What other safety measures are in place: Pre-departure testing may not be necessary depending on the port. What other safety measures are in place: All ships have been equipped with High Efficiency Particular Air (HEPA) filters and buffets have been eliminated. What other safety measures are in place: Guests no longer need a pre-embarkation test unless a specific destination requires it. Where they sail: Azamara sails mid-size ships all over the world, to all seven continents. Your most recent vaccine dose is on this list of EMA-approved vaccines: *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention traveler's health website. NCL's policy also applies to sister brands Oceania and Regent Seven Seas. With its (relatively) nearby beaches, the Caribbean has been a go-to escape for American travelers . 5 The Bahamas. Guests that have received a booster dose will qualify regardless of the amount of time that has passed since receiving their booster. 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. All guests will need to undergo a rapid test, administered at the terminal, prior to boarding. Unvaccinated children must show proof of a negative PCR test. 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. Find out more: Royal Caribbean International. Sometimes. . The cruise company's new sailings from the Bahamas will require all adult guests "to be . Beyond the U.S., Victory Cruise Lines sails to Mexico's Yucatn Peninsula. A All guests must ensure that they are medically and physically fit for travel. Now, just a few days after Virgin Voyages policy change, Royal Caribbean has changed its vaccination rules. has written about cruising for more than 25 years and for many years oversaw USA Todays award-winning cruise site. For guests sailing from Australia, vaccines must be approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Guests under the age of 12 don't need to be vaccinated but will receive a COVID-19 test before boarding. However, Mr Fain doesn't think he will face any staffing shortages. Royal Caribbean will require vaccinated guests 5 and older to take a pre-cruise test on sailings from the U.S . Shame on them for the coercion, breaking our Nuremberg treaty for experimentation and for ruining the lives of many. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) provide guidelines as to which vaccinations are required in each country. In addition, even for the itineraries out of Texas and Louisiana for which vaccines no longer will be required, passengers will need to show proof of vaccination if they plan to get off the ship in Grand Cayman a common stop on sailings from those states. Of the major cruise lines, Royal Caribbean has issued some of the most confusing protocol changes to date. Now, Royal Caribbean drops vaccine requirements for some cruises as well. Saga was the first major cruise line to implement this vaccination policy. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. COVID-19 vaccines no longer will be required for Celebrity sailings from European countries with the exception of Iceland and sailings from Los Angeles. 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. 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. The first to set sail will be the "Freedom of the Seas . We recommend that you check with your health care professional or a Travel Medicine Specialist certified by the WHO for guidance. No pre-travel Covid test is required; however, all visitors, regardless of vaccination status will be tested upon arrival. Hes sailed on more than 150 ships. Start with these stories: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Who needs the vaccine: All guests 12 and older must be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before boarding. Outside of the CDC's remit, sailings from several Caribbean islands, Greece and within UK waters are due to put the new safety protocols through a sterner examination in the next few weeks. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. "There will be cases of Covid-19 on board ships, just as there are cases of Covid-19 onshore". . Vaccines will be needed to get on ships such as Royal Caribbeans Navigator of the Sea, seen here in Miami in March, Royal Caribbean's CEO Richard Fain, wants to "make cruising safer than in your home community", Many unused cruise ships have become attractions, such as Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas, A lack of sailings for ships such as Harmony of the Seas has led Royal Caribbean to lose billions during the pandemic, Royal Caribbean's Spectrum of the Sea had to be restocked by boat in Sydney in April 2020 after Australia refused permission to dock, Carnival Cruise boss banks on safety measures, Australian officials skipped health checks on ship, How the UK's ghost cruise ships became a summer hit, Pandemic limbo angers crew on 'nightmare' cruises, The 'last cruise ship on Earth' finally comes home, type of documents the airline industry is calling for, AOC under investigation for Met Gala dress, Mother who killed her five children euthanised, Alex Murdaugh's legal troubles are far from over, The children left behind in Cuba's exodus, Biden had skin cancer lesion removed - White House, US sues Exxon over nooses found at Louisiana plant. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. Vaccination and Testing Requirements. . It only took 10s of thousands of lives to be lost for them to do it though. For a full list of ports and whether they require a test guests can check online. It wasn't immediately clear what other protocols. On July 3, the Odyssey of the Seas will sail from Fort Lauderdale on 6- and 8-night Caribbean cruises, followed by sailings out of Port Canaveral, Seattle, and Galveston later in the summer. and New Orleans. Even there, the vaccine is not required unless the . Unvaccinated cruisers must apply on a first-come, first-served basis. The Caribbean and Northern America offer a wide variety of experiences for all kinds of travellers. Now, Royal Caribbean has also updated its vaccination requirements for certain cruises. Who needs the vaccine: All guests are welcome on board, but unvaccinated passengers will be required to test and may need an additional medical exemption at some ports. "Guests are strongly recommended to set sail fully vaccinated, if they are eligible," said Royal Caribbean's news release. Who needs the vaccine: All guests and crew are required to be fully vaccinated with the booster shot. Are you happy with this change or did you like knowing that everyone onboard was vaccinated? Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. TPG values it at $1,600. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. I think we are talking about people who are vaccinated, and there are lots of different ways to show that". Many popular cruise lines have eliminated the vaccine and pre-embarkation test as the industry is beginning to shift away from mandatory vaccines and testing. Who needs the vaccine: All are welcome regardless of vaccination status, unvaccinated passengers must have a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of embarkation. 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. Home Cruise Royal Caribbean Royal Caribbean Drops Vaccine Requirement for Some Cruises. Read about our approach to external linking. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity, both part of Royal Caribbean Group, will mandate vaccinations for adult guests and crew, with children under 18 required to test negative for the coronavirus . I wish they had cruises where no one was injected. Guests who have certain pre-existing medical conditions, including those who are on supplementary oxygen, will not be allowed to board. Norwegian Cruise Line made headlines when it announced it would end its vaccine requirement. In February, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson told Insider that it will expect . What other safety measures are in place: Fully-vaccinated passengers are no longer required to show proof of a negative test unless it is required of the destination. There is so much happening in the cruise world, and that includes quite a few changes recently with Royal Caribbean, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line announced on Monday they were teaming up to create a panel of health experts, Royal Caribbean, along with other cruise lines, will not qualify for government assistance as part of theroughly $2, Since the onset of its voluntary shutdown, Royal Caribbean has been aggressive with new policies and offers meant to, This month marks exactly one year since Royal Caribbean, and the entire cruise industry, shut down due to the global, In the void of cruise ships being able to sail, there has been plenty of speculation by cruise fans on what might. For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter. Specifically, all travelers, regardless of vaccination status, can now cruise on the following itineraries as long as they meet any testing requirements to board: What do you think of the news that Royal Caribbean drops its vaccine requirement for some cruises? Royal Caribbean has announced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for guests. Starting September 5, 2022, all guests can sail, regardless of vaccination status. All Royal Caribbean guests aged 12 and over must present proof of COVID-19 vaccination, with the final dose of their vaccine administered at least 14 days before sailing. This cruise will be operated as a vaccinated cruise, as defined by health authorities, with guests and crew vaccination rates approaching 100%. 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. Now, Royal Caribbean drops vaccine requirements for some cruises as well. An aerial view of Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Sea cruise ship docked in Miami, Florida on March 2. By continuing to browse this site, you are consenting to the use of cookies illustrated in our, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. In general, Royal Caribbean said guests "are strongly recommended" to have been vaccinated before boarding, and all crew will be vaccinated. The world's largest cruise line late Wednesday said it was eliminating the requirement only for some of the itineraries it offers around the world. The cruise line indicated that these protocols better aligned with the travel and hospitality sector and met destination regulations. Mr Fain doesn't think that getting the industry fully up and running depends on the type of documents the airline industry is calling for. An exception to the new policy is for passengers boarding a ship to Alaska. Unvaccinated passengers can cruise with negative results from any commercially available test, including self . the organization will continue to monitor and offer guidelines to ships. Royal Caribbean has updated its healthy sail protocols. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. Booked guests will be provided full details at least 30 days prior to their sailing.. This allowed the cruise lines to develop their own protocols, instead of it being mandated. We took our first cruise vacation together 13 years ago and have been hooked ever since. Missing from this list are cruises that visit destinations in The Bahamas or Eastern Caribbean. Currently. A spokeswoman for the company, Lyan Sierra-Caro, told The Miami Herald Royal Caribbean International's plans to require vaccinations was only going to be implemented for its "test cruises.". Royal Caribbean International - Guests no longer need to be vaccinated nor tested to board Royal Caribbean International on most sailings. Who needs the vaccine: All passengers regardless of vaccination status are allowed to sail. Read about our approach to external linking. Royal Caribbean senses financial improvements are on the horizon. I am glad you brought this up because I had considered that cruise and now I will not. Previously, certain areas onboard were not accessible for guests who had not been fully vaccinated. What Are the Entry Requirements in the Caribbean and Northern America. Learn more. Learn more about your destination with our full compliment of destination advice pages! Boosters are highly encouraged and are recommended to be administered at least one week prior to travel. 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". 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. Who needs the vaccine: All guests are now welcome. "We are working with local governments in the Eastern Caribbean to align on vaccination requirements for more itineraries. Who needs the vaccine: Vaccinations are recommended but no longer required. Masks will be required on board indoors, and all shore excursions will be with vetted operators. Unvaccinated adults and vaccine exemptions. They made people sicker and killed many people. Who needs the vaccine: All guests and crew must be fully vaccinated (14 days after their final shot). Where they sail: Seabourn's mid-size luxury cruises head all around the world, from Alaska to the Caribbean. Unvaccinated travelers will need a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of embarkation. ", "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. "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. "The vaccines are a way to build protection for you, your loved ones and our guests." However Mr Fain think this will soon change. Where they sail: Royal Caribbean sails large ocean ships all over the world, including many popular itineraries throughout the Caribbean and Asia. Beginning September 3, cruisers that are 12 or older who are unvaccinated or don't show proof of vaccination will be allowed onboard as long as they can show the results of a negative antigen or PCR test taken in the 72 hours before boarding. Arriving people who test positive must quarantine for 10 days. The injections were the biggest failure in my lifetime. What other safety measures are in place: Pre-departure testing will not be required unless for a specific destination. For now, there is no more restriction.