Royal Caribbean Joins Norwegian in Dropping Vaccination Requirements for Some Cruises
by Dori Saltzman /Photo: Philip Armitage / Shutterstock.com
Starting with September 5th departures, all travelers regardless of vaccination status can cruise on select Royal Caribbean itineraries so long as they meet the testing requirements to board. However, while cruisers can board ships without a vaccination, they may not be permitted to go ashore in some ports without proof of vaccination status.
The new rules apply to all cruises from Los Angeles, Galveston, and New Orleans, along with all sailings out of European homeports.
For the first three, guests ages 2 to 11 years of age who are not fully vaccinated must bring a negative test result for a COVID-19 antigen or PCR test taken within three days of boarding, regardless of the duration of their cruise.
Additionally, all guests (vaccinated or not) must bring a negative test result for a COVID-19 antigen or PCR test taken within the three days before boarding day on sailings that are six nights or longer. Testing is not required for fully vaccinated guests on shorter itineraries. (The same rules about which tests are accepted still apply.)
Tests must be arranged by travelers; there are no at-port options available.
On cruises that include a visit to Grand Cayman, guests will not be permitted off the ship in port without showing a valid vaccination record.
On cruises that depart from a U.S. homeport but visit Canada, all guests will need to be vaccinated except for those ages 11 or younger. All will need to take a COVID-19 test. Vaccinated guests (regardless of age) must show a negative test result for a PCR or antigen test taken no more than two days before boarding.
Unvaccinated kids, ages 2 to 11, must show a negative test result for a PCR test (not antigen) taken no more than three days before boarding day. They will also need to pass an antigen test taken at the port on boarding day.
On cruises from a European homeport, guests that are not up to date on their vaccination status per European Union standards will need to take a test onboard to get off the ship in Greece and Spain.
