However, passengers on U.S.-based voyages should be aware that protocols are likely to differ by cruise line, ship and departure state. The new order outlined detailed guidelines for resuming cruise operations in U.S. waters. Strongly recommended is certainly different from required. The CDC has dropped its voluntary program to monitor cruise ships. 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. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. $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. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). To find out more about the new guidelines issued, click here. Who else is with me? At this checkpoint, an agent told me that if I wanted to present a vaccine card, that was the time to do so. Business reporter, BBC News. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. We would appreciate if you could take a moment to provide your COVID-19 vaccination status ahead of your cruise. Then I was allowed to proceed to the check-in area. Vacation cruising has nearly returned to normal. | Trust Index: Do COVID booster shots make you more susceptible to the virus? 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. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. Royal Caribbean International has announced plans to begin sailing six of its cruise ships out of southern U.S. ports this July and August. It felt normal in many ways, but compared to two other recent cruises I took, it was a bit more controlled. 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. Staff would later identify these passengers by holes punched in their SeaPass cards. Royal Caribbean expects to require its crew members to receive the vaccine before sailings return, a spokesperson told Insider. Several cruise lines are continuing to ease pandemic-era protocols by allowing passengers to self-administer COVID-19 tests. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. I will not do business with anyone requiring a vaccine," in a post that received over 130 likes since it was first shared. I am a writer, journalist, professor, systems modeler, computational and digital health expert, avocado-eater, and entrepreneur, not always in that order. 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. 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. Learn more. The cruise company's new sailings from the Bahamas will require all adult guests "to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. It's easy to remember when you either have to wear them all the time or don't have to wear them at all. Royal Caribbean made headlines a week ago when it announced that it would begin sailing from Florida in early July with ships where vaccinations would be recommended but not required. 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. Airplanes, theme parks, casinos, and hotels no longer require any such Covid protocols and have not had any requirements for months. As of today, 90% of all vacationers booking with Royal Caribbean are either vaccinated or planning to get vaccinated in time for their cruise, Bayley said in a statement. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian all require anyone 12 and older sailing on their ships to be fully. I will be boycotting the company instead. This insurance would cover the cost of repatriation on a private charter flight and/or medical care if they tested positive during the sailing. From there, I went to the second floor to check in. 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. 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. 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. 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. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. Carnival Cruise Line Action Alerts PLUS is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc. 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. . #BoycottRC pic.twitter.com/5xSNzyz0It. 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. 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. For more information on protocols specific to your sailing, visitGetting Ready To Cruise. The test cruises will show whether ships can sail safely and follow CDC guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. #BoycottRC." While vaccination is not required for guests under 12, we kindly ask that you fill out their status below. Speaking to Newsweek, a spokesperson for Royal Caribbean said that "vaccinations will be required for the upcoming sailings from [the] Bahamas and St. Carnival will follow with the same at-home test allowance on Sept. 6. 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.. Silversea currently requires all guests to have received their second vaccine shot, or a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, at least two weeks before their sail date. I showed mine, and the agent gave me a purple rubber bracelet to wear. 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. $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. As a side note, the ship's Windjammer buffet was not open for dinner during the sailing. So, is the Florida government essentially not allowing businesses to do something that would help keep their customers and staff safer? 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. starts on October 1st, and you would be permitted to board the ship on 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. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. There were physical check-in desks, but I checked in using the app, so I headed straight for the area where port workers were scanning digital SetSail Passes. Enrollment required. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images), Florida Gov. Apparently, Dolven is referring to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently signing into law a ban on Covid-19 "vaccine passports.". CDC stops reporting coronavirus cases on cruise ships. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! 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? Meanwhile, Hawaii is set to abolish inter-island travel restrictions, but . Passengers no longer have to wear masks onboard while they are indoors, and while capacities have not returned to 100% . "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. Does that mean covid-testing requirements and vaccine mandates will be dropped? 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. Follow her adventures on Instagram. Gee, what could possibly go wrong? Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Royal Caribbean International will no longer require its cruise passengers to be vaccinated for COVID-19 as it had previously planned to. Copyright 2023 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Richard Fain, chief executive of Royal Caribbean, told . User @joanwetz agreed with the boycott, noting: "I am. 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. It is typically fairly obvious if someone is wearing a slingshot mankini. The CDC dropped its cruise covid-19 reporting program last month, prompting cruise lines to announce they would loosen testing requirements for vaccinated passengers and in most cases . While there, I noticed most of the passengers in this area were parents with young children. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. 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. Overall, the sailing was pleasant and it was great to be back on board a sailing from Florida. These may not be available during your voyage, may vary by ship and destination, and may be subject to change without notice. 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. Since then, more itineraries opened up to unvaccinated cruisers. Lindblad, Silversea, Azamara cruise lines will require the additional COVID-19 vaccine dose for those eligible starting March 1. 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. 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? 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. About half of the U.S. population is now fully vaccinated, which means plenty of people still have not been vaccinated. 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. The company said all crew members will be vaccinated. They waved me through to security, where my carry-on was screened. Get tested again after cruise travel. News 6 is Getting Results. Visit the Newsweek VaxFacts website to learn more and to download the HealthGuard browser extension. Or do we need the physical card? The cruise company's new sailings from the Bahamas will require all adult guests "to be . 2 shots of Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, etc., or 1 shot of Johnson & Johnson). The agency currently recommends all travelers are "up to date" with their COVID-19 vaccines before boarding a cruise. A line-by-line guide. While vaccination is not required, they kindly ask passengers to disclose their vaccine status during check-in. 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. Maarten.". Interestingly, certain shows -- such as the ice show in Studio B -- required reservations due to their lower capacity. Before the tracking system was removed, basically every ship in the program was at the "orange" level, which in theory triggered a CDC investigation. Following August 1, this age requirement will fall to 12 years old or older. The post received nearly 100 likes since it was first tweeted. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. The announcement of these select vaccinated cruises later resulted in boycott demands in late March across Facebook and Twitter. For cruises longer than 16 nights self-testing is not accepted for unvaccinated travelers. 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. The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. Guests who are fully vaccinated or age 17 and younger do not have any testing requirements. For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPGs new cruise newsletter. - As of the winter 2022 Caribbean and Central America season, Star Clippers no longer requires COVID-19 vaccinations for passengers. You can still get Covid-19 after being fully vaccinated, albeit your chances are much lower compared to those who have not been vaccinated. One of the world's biggest cruise companies says coronavirus vaccinations will be needed to get on its ships. 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. For customers looking to board Lindblad for an adventure cruise, they will need to abide by the new regulations in place. The recently passed Florida law crafted by the Republican-controlled state Legislature and promoted by Gov. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. Visitors must still fill out a health screening form prior to arrival. In exchange for the annual fee, you'll unlock access to the Amex Membership Rewards program that let you access airline and hotel transfer partners, along with new lifestyle and travel credits. The post has had over 7,200 likes since it was first shared on Monday. "Cruise passengers are at increased risk of person-to-person spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19, and outbreaks of COVID-19 have been reported on cruise ships," the CDC warns. 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. The 14 day time period starts the day you get your last dose. Find the right card for you. Several luxury cruise lines are implementing new vaccine protocols, each requiring guests to show proof of having received a booster shot to board. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. Feel free to visitourFAQsfor full details on vaccination requirements. "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.". Royal Caribbean has updated its healthy sail protocols. 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. 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. 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. Royal Caribbean recommends guests be fully vaccinated and boostered against Covid19. Starting Thursday, Carnival Cruise Line announced, fully vaccinated passengers will not need to take a test before boarding if the trip is . 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. Check directly with your cruise line about their COVID-19 testing or vaccination protocols before travel. 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. User @HardLinesBlog tweeted: "I'm saying goodbye to all venues moving to this requirement," in response to the tweet by @drsimonegold. Starting Sept. 5, Royal Caribbean will welcome both vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers of all ages, according to the cruise line. "Two is terrible. Its difficult to tell. By contrast, you cant really tell whether someone has been vaccinated unless you actually see that persons Covid-19 Vaccination Record Card and somehow verify that its not a fake. 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. Similarly, passengers 18 years old or older sailing from other international ports will also have to be fully vaccinated. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and 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. Day 1. ", The cruise industry came to a halt last year amid the COVID-19 outbreak. According to Viking's COVID-19 protocol, select at-home tests will meet Viking's travel requirement, provided they include a laboratory-certified proof of result. The cruise line said that it would only "strongly". Prior to this change, unvaccinated guests had to take a Covid-19 test before their cruise. Her favorite cities include London; Amsterdam; Krakow, Poland; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Dawson City, Yukon; and anywhere known for outstanding pizza and theater. 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. This protocol will go into place starting Aug. 8. "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. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? | Become a News 6 Insider (its free!)]. Royal Caribbean has announced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for guests. Where was one of the first places that SARS-CoV2 outbreaks were being noticed? Lindblad, Silversea, Azamara cruise lines will require the additional COVID-19 vaccine dose for those eligible starting March 1. Travel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. Over the past few months that program became voluntary and masks went away while other restrictions eased. 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. 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. Watch News 6 as they cover breaking local, regional, and national news, plus the latest updates on weather, traffic and sports. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. Royal Caribbean has greatly relaxed its covid rules. Several cruise lines including Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages have already mandated the COVID-19 vaccine for its guests, crew, or both. 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..