This includes information on vaccination requirements and pre-cruise testing, and other guidelines. Visa Central is the passport and visa service that we recommend, should our guests need passport and visa assistance. For those parties traveling with unvaccinated guests, we will also guide you through the departure process. Cruise COVID Testing Rules For Vaccinated, Unvaccinated Travelers - NBC Healthy & Safe Cruises | Royal Caribbean Cruises - Getting Ready to Cruise The cruise linewill no longer require unvaccinated passengers to take a test prior to boarding on sailings from the United States as of November 14, according to its website. All Royal Caribbean guests age 2 and older, regardless of vaccination status, will take a COVID-19 antigen test at the terminal prior to boarding the ship. As a result, many cruise lines have made amendments to their vaccination and testing requirements, including easing bans on unvaccinated travelers and lifting stringent testing protocols before voyages. Passengers will have to take either a PCR or antigen test at an accredited test provider at least three days before their scheduled departure for all cruises five nights or longer. These protocols are subject to change and mask protocols will be communicated to you via email prior to your departure. Join TravelAge West and severalAlaskapartners for a three-part series exploring all the incredible possibilities https://www.travelweekly.com/Caribbean-Travel/Caribbean-readies-for-a-wave-of-reopenings. But still, experts agree: Cruising is getting closer to normal than it has been since the industry shut down in March 2020. Thats the word that we keep hearing over and over again., Latest on the cruise comeback: Rogue wave incident | Overboard passenger saved | Covid hits Sydney cruise | Carnival fining unruly passengers | Unvaccinated passengers welcomed | Cheap cruises | No more CDC stats | Record bookings | Rape lawsuit | Carnival fire | Passenger bill of rights | CDC drops cruise warnings | Passenger overboard | Crystal ships seized, Local guides, travel tips and the latest industry news. Carnival Cruise, Royal Caribbean and more to drop vaccine requirements We'll send you a weekly newsletter to your inbox. With vaccine mandates dropped capacity will only continue to increase! Before you grab the inexpensive home tests to use, there are some important considerations and exceptions you should be aware of. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Vaccination and testing details have finally been released for 8 upcoming transatlantic sailings for Royal Caribbean International. Booked guests will be advised of the latest requirements for their port of departure before sailing. The CDC still recommends that every cruise traveler who is eligible be up to date with their coronavirus vaccines, and test before and after the trip. Frank Del Rio, CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, said in an earnings call last week that the companys announcement about new protocols the day before was an instant catalyst, resulting in one of our top three best booking days of the year.. At the same time, Royal Caribbean has also added new health requirements for upcoming departure ports in and outside the US. France No Longer Requires Pre-departure Testing for Vaccinated, Boosted Travelers From the U.S. six passengers tested positive for COVID-19. *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions. Caribbean travel: Covid entry rules, island by island - Travel Weekly Very unhappy with opening up to more unvaccinated., Cruises are smashing records despite covid on board: Life goes on. specific categories, the most popular of which is Support for the Cuban Powered by Sherpa. For additional United States passport information visit theUnited States Department of State travel information website. To make this information easier to understand, we are segmenting each entry into entry-requirement information for vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers and specific rules for children. While cruising poses some risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers can make their own risk assessment when choosing to cruise, much like they do in other travel settings, based on factors such as their health and vaccination status, and personal risk tolerance, Nordlund said. 2 min read. All travelers age 2 and up, regardless of vaccination status, must show a negative result for a COVID-19 PCR or antigen test taken within 24 hours prior to boarding their flight to San Juan. Carnival, Royal Caribbean and more to drop vaccination requirements for select sailings. If youre flyinginfrom an international country. Selling Groups, family and Adventure Travel. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. 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 . Regardless of the type of test you take, you'll need to bring with you proof of a negative test result. Guests younger than 12 do not have any testing requirements. If you're travelling to the U.S. from another country, you'll also need to take a PCR or antigen test to enter the U.S. Unvaccinated Kids Age 2-11: Additional Complimentary Testing. Travelers under 5 are exempt from vaccination or testing requirements. Here's the new requirement: "All guests age 2 and older regardless of vaccination status will need to take a COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen) with an accredited test provider, such as a. Disney Cruise Line announced plans to drop its vaccination requirementin September. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. taken within the 3 days before boarding day, regardless No Covid test, proof of vaccination or quarantine is required. Sometimes you head for a corner of the world where luxury resides in a surprisingly approachable way. Boarding Requirements FAQ | Royal Caribbean Cruises 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. Testing is not required for fully vaccinated guests on itineraries of 9 nights or fewer. Here are some steps you must take if a client pays with a large amount of cash. Here are the latest developments for travel from the U.S. to each Caribbean country. CANADA (FR), Last updated: 12:05 AM ET, Tue August 23, 2022. Disney Cruise Line will make a similar movelater this month. *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions, United States Department of State travel information website, United States Department of State foreign entry requirements website, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada website. Proof of a negative test is not required. Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line further lift COVID-19 requirements ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Royal Caribbean Provides Update to Guests Booked on Sailings to Russia, Mechanical Issue Forces Disney Ship to Skip Port, Adjust Itinerary, First Cruise Ship Arrives for Busy Montreal Season, Another Overbooked Oasis-Class Royal Caribbean Ship. status, can be completed using any type of PCR or antigen COVID-19 test. Royal Caribbean was one of the first cruise lines to allow at-home Covid tests to be used, but up until now they had to be supervised by a health professional. Vaccinated guests who require a COVID-19 test for re-entry into their country may receive one onboard as well. Required testing for all guests can be completed using a PCR test administered at a private laboratory, or any self-administered Rapid Antigen Test (RAT). Royal Caribbean Removes Pre-Cruise Testing Requirements for Most Two weeks (14 days) after you received the full series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine (not placebo) in a clinical trial Two weeks (14 days) after you received two doses of any "mix-and-match". It is the responsibility of the guest to identify, obtain and present necessary visas before the start of their cruise vacation. Please note, there may be the requirement to present additional documentation to the list below due to Federal and State Government requirements. all-inclusive resorts on the north coast but can travel to Cuba under 12 Guests traveling into the Canada from another country should be sure to look into any requirements your own home country may have for exiting or re-entering its borders. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Guests under 2 years of age do not need to complete a pre-cruise test. Differences in Covid protocol w/ Alaska sailings verses Florida In another sign that the cruise industry is transitioning to a post-COVID operating model, Royal Caribbean Group and Carnival Cruise Line, the industry's two largest cruise lines, announced last . We are continually adding,monitoringand adjusting information ontestingrequirements as public health standards and government regulations evolve. Finally! Testing is required to enter Barbados and to board the ship. Detours with locals. All guests can go to all public areas onboard with the new protocols. From pre-boarding testing to getting you back home safely, we've got answers. Additionally, if you are using an identification (e.g., driver's license) and a citizenship document (e.g., birth certificate), then BOTH documents must match the name on your reservation. Unvaccinated guests cannot use a telehealth test if their cruise visits Canada. Follow these steps for a smooth boarding day. Guests must comply with local guidelines where applicable. While it may not seem like much, the current health requirements are an essential step forward to bring cruising back to normal. Travel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. Youll need to show a negative test result at the terminal to board the cruise ship. Guests should wear masks at the cruise terminal when embarking and disembarking, and in public indoor spaces and crowded outdoor spaces onboard. Kids age 5 to 11 who have been vaccinated may present proof of full vaccination and follow the protocols for vaccinated guests. One of the earliest coronavirus outbreaks was on a Princess Cruises ship in Japan in February 2020; as ships tried to return to port after the shutdown, many destinations turned them away. Royal Caribbean no longer requires vaccinated guests to take COVID test The new guidelines include unvaccinated guests being required to show a negative COVID-19 test rest before their voyage. Any guest that is age 12 or older on boarding day must be fully vaccinated to sail. More information on this test will be provided once onboard. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? Could Disney move out of Florida? The cruise line continues to practice health and safety measures, including the routine monitoring and vaccination of all crew members and keeping them up to date with boosters when they are eligible, enhanced testing and care capabilities in every onboard medical center and more. Sailings longer than 10 nights may have additional onboard testing requirements. If your child's 12th birthday is too close to boarding day to get fully vaccinated, we can move your cruise date to give you more time, or we can cancel your reservation and issue a future cruise credit to the value of the cruise fare. Finally! Guests aged 12+ with approved medical exemptions are permitted to travel however there is a limit on the number of unvaccinated guests that can travel on each cruise departure. No unsupervised self-test will be accepted for any pre-cruise testing, regardless of vaccination status or the timing of the test. The new updates ensure the cruise line has its protocols aligned with those specified by the CDC in the Voluntary Program for Cruise Ships, with some changes from the cruise line itself. Royal Caribbean and Disney's changes come as other cruise lines have similarly droppedremaining COVID rules. The cruise line is no longer requiring pre-cruise testing on most sailings, according to its website.. Guests can feel free to enjoy the theater, spa, and gym! Australian citizens require either a valid passport or government issued pictured and laminated ID card to be used as identification. Guests under 2 years of age do not require testing. The cruise line is no longer requiring pre-cruise testingon most sailings, according to its website. Guests can now order a COVID home test kit from Royal Caribbean through the Optum store. For European homeports, the cruise line says guests booked on board will be provided full health and safety guidelines 30 days before departure: Royal Caribbean is working closely with local government and health authorities to finalize protocols and requirements designed for the health and safety of our guests sailing from European and Middle Eastern homeports. For more details on specific requirements by port, please visit our Going Ashore FAQs. Will I have to take a COVID-19 test before or during my cruise? Guests younger than 5 do not have any testing requirements. There were nuances, and slight changes based on ports, but those were the core rules Royal. Previously, guests who were not fully vaccinated were not allowed in areas such as the Schooner Bar, Chefs Table, the Spa, and the Casino. Updated regularly with new information. A little busier than she was last December lolDefinitely keeping my Carnival stock for the long haul! Guests under the age of 2 have no testing requirements. Royal Caribbean Updates Requirements for Transatlantic Sailings Travelers who are unvaccinated are required to take a Covid test within 72 hours of departure and produce . Be sure to familiarize yourself with your countrys specific requirements prior to traveling. This is an additional layer of precaution to ensure the safety of everyone onboard," Royal Caribbean told USA Today in a statement. A recent survey Cruise Critic conducted showed that most readers are in favor of keeping at least some protocols in place, specifically around testing and quarantine requirements, he said. We think cruise lines are adopting a similar stance rather than ripping the Band-Aid off all at once, lines are tweaking protocols in a more stepped-down fashion, with longer sailings of 16 nights [or] more still subject to full vaccination and testing regimens.. From pre-boarding testing to getting you back home safely, we've got answers. Cruise business has been brisk this year at Danny Genungs travel agency, but its been supercharged since cruise lines started easing testing and vaccine requirements in the past couple of weeks. Visit our Frequently Asked Questionsor call us on 0844 493 5010, Still have questions about our health & safety standards? No Covid test, proof of vaccination or quarantine is required. bring a negative test result for a COVID-19 antigen or PCR test She said the agency had made the determination that cruise travelers and companies have the information and tools they need to let passengers make decisions about how to cruise safely. Guests who are fully vaccinated and up-to-date on their vaccination, including the booster shot when their primary vaccine series was completed more than 9 months before sailing, may take a supervised PCR or antigen test up to three days before boarding. We recommend you bring your vaccination documents with you, as local authorities or businesses in some destinations require it for entrance. All unvaccinated Royal Caribbean guests age 2 to 11 must present a negative PCR test result for a test taken no more than 3 days prior to sailing. These Cruise Lines Just Dropped Their COVID-19 Testing Rules taken within the, For more details on specific requirements by port, please visit our, May be removed while seating, to actively eat and drink, must be worn when engaging with crew or other travel parties, Only one travel party at a time allowed in each tub, Fabric face masks, minimum two layers with ear loops, Plastic face shield, only with a face mask, Masks made from mesh or loose-weave materials. Visitors must fill out Aruba's Embarkation/Debarkation Card and answer questions about their recent health. Four major cruise lines are dropping their vaccination requirements for some sailings next month, the . The health guidelines released this week align mostly with what Royal Caribbean had already implemented: Also Read: Royal Caribbean Provides Update to Guests Booked on Sailings to Russia. Telehealth tests and self test kits are not accepted if your cruise departs from Athens. Guests who are fully vaccinated but do not meet the up-to-date requirement may take a supervised PCR test no more than three days before sailing. All Royal Caribbean guests age 2 and older, regardless of vaccination status, will require a complimentary COVID-19 antigen test provided by Royal Caribbean's test provider to re-enter Barbados. Puerto Rico does not require a test from you. For more information on Australian recognized vaccines and dosage requirements please visit https://www.tga.gov.au/international-covid-19-vaccines-recognised-australia. Responses to Facebook announcements by Royal Caribbean International and Carnival Cruise Line representatives ranged from celebration to disgust. Royal Caribbean to Welcome Unvaccinated Travelers, Ease Testing Masks should not be worn in situations where they could get wet, such as at the pool. Some countries that your cruise may visit will require that you obtain a visa prior to arrival. Free expert cruise tips and news from Cruise Hive! Royal Caribbean requires all guests 12 and older to show proof of vaccination before boarding nearly all cruises except those leaving out of Florida. Minimal handwritten components (such as a check mark on a negative box) are acceptable as long as the other required information is printed on the document. They always wanted to book, but they knew they couldnt because they were unvaccinated.. If your cruise departs from a country other than Australia, you have different protocols. Many cruise lines began easing their pandemic health and safety requirements after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ended its COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships in July. CDC stops reporting coronavirus cases on cruise ships. Some destinations we visit may require masks. You maycontact Visa Central for all your passport needs. Registration details will be sent via email in advance. You'll need to have the following documentswhen you arrive to board the ship. American visitors are barred from strictly tourist vacations to the Guests under 2 years of age do not have any testing . Children aged 11 and under do not require COVID-19 vaccination to cruise however it is highly recommended.