such as the ice show in Studio B -- required reservations due to their lower capacity. Royal Caribbean won't require vaccinations on U.S. cruises, except in Instead, Odyssey will begin her inaugural season out of a new homeport, Haifa, Israel from June to October 2021. They waved me through to security, where my carry-on was screened. Or do we need the physical card? 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. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. | Trust Index: Do COVID booster shots make you more susceptible to the virus? Royal Caribbean Won't Require Covid-19 Vaccination To Ride U - Forbes 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. [TRENDING: Is it illegal in Florida to back into a parking space? Several cruise lines including Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages have already mandated the COVID-19 vaccine for its guests, crew, or both. These Cruise Lines Are Ending Vaccine Requirements 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. "This Order introduces a phased approach for resuming passenger cruises. Several cruise lines are continuing to ease pandemic-era protocols by allowing passengers to self-administer COVID-19 tests. 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. 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. You can follow her daily exploits, both at sea and on land, on Instagram or Twitter @slyjabroni. Royal Caribbean Bermuda, Bahamas cruises for COVID vaccinated - Yahoo! Royal Caribbean Drops Vaccine Requirement for Some Cruises Royal Caribbean Informs Guests of Updated Protocols - Cruise Hive Visit the Newsweek VaxFacts website to learn more and to download the HealthGuard browser extension. Coronavirus has infected more than 123.3 million people, including over 29.8 million in the U.S., since it was first reported in Wuhan, China. Then I was allowed to proceed to the check-in area. You can still get Covid-19 after being fully vaccinated, albeit your chances are much lower compared to those who have not been vaccinated. Royal Caribbean will now require all guests to get tested for COVID-19 for certain cruises, regardless of their vaccination status. 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. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. - 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. 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. decision to sail less than 95% vaccinated, areas and services unvaccinated passengers can access, Will I need a COVID-19 vaccine to cruise? 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. Travel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. If you are sailing on a cruise that departs on or before April 30, 2023, you will receive: 100% cruise fare refund for you and your Travelling Party, if any of you test positive for COVID-19 within 10 days prior to the cruise or at the terminal. 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. User @FunTimeFred1 wrote: "I'm 100% with you, Simone Any company that make this a requirement will go bust," in a reply to the message by @drsimonegold. Eager cruisers looking to resume sailing with Royal Caribbean will now have to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to updated guidance from the major cruise line. Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, Credit card showdown: Alaska Airlines Visa vs. Alaska Airlines Business Visa, Disney Cruise Lines Castaway Club loyalty program: Everything you need to know, 21 new Hyatt hotels where you can get 500 extra points per night. Royal Caribbean has updated its healthy sail protocols. Unfortunately, the announcement didn't come in time for this voyage. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. 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. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Thats what you may see as soon as next month with the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic still a public health emergency. #BoycottRC pic.twitter.com/5xSNzyz0It. Passengers also had to select specific check-in times for embarkation day, ensuring that crowds stayed thin at the terminal during the boarding process. Does that mean covid-testing requirements and vaccine mandates will be dropped? if you received your final dose on October 1st, your 14 day countdown TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) - Royal Caribbean clarified its vaccine policy this week, stating that it will require certain guests to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 on cruises departing. Hmm in my country there are no physical vaccination cards. Royal Caribbean International will no longer require its cruise passengers to be vaccinated for COVID-19 as it had previously planned to. User @joanwetz agreed with the boycott, noting: "I am. 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. Vaccinated guests aged 12 and over will no longer have any pre-cruise COVID-19 related protocols. For customers looking to board Lindblad for an adventure cruise, they will need to abide by the new regulations in place.