We would appreciate if you could take a moment to provide your COVID-19 vaccination status ahead of your cruise. "We want you to be more comfortable. Please complete the short form below. . Since then, more itineraries opened up to unvaccinated cruisers. That's why precruise testing is likely to go away but the vaccination requirement for all passengers ages 12 and over will remain. Many cruise fans and potential passengers may expect that this CDC decision means that vaccine requirements and precruise testing may soon go away. When not writing, she enjoys travelling and performing improv comedy. The cruise line will still require unvaccinated guests and vaccinated guests embarking on cruises six nights or longer, to take a COVID-19 test within three days of their departure date. One can download it through The app or from browser on The phone, and there is this QR-code to "check" it. Many and most of the destinations that we visit require a high degree of vaccination, and they expect our crew to be vaccinated.". Beginning December 1, 2022, the line will waive vaccination requirements for all passengers on Europe and Caribbean itineraries, except where required by local regulations. Watch News 6 as they cover breaking local, regional, and national news, plus the latest updates on weather, traffic and sports. Before the tracking system was removed, basically every ship in the program was at the "orange" level, which in theory triggered a CDC investigation. On the one hand, no business wants to shell out $5,000 (which would be equivalent to at least 2,500 hot dogs) per customer just for the heck of it. This will continue to evolve as new research and technology becomes available," the spokesperson added. A positive test would preclude them from embarking on the cruise. But against the context of everything we've seen, [that's] truly been a remarkable success.". Thats what you may see as soon as next month with the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic still a public health emergency. The recently passed Florida law crafted by the Republican-controlled state Legislature and promoted by Gov. Unvaccinated passengers can cruise with negative results from any commercially available test, including self-tests. 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. Related: Cruise hack: 6 ways to turn a voyage on a mass-market ship into a luxury experience. Guests age 12 and up who are not fully vaccinated have 3 days to take a test before their cruise, regardless the duration of the cruise. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. However, it shied away from creating a blanket COVID-19 vaccine mandate for guests, although the cruise line previously said it would expect crew members to be vaccinated before sailings return. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). No testing is required for vaccinated passengers on voyages of nine nights or fewer. So, is the Florida government essentially not allowing businesses to do something that would help keep their customers and staff safer? 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. (Photo by Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images), Royal Caribbean International has announced. WOW: @RoyalCaribbean cruises is now requiring you to get an experimental vaccine to book a cruise with them. If they are more likely, then you could easily end up on a ship where less than half of the passengers are fully vaccinated. The company plans to "resume further operation in June" but noted updates on extended suspensions for the following ships and sailings: The company warns: "Health and safety protocols, guest conduct rules, and regional travel restrictions vary by ship and destination, and are subject to change without notice. The agency currently recommends all travelers are "up to date" with their COVID-19 vaccines before boarding a cruise. 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. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. 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. This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more. Ron DeSantis, who has insisted that there will be no exception made for cruise companies to a newly passed Florida law that fines companies $5,000 each time they ask a patron to provide proof of vaccination. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. While vaccination is not required for guests under 12, we kindly ask that you fill out their status below. Silversea also provides complimentary rapid antigen tests for all disembarking passengers. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. I will be boycotting the company instead. Travelers looking to set sail with Viking Cruises must take a COVID-19 PCR laboratory test before leaving their home country 72 hours prior to departure of the first flight, or 24 hours before with a laboratory certified antigen test. The Miami-based operator. - As of the winter 2022 Caribbean and Central America season, Star Clippers no longer requires COVID-19 vaccinations for passengers. Instead, Odyssey will begin her inaugural season out of a new homeport, Haifa, Israel from June to October 2021. Travel + Leisure magazine may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Bayley said during the President's Cruise that testing would "be around for another couple of months.". Royal Caribbean International has announced plans to begin sailing six of its cruise ships out of southern U.S. ports this July and August. "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. The company had originally required guests 18 years and older to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and provide proof of vaccination to board their ships. says. St. Maarten / St. Martin : open to vaccinated and unvaccinated . It will be a requirement that cruise lines will happily comply with as most already require a vaccine mandate and . The venue was open to both vaccinated and unvaccinated passengers. Samantha started at WKMG-TV in September 2020. Who else is with me? User @HardLinesBlog tweeted: "I'm saying goodbye to all venues moving to this requirement," in response to the tweet by @drsimonegold. Now, abruptly, the CDC has dropped its voluntary program and has stopped regulating or tracking covid on cruise ships. As a side note, the ship's Windjammer buffet was not open for dinner during the sailing. Unvaccinated travelers (who are 5 and older on most U.S. sailings and 12 and older on select European sailings) will be required to get tested within three days of boarding. Royal Caribbean expects to require its crew members to receive the vaccine before sailings return, a spokesperson told Insider. Time is running out on free COVID tests and vaccines; what then. if you received your final dose on October 1st, your 14 day countdown Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. 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. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. CDC will continue to publish guidance to help cruise ships continue to provide a safer and healthier environment for passengers, crew and communities going forward. COVID-19 vaccines no longer will be required for Celebrity sailings from European countries with the exception of Iceland and sailings from . Hawaii. Essentially, while the CDC set parameters, the cruise lines have been policing themselves for months. A guest is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the required number of doses in their vaccine series have been fully administered (e.g. But keeping track of which places were which on this voyage made my head spin. 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. box below. Why the change in Royal Caribbean policy? $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. In a statement, Royal Caribbean said that while all crew members will be vaccinated against COVID-19, guests are "strongly . An aerial view of Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Sea cruise ship docked in Miami, Florida on March 2. Overall, the sailing was pleasant and it was great to be back on board a sailing from Florida. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. 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. Guests are strongly recommended to set sail fully vaccinated, if they are eligible, the company said in a statement. Action Alerts PLUS is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc. 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. This bracelet allowed me to access areas of the ship reserved for vaccinated passengers. 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? 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. Travel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. 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. Each person sailing was required to download the Royal Caribbean app. 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. #CancelCulture. "Due to evolving health protocols, imagery and messaging may not accurately reflect onboard and destination experiences, offerings, features, or itineraries. . Currently the CDC recommends that "all people avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises, worldwide, because the risk of COVID-19 on cruise ships is very high. Most major cruise lines require proof of vaccination for all passengers age 12 and up, and some require them for kids as young as 5 years old (Pfizer's . The SARS-CoV2 is still actively spreading in the U.S. and throughout different parts of the world. 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. The about-face is an apparent submission to Gov. -10. But all the major cruise lines that sailed from the U.S. opted into the CDC program. Offers may be subject to change without notice. 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. ", "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. 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. While vaccination is not required, they kindly ask passengers to disclose their vaccine status during check-in. Royal Caribbean has greatly relaxed its covid rules. Her favorite cities include London; Amsterdam; Krakow, Poland; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Dawson City, Yukon; and anywhere known for outstanding pizza and theater. User @drsimonegold tweeted: "WOW: @RoyalCaribbean cruises is now requiring you to get an experimental vaccine to book a cruise with them. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. 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.. Cruises from Australia are also not included in this policy change. Royal Caribbean has updated its healthy sail protocols. The post received nearly 100 likes since it was first tweeted. This insurance would cover the cost of repatriation on a private charter flight and/or medical care if they tested positive during the sailing. Who else is with me? 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. 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. Maarten.". 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. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. 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. Under the current voluntary CDC guidelines, 95% of passengers must be vaccinated. The graphic below, produced by Statista, illustrates the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. Newsweek, in partnership with NewsGuard, is dedicated to providing accurate and verifiable vaccine and health information. Travelers are also required to take a COVID-19 antigen test at the terminal before boarding. 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. Carnival, Royal Caribbean cruises loosen coronavirus testing rules Norwegian's moves to loosen pandemic-era protocols follow similar decisions by industry leaders Carnival and Royal. Does that mean covid-testing requirements and vaccine mandates will be dropped? After all, rarely do you hear someone ask, is that person wearing a full business suit or just a suspender man thong? These restrictions include wearing a mask in most public spaces and limitations on areas and services unvaccinated passengers can access. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. Royal Caribbean International will no longer require its cruise passengers to be vaccinated for COVID-19 as it had previously planned to. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? Virgin Voyages Becomes First Major Cruise Line to Eliminate Pre-embarkation COVID Testing in the U.S. Margaritaville at Sea Becomes Latest Cruise Line to Ease Pre-boarding COVID Testing Requirement, Where Can Americans Travel Right Now? Business reporter, BBC News. 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. However, passengers on U.S.-based voyages should be aware that protocols are likely to differ by cruise line, ship and departure state. [TRENDING: Is it illegal in Florida to back into a parking space? The cruise line's vaccine mandate will apply to guests who are at least 16 years old aboard ships sailing from the US or the Bahamas, according to Royal Caribbean's frequently asked questions page. Its not great PR to be known as that place where the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak occurred, unless you are specifically running a cruise for viruses who want to have a nice human buffet available. Our intention is to comply with all federal, state and local laws, she said via email. For customers looking to board Lindblad for an adventure cruise, they will need to abide by the new regulations in place. Ron DeSantis bars businesses, schools and government entities across Florida from asking anyone to provide proof of a COVID-19 vaccination. 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. Visitors must still fill out a health screening form prior to arrival. Unvaccinated guests will be allowed to use the results of a self-administered test if taken within three days of sailing. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. Previously, the website said passengers 16 years old and older on all of the companys U.S. cruises had to meet the requirement. Vaccines, however, have clearly helped limit the number of severe cases onboard, and showing vaccination cards is a much smaller ask of passengers than requiring them to get tested no more than two days before their cruises. 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. 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.) - 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. A line-by-line guide, 15 ways that cruising newbies waste money on their first cruise, Cruise hack: 6 ways to turn a voyage on a mass-market ship into a luxury experience, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Royal Caribbean announced Thursday its no longer requiring vaccinated guests to take a COVID-19 test prior to embarking on cruises six nights or less. #BoycottRC pic.twitter.com/5xSNzyz0It. Please review this document and acknowledge acceptance via the tick Currently, Celebrity requires all guests 12 and older to be fully vaccinated to sail. Royal Caribbean will accept a variety of tests as proof to board, including simply taking a photo of a self-administered home test, a new rule that Bayley also noted on social media. But there is an important difference between wearing a slingshot mankini and being fully vaccinated. The tweet received at least 145 likes since it was first posted. Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty spoke about the change during an earnings call with investors earlier this year and said the change is a move to be more like other forms of leisure travel, such as theme parks, casinos, or air travel. "Finally!!! Feel free to visitourFAQsfor full details on vaccination requirements. After 14 days pass, you can get onboard on Day 15. TPG values it at $1,600. Health, Travel & Risk Acknowledgement. The post has had over 7,200 likes since it was first shared on Monday. Gee, what could possibly go wrong? Several cruise lines are continuing to ease pandemic-era protocols by allowing passengers to self-administer COVID-19 tests. Guests can take advantage of in-person, telehealth, and self-swab tests. One of the world's biggest cruise companies says coronavirus vaccinations will be needed to get on its ships. 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. While Americans filled arenas for concerts and sporting events, theme parks operated without any restrictions, and pretty much every business returned to normal, the CDC kept its thumb on the cruise industry. On March 1, the cruise line also announced its first "fully vaccinated" cruise aboard the Odyssey of the Seas, which will be sailing in May from Israel. 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. Get up to $300 back per calendar year on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. Azamara does not require negative test results in order to board unless mandated by local governments in the ports where the line's ships sail. 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.
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