does royal caribbean require covid vaccine

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. Strongly recommended is certainly different from required. 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. On the other hand, a single Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak can end up costing a cruise ship company a whole lot, including reputational damage. Plus Ups are excluded. Since September 2022,all travelers, regardless of vaccination status, were able to cruise on most itineraries, as long as they meet testing requirements to board. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. Now, abruptly, the CDC has dropped its voluntary program and has stopped regulating or tracking covid on cruise ships. Time is running out on free COVID tests and vaccines; what then. -10. Tauck - As of the winter 2022 Caribbean and Central America season, Star Clippers no longer requires COVID-19 vaccinations for passengers. The new Florida law can leave businesses like cruise ship lines caught between a rock and a hard place. ", The cruise industry came to a halt last year amid the COVID-19 outbreak. 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. TPG values it at $1,600. Under the current voluntary CDC guidelines, 95% of passengers must be vaccinated. Royal Caribbean will now require all guests to get tested for COVID-19 for certain cruises, regardless of their vaccination status. 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. Prior to this change, unvaccinated guests had to take a Covid-19 test before their cruise. It will be a requirement that cruise lines will happily comply with as most already require a vaccine mandate and . 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. Offers may be subject to change without notice. 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. Royal Caribbean has made it a practice to provide periodic . 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. For example, updated guidance from the major cruise line. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. Learn more. 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. "Finally!!! Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. Cruises from Australia are also not included in this policy change. 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. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. Royal Caribbean will require vaccinated guests 5 and older to take a pre-cruise test on sailings from the U.S . Learn more. In recent weeks, several cruise lines have been forced to cancel sailings (and some have implemented stronger mask policies) amid the emergence of the omicron variant. The answer rhymes with Tom Cruise lips, kangaroos hips, and too much booze slips. Yes, cruise ships, as Victoria Forster described for Forbes in March 2020. The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. 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. St. Maarten / St. Martin : open to vaccinated and unvaccinated . On sailings of a certain length, further requirements for unvaccinated passengers include two more tests after embarkation: one during the sailing and one just prior to departure from the ship. Receive full access to our market insights, commentary, newsletters, breaking news alerts, and more. First and foremost, it's worth noting that. 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. Changes involve the cruise line eliminating the vaccinated and unvaccinated areas onboard its ships. Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. A blank Covid-19 vaccination record card; a filled-in version has become many people's prized possession. Royal Caribbean International has announced updated protocols for the United States, Puerto Rico, and Barbados-based cruises through March 31, 2022. "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. Health, Travel & Risk Acknowledgement. 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. 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. Wristbands were also diligently checked in spaces intended for vaccinated cruisers. Royal Caribbean has announced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for guests. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. Apparently, Dolven is referring to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently signing into law a ban on Covid-19 "vaccine passports.". Unvaccinated passengers can cruise with negative results from any commercially available test, including self-tests. The cruise company's new sailings from the Bahamas will require all adult guests "to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Get tested again after cruise travel. #CancelCulture." Or do we need the physical card? I showed mine, and the agent gave me a purple rubber bracelet to wear. 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. Unvaccinated guests will be allowed to use the results of a self-administered test if taken within three days of sailing. A line-by-line guide, 15 ways that cruising newbies waste money on their first cruise, Cruise hack: 6 ways to turn a voyage on a mass-market ship into a luxury experience, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. $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. But keeping track of which places were which on this voyage made my head spin. The Miami-based operator. As part of the Australian Federal and State Government protocols all The about-face is an apparent submission to Gov. 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 post has had over 7,200 likes since it was first shared on Monday. Apr 12, 2022 10:20 AM EDT. These Countries Require It for Entry, Where Can Americans Travel Right Now? The 14 day time period starts the day you get your last dose. Royal Caribbean sent out an update on Wednesday with new protocols that have removed the need to conduct a pre-cruise Covid-19 test, even if you are unvaccinated. It is unclear if cruise companies will be allowed to ask passengers if they have been vaccinated as part of the boarding process, even if they dont require vaccination to board. One can download it through The app or from browser on The phone, and there is this QR-code to "check" it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have removed the COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships as of Monday. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. The Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas (left) prepares to set sail from PortMiami during the first U.S. trial cruise testing Covid-19 protocols on June 20, 2021 in Miami. 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. Your sailing is fast approaching, and we're looking forward to welcoming you onboard. Requiring passengers to be fully vaccinated would be one of the best ways of preventing an outbreak. Up until now, only unvaccinated guests under the age of 12 have been allowed on Royal Caribbean ships. This app allowed us to check in for the voyage, set up an onboard account, fill out a pre-boarding health questionnaire and complete the e-muster drill (which replaces traditional muster drills where people gather in large groups). So, is the Florida government essentially not allowing businesses to do something that would help keep their customers and staff safer? . 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. Vaccinated guests aged 12 and over will no longer have any pre-cruise COVID-19 related protocols. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. The major cruise line previously mandated the covid vaccine for crew members only. If you are sailing on a cruise that departs on or before April 30, 2023, you will receive: 100% cruise fare refund for you and your Travelling Party, if any of you test positive for COVID-19 within 10 days prior to the cruise or at the terminal. "We want you to be more comfortable walking on board a ship than walking down Main Street," Richard Fain, Royal Caribbean's CEO, told the BBC. The major cruise line previously mandated the covid vaccine for crew members only. 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.