Royal Caribbean has updated its Covid-19 protocols to allow more unvaccinated people to sail on their ships. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian Say Goodbye to Pandemic Rule They are as follows: Patients in hospital, where a PCR test is required for their care, People who are eligible for community COVID drug treatments because they are at higher risk of getting seriously ill. People working in some high-risk settings, including care homes and prisons. What vaccines are required to travel on a Royal Caribbean cruise? Testing Requirements for Vaccinated Passengers: Testing Requirements for Unvaccinated Passengers: All unvaccinated guests ages 2 and older are required to receive a lab-administered PCR or antigen test up to 3 days before sailing. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. Most self-serve buffets have been modified so that employees serve passengers to avoid unnecessary crowding. Royal Caribbean Passengers who booked by March 31, 2022, for cruises departing on or before Sept. 30, 2022, are protected by Royal Caribbean 's Cruise With Confidence policy, which entitles them to 100% of the cruise fare paid in the form of FCC if they cancel for any reason. Share. Starting this month, cruise lines including Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, and Virgin Voyages have simplified or removed COVID-19-related pre-boarding rules entirely, joining a growing trend in the cruise industry. Several major cruise lines have dropped COVID-19-related testing protocols ahead of the holiday season, returning to what it was like before the pandemic swept the world. Figures show that around 50% of people in Newcastle-upon-Tyne have had a booster vaccine, and 75% have had the initial vaccine, prompting local. The company said it was "working with local governments in the Eastern Caribbean to align on vaccination requirements for more itineraries.". After more than 2 years under a COVID cloud, the answer is yes. A native Californian, Martn was part of the Metro staff that won Pulitzer Prizes in 1993, 1995 and 1998. The Majestic Princess cruise ship docked at the Port of L.A. in October. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ended its COVID-19 cruise ship program. After more than 2 years under a COVID cloud, the answer is yes. on December 18, 2021 Last updated: 8:21 PM ET, Sat December 18, 2021. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The Majestic Princess, a ship designed to serve the Chinese market, made its maiden call from the Port of L.A. on Oct. 6. Ever since the start of the pandemic, new COVID-19 protocols have complicated many travelers' ideal summer getaway: cruising. Daniel Kline Apr 20, 2022. no fully vaccinated passengers will be required to test before sailing. We gathered some information to answer common questions. In addition, there are several government centers that offer free testing for Florida residents. What are cruise lines requiring of passengers? (All information is based on sailings out of the United States.). When Royal Caribbean announced a change to allow unvaccinated back onboard, all sailings from Florida and Bayonne were not included. Many other lines, including Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, and Holland America Line havemade similar changes. Several other cruise lines have also joined in easing restrictions to board, including MSC Cruises, which has dropped testing completely for vaccinated travelers sailing to the Bahamas and the Caribbean. 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. Norwegian cruises to drop vaccination requirement, ease testing rules. If not, just leave blank, Royal Caribbean updates Covid protocols to open more sailings to unvaccinated cruisers, Cruise industry calls on CDC to let cruise ships sail again, Royal Caribbean UK Boss: UK only cruises have "limited appeal", Two crew members with coronavirus evacuated from Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean cancels cruises on 4 cruise ships for a few weeks due to Covid-19, Royal Caribbean's online check-in requires a negative covid test before arriving to the cruise terminal, Top 8 things you should know about Royal Caribbean's 125% onboard credit offer, Any cruise on Oasis of the Seas from Cape Liberty, (Note: Guests that are not "up to date" on their vaccination per EMA standards will need to take a test onboard in order to get off the ship in Greece and Spain). 3 things to know before stepping foot on the ship, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Readers react to an op-ed on period weirdness after covid vaccines. Children in England aged 511 and considered to be most at risk from being seriously ill with COVID become eligible for their first vaccine. Cruise companies which touted their strict health protocols earlier in the pandemic have said that they expect to ease more of their restrictions in the coming days. These Cruise Lines Just Dropped Their COVID-19 Testing Rules Royal Caribbean will now require all guests to get tested for COVID-19 for certain cruises, regardless of their vaccination status. 15 February Figures indicate the number of children being home-schooled in England has risen by 34% since the start of the pandemic. Some passengers have felt nervous on board at times, while others felt largely safe. Testing rules vary by destination, but Royal Caribbean has eliminated testing for vaccinated passengers on sailings that depart from the U.S. that are 5 nights or shorter. Trevor Welchfound himself similarly nervous after embarking ona five-night Bahamascruise with Carnival Cruise Line on Sept. 12. How have boarding, dining and other activities on board changed? "That's what it felt like.". Many cruise lines have rolled back testing rules Additionally, Carnival will no longer require pre-embarkation testing on cruises that are less than 16 nights for vaccinated passengers who provide proof of their vaccination status. This month, Disney will drop the requirement for travelers to get tested for COVID-19, regardless of their vaccination status, according to the company. Guests who are up to date on their vaccinesand havereceived a booster when eligiblecantest within threedays before sailing. Royal Caribbean cruises for 2022 are nearly at 2019 levels, the company's chief financial officer, Jason Liberty, said on a recent earnings . For European cruises that call on ports in Greece or Spain, for example, any travelers who are not considered up to date according to guidelines from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), must take a test onboard their ship prior to debarking. Still, she says she would have felt a bit safer with stricterrequirements in place. On Celebrity Cruises, reservations can be made on the Celebrity Cruises App. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing it? There are two notable changes with this policy update: allowing unvaccinated from Florida ports, as well as Oasis of the Seas from Cape Liberty. 'Hell of a Cruise': Highlighting the panic, failures ofCOVID's early days, Transatlantic cruises: Why they are 'the perfect antidote to todays harried, constantly connected lifestyle'. Passengers are strongly encouraged to wear masks in public spaces and are required to do so in such indoor areas as elevators, stores, casinos and dining halls, except when eating or drinking. Indoor dancing, karaoke and nightclubs are no longer allowed on many ships, including the Majestic Princess, which converted its karaoke area into extra room for spa treatments. It comes weeks after Norwegian Cruise Line became one of the first cruise lines to eliminate pandemic-related rules entirely, including for testing, vaccines, and masks. Self-tests will be accepted for this pre-cruise testing. At the time the program ended last month, nearly every ship that reported data to the CDC was under observation for coronavirus cases. A Country-by-country Guide, Carnival Cruise Line to Lift Mask Requirement on Board Starting March 1, Every Cruise Line's Requirements for COVID Vaccines, Testing, Anguilla Becomes Latest Caribbean Island to Ease Entry Protocols for Vaccinated Visitors, Canada Eliminates Pre-arrival Testing for Vaccinated Visitors, Countries That Are Open to COVID-19 Vaccinated Travelers, Every Caribbean Island's COVID-19 Travel Policies and What You Need to Know to Plan Your Trip, guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, officially ended its pandemic-era program for cruise ships. 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. 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