TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! The post received over 8,100 likes and over 2,300 retweets since it was first posted on Saturday. In a statement CEO Michael Bayley thanked DeSantis and other elected officials for their support of the industry, which has been paralyzed since it was forced to shut down in March 2020 after COVID-19 outbreaks and deaths on several ships. Royal Caribbean recommends guests be fully vaccinated and boostered against Covid19. 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 . 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. 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. Learn more. This bracelet allowed me to access areas of the ship reserved for vaccinated passengers. Copyright 2023 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Visitors must still fill out a health screening form prior to arrival. Over the past few months that program became voluntary and masks went away while other restrictions eased. It will be a requirement that cruise lines will happily comply with as most already require a vaccine mandate and . 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. Ron DeSantis maintains a threat of fines under an executive order banning "vaccine passports." Strongly recommended is certainly different from required. 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. 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. "We want you to be more comfortable. Now, its not clear whether the unvaccinated half may be more or less likely to ride cruise ships. Further, the onboard mask rules were confusing. As part of the Australian Federal and State Government protocols all An aerial view of Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Sea cruise ship docked in Miami, Florida on March 2. The post has had over 7,200 likes since it was first shared on Monday. "The combination of the vaccines and testing and contact tracing, all these kinds of protocols really helps us reach our objective, which is to make cruising safer than in your home community," Richard Fain, Royal Caribbean's CEO, told the BBC. 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 . Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. The only guests who will need to test . Unvaccinated guests will be allowed to use the results of a self-administered test if taken within three days of sailing. says. Maarten.". "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.". Ron DeSantis bars businesses, schools and government entities across Florida from asking anyone to provide proof of a COVID-19 vaccination. Heres a hint. 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. The first to set sail will be the Freedom of the Seas ship out of Miami, Florida, on July 2. Testing Requirements: All guests 2 and older are required to submit a negative test regardless of vaccination status. Assuming that you have hundreds or even thousands of people on your cruise ships, a quick calculation with your fingers and toes will show that defying this order from the Florida state government could quickly put you out of business. Enrollment required. More than 2.7 million people have died worldwide and more than 69.9 million have recovered as of Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University. The cruise line Royal Caribbean is requiring passengers and crew members 16 or older . 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.) Several cruise lines are continuing to ease pandemic-era protocols by allowing passengers to self-administer COVID-19 tests. 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. The company said all crew members will be vaccinated. Enrollment required. Gee, what could possibly go wrong? Regardless of the port location, guests will have to show proof of full vaccination, completed at least 14 days before the cruise departs. "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. On a practical level, the CDC had been tracking serious illness and death and the numbers were very encouraging. 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. I saw a couple of crew members nicely ask passengers to pull their masks up over their noses in public spaces (and they complied). $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000. 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. 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. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention kept Royal Caribbean (RCL) - Get Free Report, Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL) - Get Free Report, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH) - Get Free Report and every other cruise line from sailing from ports in the U.S. from March 2020 through July 2021. Does that mean covid-testing requirements and vaccine mandates will be dropped? 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. 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 boarding. Currently, the company requires all guests to "be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before sailing with all required COVID-19 vaccine doses" and "strongly" recommends guests receive the booster shot. One can download it through The app or from browser on The phone, and there is this QR-code to "check" it. Wristbands were also diligently checked in spaces intended for vaccinated cruisers. The most important change may be the following: Guests who are not vaccinated can sail on any cruise from the U.S. or Europe (*except. Lindblad, Silversea, Azamara cruise lines will require the additional COVID-19 vaccine dose for those eligible starting March 1. Where was one of the first places that SARS-CoV2 outbreaks were being noticed? I will not do business with anyone requiring a vaccine," in a post that received over 130 likes since it was first shared. 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. Royal Caribbean will now require all guests to get tested for COVID-19 for certain cruises, regardless of their vaccination status. "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)." 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. The vaccine is not perfect. Once you are on a cruise ship how can you then tell who should be following additional precautions such as wearing face masks and staying at least six feet or one Denzel (because Denzel Washington is about six feet tall) away from others? 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. Prior to this sweeping vaccine mandate, Royal Caribbean had been announcing select "fully vaccinated" cruises. Four major cruise lines are dropping their vaccination requirements for some sailings next month, the . 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. Royal Caribbean will require vaccinated guests 5 and older to take a pre-cruise test on sailings from the U.S . The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. The cruises will depart from Bermuda and the Bahamas, and adult passengers must be. Rather, we focus on discussions related to local stories by our own staff. Royal Caribbean expects to require its crew members to receive the vaccine before sailings return, a spokesperson told Insider. The post received nearly 100 likes since it was first tweeted. Day 1. Royal Caribbean International has announced plans to begin sailing six of its cruise ships out of southern U.S. ports this July and August. In late June, the Royal Caribbean cruise line will, be allowed to operate test cruises out of South Florida after receiving approval from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Cov. As a side note, the ship's Windjammer buffet was not open for dinner during the sailing. 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. 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. What if I am not feeling well in the days leading up to my cruise? But all the major cruise lines that sailed from the U.S. opted into the CDC program. COVID-19 Vaccination is no longer required to sail, with a few exceptions. 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. Many and most of the destinations that we visit require a high degree of vaccination, and they expect our crew to be vaccinated.". 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. 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. Here, I'll explain how various facets of the sailing look for both vaccinated and unvaccinated cruisers. . The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images), Florida Gov. Under the voluntary program, the CDC had been tracking covid levels on ships, assigning color levels based on positive tests and exposures. The CDC has dropped its voluntary program to monitor cruise ships. ", Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. User @HardLinesBlog tweeted: "I'm saying goodbye to all venues moving to this requirement," in response to the tweet by @drsimonegold. First and foremost, it's worth noting that. Her favorite cities include London; Amsterdam; Krakow, Poland; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Dawson City, Yukon; and anywhere known for outstanding pizza and theater. 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. Royal Caribbean CEO Michael Bayley shared some numbers the CDC had given to him, during his remarks to passengers on the 2022 President's Cruise, Royal Caribbean Blog first reported. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? 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. 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. Unvaccinated travelers can join us for almost all U.S. But keeping track of which places were which on this voyage made my head spin. Who else is with me? | 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. 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. Feel free to visitourFAQsfor full details on vaccination requirements. Vaccinated guests aged 12 and over will no longer have any pre-cruise COVID-19 related protocols. 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. Caribbean. Apr 12, 2022 10:20 AM EDT. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. These Countries Require It for Entry, Where Can Americans Travel Right Now? 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. Royal Caribbean has updated its COVID-19 protocols to allow more people to sail on their ships, according to the RoyalCaribbeanblog. It's easy to remember when you either have to wear them all the time or don't have to wear them at all. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. ", "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. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. "Due to evolving health protocols, imagery and messaging may not accurately reflect onboard and destination experiences, offerings, features, or itineraries. With NewsGuard's HealthGuard browser extension, users can verify if a website is a trustworthy source of health information. Royal Caribbean wont require passengers to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 on select sailings beginning in September. 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. The travel company announced on Friday that an additional six ships will resume trips from US ports in Florida and Texas starting in July and August. Cruises from Australia are also not included in this policy change. 2 shots of Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, etc., or 1 shot of Johnson & Johnson). . 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. COVID-19 vaccines no longer will be required for Celebrity sailings from European countries with the exception of Iceland and sailings from . Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. 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. Without very high vaccination rates among passengers and crew members, it can be difficult for a cruise ship to prevent the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV2) once the virus has made it on board. 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. 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. 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. That has worked to keepcovid under control. 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. Vaccinated travelers will not be required to get tested for cruises that are 9 nights or less. However, passengers on U.S.-based voyages should be aware that protocols are likely to differ by cruise line, ship and departure state. Silversea also provides complimentary rapid antigen tests for all disembarking passengers. Guests who have certain pre-existing medical conditions,. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. NOTE: All Royal Caribbean guests aged 12 and older must present proof of COVID-19 vaccination with the final dose of their vaccine administered at least 14 days before sailing. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian all require anyone 12 and older sailing on their ships to be fully. 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. Royal Caribbean cruises are back but vaccinations will be optional. This includes more contagious variants that now have sorority and fraternity sounding names, as I recently covered for Forbes. In a press release Friday announcing . The cruise company's new sailings from the Bahamas will require all adult guests "to be . Related: 15 ways that cruising newbies waste money on their first cruise. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. #CancelCulture." That's likely only partly true because Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, and the rest of the industry must also be protective of optics -- they want the easiest, most inclusive rules, but they also want customers to feel safe. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Royal Caribbean no longer says Florida cruise passengers must receive the coronavirus vaccine, instead noting the shots are "strongly recommended." The reversal comes as Gov. A guest is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the required number of doses in their vaccine series have been fully administered (e.g. Interestingly, certain shows -- such as the ice show in Studio B -- required reservations due to their lower capacity.

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