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. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. According to CDC rules, cruise ships that dont meet certain vaccination thresholds for passengers and crew must first do a successful test cruise before they can restart revenue cruises. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images), Florida Gov. Cruise Ship Travel During COVID-19 | CDC Vaccination Form | Royal Caribbean Cruises guests must review and accept the During one performance, I went to the theater's upper level (where anyone, including unvaccinated passengers, was able to sit) to see what it was like. Regardless of the port location, guests will have to show proof of full vaccination, completed at least 14 days before the cruise departs. Royal Caribbean: COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for All Guests - Business Insider An aerial view of Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Sea cruise ship docked in Miami, Florida on March 2. "Boosters can be received any time prior to embarkation. The SARS-CoV2 is still actively spreading in the U.S. and throughout different parts of the world. 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. One can download it through The app or from browser on The phone, and there is this QR-code to "check" it. Gee, what could possibly go wrong? Vacation cruising has nearly returned to normal. It doesn't have anything to do with vaccinations directly, but I think it's worth a mention since it's a change that didn't exist on my first two sailings. "Lindblad Expeditions has announced that effective March 1, 2022, all guests 12 years of age and over who completed their primary vaccination series more than 5 months ago, are required to present proof of booster prior to embarkation," the cruise line said in a statement shared with Travel + Leisure. Thats what you may see as soon as next month with the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic still a public health emergency. Guests under this age requirement who haven't been vaccinated will instead have to be tested for the virus. The 14 day time period starts the day you get your last dose. 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 . Reminders going from indoors to outdoors and vice-versa were especially helpful. This will continue to evolve as new research and technology becomes available," the spokesperson added. ", The cruise industry came to a halt last year amid the COVID-19 outbreak. 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. Norwegian, Cunard and more end pre-cruise COVID testing - USA TODAY Royal Caribbean Updates Vaccine Protocols Following Bahamas Order Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. ", "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.". 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. Or do we need the physical card? Royal Caribbean drops vaccine requirement for certain cruise ship Find the right card for you. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters, An aerial view of Royal Caribbeans Navigator of the Sea cruise ship docked in Miami, Florida on March 2. 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. 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.. The cruises will depart from Bermuda and the Bahamas, and adult passengers must be. 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? 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. Viking Cruises already has the booster requirement in place. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. Under the voluntary program, the CDC had been tracking covid levels on ships, assigning color levels based on positive tests and exposures. Related: Cruise hack: 6 ways to turn a voyage on a mass-market ship into a luxury experience. Samantha started at WKMG-TV in September 2020. Lindblad, Silversea, Azamara cruise lines will require the additional COVID-19 vaccine dose for those eligible starting March 1. Boarding Requirements FAQ | Royal Caribbean Cruises if you received your final dose on October 1st, your 14 day countdown Royal Caribbean won't require U.S. cruise passengers to get vaccinated 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. User @HardLinesBlog tweeted: "I'm saying goodbye to all venues moving to this requirement," in response to the tweet by @drsimonegold. The Seattle Times does not append comment threads to stories from wire services such as the Associated Press, The New York Times, The Washington Post or Bloomberg News. One of the world's biggest cruise companies says coronavirus vaccinations will be needed to get on its ships. Caribbean travel: Covid entry rules, island by island - Travel Weekly Mexico Plans on Increasing Protocols for Incoming Tourists, Could This Get ready for cruise ships carrying people who are not vaccinated against Covid-19. box below. . "Due to evolving health protocols, imagery and messaging may not accurately reflect onboard and destination experiences, offerings, features, or itineraries. COVID-19 Protocols, Listed by Cruise Line | TravelAge West sailings.". "Guests . Receive full access to our market insights, commentary, newsletters, breaking news alerts, and more. 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. 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. What to expect on cruises: 'Vaccinated only' zones to revamped - CNBC When I arrived at the Port of Miami, I had to pass through a checkpoint. Royal Caribbean's Covid Testing and Vaccination Rules - TheStreet Further, unvaccinated guests may embark with a negative . These may not be available during your voyage, may vary by ship and destination, and may be subject to change without notice. Vaccinated guests aged 12 and over will no longer have any pre-cruise COVID-19 related protocols. However, passengers on U.S.-based voyages should be aware that protocols are likely to differ by cruise line, ship and departure state. 2023 TheStreet, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Norwegian cruises to drop vaccination requirement, ease testing rules In a press release Friday announcing . 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. This protocol will go into place starting Aug. 8. 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. Twitter user @patriottakes wrote: "MAGAs [Make America Great Again, Donald Trump's campaign slogan] are starting to boycott Royal Caribbean because they are requiring vaccinations for adult passengers and crew members when they start sailing again in June. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? On my way, I passed lots of hand sanitizer dispensers and signs reminding people about social distancing and masks. Charleston. Well, heres what Dolven tweeted: Apparently, Dolven is referring to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently signing into law a ban on Covid-19 vaccine passports. That means, as of July 1, the Florida state government could fine a cruise ship operator $5,000 each and every time the cruise ship operator requires proof of vaccination to use their services. Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card.