Your previous content has been restored. The announcement of these select vaccinated cruises later resulted in boycott demands in late March across Facebook and Twitter. The letter must clearly indicate the pre-existing, non-COVID medical condition or disability that is contraindicated for vaccination. Royal Caribbean announces cruises with no vaccine requirement - The The cruise line's vaccine mandate will apply to guests who are at least 16 years old aboard ships sailing from the US or the Bahamas, according to Royal Caribbean's frequently asked questions page . One of the world's biggest cruise companies says coronavirus vaccinations will be needed to get on its ships. Under pandemic-era rules for restarting cruising, ships need to take volunteers on a test cruise to show they can mitigate the risks of covid-19. Royal Caribbean and Carnival join cruises dropping some vaccine rules This article was published more than1 year ago. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. By clicking Sign Up, you also agree to marketing emails from both Insider and Morning Brew; and you accept Insiders. The reversal comes on the heels of efforts by Florida Gov. This protocol will go into place starting Aug. 8. 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 COVID-19. Hes sailed on more than 150 ships. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. Want to see the total eclipse in 2024? "Its important that all of our guests enjoy their experience at any destination while also meeting local measures.". Effective from September 3 until November 1, 2021, no passengers will be allowed to enter any Bahamas ports, including private islands, unless several requirements are met, including a vaccination requirement. 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, On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry. Submit your request at least 30 days prior to your cruise departure date or even earlier if possible. "They're really anxious to come back. The mega cruise line has recently been dabbling with vaccine mandates. Guests are strongly recommended to set sail fully vaccinated, if they are eligible, the cruise line said in a news release. Royal Caribbean and other cruise lines sailing with unvaccinated guests have all managed to sail reasonably successfully over the last few months; while a few cases have been reported here and there, there have been no significant outbreaks or other issues onboard. In general, Royal Caribbean said guests "are strongly recommended" to have been vaccinated before boarding, and all crew will be vaccinated. It has also meant raising more than $12bn from investors to keep the company going. The unvaccinated guest will receive a full refund after cancellation. A ship can skip the test by adhering to a vaccine threshold that calls for a combined 95% of employees and passengers to be vaccinated. What vaccines are required to travel on a Royal Caribbean cruise? As of today, 90 percent of all vacationers booking with Royal Caribbean are either vaccinated or planning to get vaccinated in time for their cruise.. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. 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. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. For its part, Royal Caribbean has already been approved to start test sailings later this month ahead of its planned restart this summer. Royal Caribbean also said it will continue to maintain a high percentage of fully vaccinated guests, and crew members will continue to be fully vaccinated and boosted as well as tested regularly when eligible. And so we are making those steps, we feel comfortable that we will be able to continue to crew them in the way we have in the past". What the CDC Decision Means for Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruisers How to submit a vaccination accommodation request If you believe that you meet the requirements for a vaccination accommodation, please send an email to vaxaccommodations@rccl.com. But I was impressed at how quickly we're able to do it given a terrible market and a company with zero revenue.". Royal Caribbean drops vaccine requirement for certain cruise ship Similarly, passengers 18 years old or older sailing from other international ports will also have to be fully vaccinated. Royal Caribbean International - Guests no longer need to be vaccinated nor tested to board Royal Caribbean International on most sailings. Your link has been automatically embedded. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have removed the COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships as of Monday. Royal Caribbean International has announced it won't require US passengers to get vaccinated to go on several ships set to sail this summer. Cruising is a global industry that, before the pandemic, was worth $150bn and supported about 1.2 million jobs. In a statement, the cruise lines president and CEO, Michael Bayley, thanked elected officials including Gov. Please see the specific requirements for the letter below: Vaccine accommodation requests should be submitted individually, and will be considered individually. All guests must ensure that they are medically and physically fit for travel. Prior to this sweeping vaccine mandate, Royal Caribbean had been announcing select "fully vaccinated" cruises. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended all passengers and crew get the jab before boarding, said vaccinated passengers can potentially ditch their masks, and waived the need for volunteer test sailings for cruise companies where 98% of crew and 95% of passengers are fully vaccinated. If the islands decide that they do not want unvaccinated people on their island, thats their choice, just like those that choose not to get vaccinated. Cruise officials said any cruise guests departing before then must adhere to the current protocols in place, which differ depending on where you are leaving from. Before requesting a vaccination accommodation, there are several things to keep in mind. Royal Caribbean: Avoid Florida If You Want An All-Vaccinated - Forbes We strongly recommend that fully vaccinated guests also get a booster dose when they become eligible to do so. It wasnt clear Friday how many people would be able to sail on each of the just-announced cruises, which will visit the Caribbean and the Bahamas. For guests sailing from Australia, vaccines must be approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Approvals apply only to the sailing for which they were granted and need to be renewed for each new sailing as protocols and operational needs change frequently. Cruise lines have restricted their ships to only allow adults that are fully vaccinated onboard since sailings restarted in late 2020. By smokeybandit 3 minutes ago in Royal Caribbean News and Rumors. However, the move from the Bahamas will also meet significant backlash from those opposed for one way or the other to vaccinations at this time. | Become a News 6 Insider (its free!)]. The letter must come from a Medical Doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO). Also Read: Which Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships Have Resumed Operations? Approvals do not imply or guarantee an approval for any future sailings. The cruise line said that it would only "strongly . Cruise giant Royal Caribbean is finally doing away with its COVID-19 vaccine requirement for adults. If you believe that you meet the requirements for a vaccination accommodation, please send an email to vaxaccommodations@rccl.com. COVID-19 vaccines no longer will be required for Celebrity sailings from European countries with the exception of Iceland and sailings from Los Angeles. Royal Caribbean won't require COVID-19 vaccination to ride cruises Royal Caribbean is not responsible for any travel-related expenses incurred by you or members of your traveling party should your request be denied. CDC lifts some mask rules for vaccinated cruise passengers, This is it, Bayley said in the statement. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. "The combination of the vaccines and testing and contact tracing, all these kinds of protocols really helps us reach our objective, which is to make cruising safer than in your home community," Richard Fain, Royal Caribbean's CEO,told the BBC in May. Royal Caribbean International is resuming cruises aimed at U.S. vacationers this summer - with a twist. The cruise line has been adamant about keeping the requirements so that both vaccinated and non-vaccinated guests can sail aboard the ships, but to no avail. Could Disney move out of Florida? | Trust Index: Do COVID booster shots make you more susceptible to the virus? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention previously halted cruise operations which became early hotbeds for the spread of the virus from sailing in March 2020. Video, On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, 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, Met Gala 2023: Stars celebrate Karl Lagerfeld, Shooting suspect was deported four times - US media, Photo of Princess Charlotte shared as she turns 8, Yellen warns US could run out of cash in a month, King Charles to wear golden robes for Coronation, More than 100 police hurt in French May Day protests, Explosion derails train in Russian border region. This . Whatever the reasoning, for now, it seems that most ports worldwide will be moving to a fully vaccinated requirement, which will give cruise lines no option but to require the same from their guests. Medical Requests: For your request to be considered by our medical team, a letter from a physician is required. 2023 BBC. Guests under this age requirement who haven't been vaccinated will instead have to be tested for the virus. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. No way, experts say. The cruise line has announced a further easing of its protocols by dropping the vaccine requirements on select sailings from September 5, 2022. Samantha started at WKMG-TV in September 2020. 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 requirements for. Vaccination Form | Royal Caribbean Cruises Royal Caribbean has updated its protocols, and the cruise line will be having all sailings requiring guests 12 years old and over to be fully vaccinated from September 2021. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Sign up for notifications from Insider! The move is a reversal from a May policy that mandated vaccines for all travelers over age 16. To be considered fully vaccinated by the countries we visit: A guest is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the required number of doses in their vaccine series have been fully administered (e.g. 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. Royal Caribbean announced Thursday its no longer requiring vaccinated guests to take a COVID-19 test prior to embarking on cruises six nights or less. 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. Be aware that we may not be able to process requests submitted less than 14 days to sailing. Four major cruise lines are dropping their vaccination requirements for some sailings next month, the . Royal Caribbean to Drop Vaccine Requirement on Select Cruises Can onboard rollercoasters save the cruise industry? Royal Caribbean is starting 'fully vaccinated' cruises from Israel Half of Israel's citizens have already received one shot of the two-dose vaccine, making the country a prime spot for a. 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. Richard Fain, chief executive of Royal Caribbean, told the BBC "we expect all of our guests who are eligible for a vaccine to have it". "We want you to be more comfortable walking onboard a ship than walking down Main Street.". Eager cruisers looking to resume sailing with Royal Caribbean will now have to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to updated guidance from the major cruise line. The sailings from locations including the Canary Islands, Germany and Singapore have all been "cruises to nowhere", meaning they do not stop at other ports. Mr Fain is hopeful that customers will be encouraged to return soon by a range of new safety measures, including reduced capacity, social distancing and enhanced cleaning processes. Royal Caribbean Completes First Test Sailing to Resume Cruises in the U.S. Carnival Cruise Line Strengthens Mask Policy Amid Omicron Variant Spread, Disney Cruise Line Will Require Kids 5 and Older to Be Vaccinated Starting in January What to Know, Royal Caribbean required guests 16 and older to be fully vaccinated, recommended all passengers and crew get the jab, vaccinated passengers can potentially ditch their masks. Published on August 2, 2021. Is climate change killing Australian wine? ", "We've actually surveyed our guests and the vast bulk of the people that have booked our cruises have already been vaccinated, and they're volunteering it, they want it. Readers react to an op-ed on period weirdness after covid vaccines. After Friday's announcement, Royal Caribbean's frequently asked questions page has been updated to show that vaccines will only be required for ships departing from Seattle, Washington and the Bahamas. If we are unable to approve your request, you can: *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions. 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 policy applied to ships in Florida and Texas, states that recently passed laws against vaccination requirements. However Mr Fain think this will soon change. Everyone has choices. "If it happens on the ship you'll be treated exactly the same as you are onshore, and that will protect from this becoming a bigger outbreak.". Some ships can hold more than 5,400 passengers at two to a room. Today, Royal Caribbean International premieres, "Making an Icon, Creating Memorable Vacations Responsibly," Royal Caribbean's video series that takes guests behind the scenes on delivering the world's best vacation in 2024. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). You cannot paste images directly. Travel tips you can trust. Along with the USVI order a couple of weeks ago, it means all of our ships sailings from Florida and from all USA ports and ports around the world require all eligible guests to be fully vaccinated. So far, the CDC has approved nine ships for test cruises, operated by Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line and MSC Cruises. You can also have your local travel agent or International Representative contact us. Michael Bayley, the president, and CEO for Royal Caribbean, said the following: The Bahamas has introduced an Executive order which only allows cruise ships to enter any Bahamian port (including private destinations) only if all guests over the age of 12 are fully vaccinated. Your initial email to vaxaccommodations@rccl.com should include the following details: Religious Requests:For religious accommodation, please describe the nature of your sincerely held religious beliefs, religious practice or observance that conflicts with the vaccination requirement. "I didn't like having to do it. Previously, Royal Caribbean required guests 16 and older to be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before embarking on a cruise with plans to drop that to 12 and older after Aug. 1. 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. The lack of sailings means Royal Caribbean, which has about a 25% share of the global cruise market, has lost more than $6.8bn since the pandemic began. Boarding Requirements FAQ | Royal Caribbean Cruises The three latter brands said their new no-vaccine-required policies were fleetwide. Read about our approach to external linking. What vaccines are required to travel on a Royal Caribbean cruise? Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. 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. Nonetheless, the Bahamian Governments new emergency order has now effectively banned any cruise ship that sails with unvaccinated guests over the age of 12. By Vaccines must be approved for use by the country they are sailing from. You cant complain when it doesnt go your way. Start with these stories: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. But at the time, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson said these boycott demands were based on a "misconception.". Carnival Cruise, Royal Caribbean and more to drop vaccine requirements 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. "We want you to be more comfortable walking onboard a ship than walking down Main Street.". Bayley noted . The two . It wasn't immediately clear what other protocols would be required for unvaccinated guests. CRUISE HIVE LTD 2008-2023. In a statement, Royal Caribbean International CEO Michael Bayley thanked Gov. as well as other partner offers and accept our. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. ", "This is it. There have been outbreaks on some of the few cruises that have run around the world since the pandemic began. In a statement, it said it was working towards "the prospective resumption of passenger operations in the United States by mid-summer". Cruise giant Royal Caribbean is dropping its COVID-19 vaccine We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. The first is scheduled to depart Miami on July 2, with more joining the fleet through Aug. 23. - More information on Royal Caribbean's COVID-19 protocols can be found on the company's website. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Offers may be subject to change without notice. 2 shots of Pfizer, Moderna,AstraZeneca, etc.,or 1 shot of Johnson & Johnson). The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) provide guidelines as to which vaccinations are required in each country.