This bracelet allowed me to access areas of the ship reserved for vaccinated passengers. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. For cruises longer than 16 nights self-testing is not accepted for unvaccinated travelers. Apparently, Dolven is referring to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently signing into law a ban on Covid-19 "vaccine passports.". Cruise officials said any cruise guests departing before then must adhere to the current protocols in place, which differ depending on where you are leaving from. 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. "Lindblad Expeditions has announced that effective March 1, 2022, all guests 12 years of age and over who completed their primary vaccination series more than 5 months ago, are required to present proof of booster prior to embarkation," the cruise line said in a statement shared with Travel + Leisure. 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. The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway. 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.. "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)." 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. Passengers who didn't voluntarily show proof of vaccination, either because they weren't vaccinated (primarily children, according to Royal Caribbean executives) or didn't have their vaccine cards, were directed to a testing area. 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. Like what you see? [TRENDING: Is it illegal in Florida to back into a parking space? Prior to this sweeping vaccine mandate, Royal Caribbean had been announcing select "fully vaccinated" cruises. Royal Caribbean wont require passengers to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 on select sailings beginning in September. Adventure of the Seas: "June 5 to October 14, 2021: Instead of offering sailings from Barcelona, Spain, Adventure of the Seas will now offer sailings from Nassau, Bahamas beginning June 2021," the company said. 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. Royal Caribbean Cruises NOW WATCH: This is what it takes to be a cruise ship performer. guests must review and accept the Get tested again after cruise travel. #CancelCulture." Royal Caribbean International has announced updated protocols for the United States, Puerto Rico, and Barbados-based cruises through March 31, 2022. Passengers also had to select specific check-in times for embarkation day, ensuring that crowds stayed thin at the terminal during the boarding process. $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. October 15th or later. These restrictions include wearing a mask in most public spaces and limitations on areas and services unvaccinated passengers can access. As on most ships these days, there were also Purell hand sanitizer dispensers at the entrances to all restaurants, bars, lounges and other public areas, as well as in stairwells and elevator alcoves. 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. This comes more than a week after Centers for Disease Control and Prevention removed its voluntary COVID-19 reporting program for cruise ships on July 18. 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. Children will be allowed to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test within . Travel + Leisure magazine may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. 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. Overall, the sailing was pleasant and it was great to be back on board a sailing from Florida. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. When you strongly recommend that proper clothing be worn to a business meeting, technically that slingshot mankini is still fair game. The post received over 8,100 likes and over 2,300 retweets since it was first posted on Saturday. Four major cruise lines are dropping their vaccination requirements for some sailings next month, the . All cruisers -- regardless of vaccination status -- had to wear masks in indoor spaces unless they were explicitly designated for vaccinated cruisers. For more information on protocols specific to your sailing, visitGetting Ready To Cruise. Carnival, Royal Caribbean and more to drop vaccination requirements for select sailings. A guest is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the required number of doses in their vaccine series have been fully administered (e.g. Vaccinated travelers will not be required to get tested for cruises that are 9 nights or less. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Started in 2010, Royal Caribbean Blog offers daily coverage of news and information related to the Royal Caribbean cruise line along with other relevant topics of cruising, such as entertainment, news, photo updates and more. Who else is with me? The CDC has so far approved nine cruise ships, including Freedom of the Seas, Carnival Horizon and MSC Meraviglia from PortMiami, for test cruises, meaning the ships wont meet a CDC threshold of 95% of passengers and 98% of crew be vaccinated, and two ships Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Equinox from Port Everglades for revenue cruises. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. While there, I noticed most of the passengers in this area were parents with young children. This insurance would cover the cost of repatriation on a private charter flight and/or medical care if they tested positive during the sailing. For example, 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. The major cruise line previously mandated the covid vaccine for crew members only. Several cruise lines are continuing to ease pandemic-era protocols by allowing passengers to self-administer COVID-19 tests. People still get covid, as do crew members, but only two people have died, and very few have gotten seriously ill. Caribbean. When not writing, she enjoys travelling and performing improv comedy. 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. About half of the U.S. population is now fully vaccinated, which means plenty of people still have not been vaccinated. If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000. Unvaccinated guests will be allowed to use the results of a self-administered test if taken within three days of sailing. says. Testing Requirements: All guests 2 and older are required to submit a negative test regardless of vaccination status. 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. Several luxury cruise lines are implementing new vaccine protocols, each requiring guests to show proof of having received a booster shot to board. "Two is terrible. Read more: Carnival 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. The recently passed Florida law crafted by the Republican-controlled state Legislature and promoted by Gov. Vaccinated guests aged 12 and over will no longer have any pre-cruise COVID-19 related protocols. Then I was allowed to proceed to the check-in area. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Royal Caribbean As with so many cruises around the world, requirements will vary by itinerary, but new policies that went into effect earlier this month eliminated vaccination. The update on the health protocols for Royal Caribbean ships came in a letter sent to travel agents, which are now also available online. Feel free to visitourFAQsfor full details on vaccination requirements. Royal Caribbean recommends guests be fully vaccinated and boostered against Covid19. In the testing area, they were each given an on-site rapid antigen test. The only guests who will need to test . Interestingly, certain shows -- such as the ice show in Studio B -- required reservations due to their lower capacity. More Cruise Lines to Start Allowing Unvaccinated Passengers on Board, 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, Anguilla Just Dropped Its Pre-arrival Testing for Vaccinated Travelers What to Know, 10 of the Best Mediterranean Cruises for Every Type of Traveler, New Zealand Eliminates Vaccine, Testing Requirements for Travel What to Know, The CDC Will No Longer Report COVID-19 Cases on Cruises to the Public. I will not do business with anyone requiring a vaccine," in a post that received over 130 likes since it was first shared. Guests can take advantage of in-person, telehealth, and self-swab tests. 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. These Countries Require It for Entry, Where Can Americans Travel Right Now? decision to sail less than 95% vaccinated, areas and services unvaccinated passengers can access, Will I need a COVID-19 vaccine to cruise? (Photo by Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images), Royal Caribbean International has announced. 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. While vaccination is not required, they kindly ask passengers to disclose their vaccine status during check-in. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. Carnival will follow with the same at-home test allowance on Sept. 6. I saw a couple of crew members nicely ask passengers to pull their masks up over their noses in public spaces (and they complied). Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Symphony of the Seas, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention removed, voluntary COVID-19 reporting program for cruise ships. Learn more. . 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).