$155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. I will not do business with anyone requiring a vaccine," in a post that received over 130 likes since it was first shared. 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. 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. This voyage included calls on Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's private island, in the Bahamas. Viking Cruises already has the booster requirement in place. #BoycottRC pic.twitter.com/5xSNzyz0It. When I learned that the line would be creating some separate spaces and mandating masks, I wondered if the rules would be enforced and, if so, how strictly. However, passengers on U.S.-based voyages should be aware that protocols are likely to differ by cruise line, ship and departure state. Travelers are also required to take a COVID-19 antigen test at the terminal before boarding. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. Regardless of the port location, guests will have to show proof of full vaccination, completed at least 14 days before the cruise departs. The only guests who will need to test . Royal Caribbean expects to require its crew members to receive the vaccine before sailings return, a spokesperson told Insider. Those with the vaccine were able to go anywhere onboard, and areas specially allotted for passengers who had their shots had no mask-wearing rules. Both crew members and guests over 16 years old will have to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to sail on the . "We want you to be more comfortable walking onboard a ship than walking down Main Street.". 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. 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. When Royal Caribbean resumed cruises in 2021, Covid-19 protocols were a major component to the onboard experience. The new Florida law can leave businesses like cruise ship lines caught between a rock and a hard place. User @HardLinesBlog tweeted: "I'm saying goodbye to all venues moving to this requirement," in response to the tweet by @drsimonegold. Royal Caribbean will require vaccinated guests 5 and older to take a pre-cruise test on sailings from the U.S . COVID-19 Vaccination is no longer required to sail, with a few exceptions. CDC will continue to publish guidance to help cruise ships continue to provide a safer and healthier environment for passengers, crew and communities going forward. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. The US hasn't mandated the COVID vaccine for all eager cruiser goers, but the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that cruise lines with 98% of crew and 95% of passengers vaccinated can skip the "simulated voyages" that would otherwise be necessary for cruise lines to resume "restricted passenger voyages" again. Further, unvaccinated guests may embark with a negative . Royal Caribbean International has announced updated protocols for the United States, Puerto Rico, and Barbados-based cruises through March 31, 2022. Unvaccinated passengers can cruise with negative results from any commercially available test, including self-tests. Outside of the current welcome bonus, youre only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so its not a great card for other spending categories. 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. That was about three weeks ago (June 28) and the CDC ruling suggests that the testing requirement could change in August, but almost certainly will by September. updated guidance from the major cruise line. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). "We're making it easier for more guests to sail with Royal Caribbean. Unvaccinated adults and vaccine exemptions. When you strongly recommend that proper clothing be worn to a business meeting, technically that slingshot mankini is still fair game. Wristbands were also diligently checked in spaces intended for vaccinated cruisers. CDC stops reporting coronavirus cases on cruise ships. As part of the Australian Federal and State Government protocols all
Get todays headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: Copyright 2022 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved. Several luxury cruise lines are implementing new vaccine protocols, each requiring guests to show proof of having received a booster shot to board. "And the number of people who died from COVID who'd sailed on ships over the past year was two," Royal Caribbean Blog reported. One can download it through The app or from browser on The phone, and there is this QR-code to "check" it. Several cruise lines are continuing to ease pandemic-era protocols by allowing passengers to self-administer COVID-19 tests. In the testing area, they were each given an on-site rapid antigen test. So, is the Florida government essentially not allowing businesses to do something that would help keep their customers and staff safer? 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. 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. 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. Going forward, the cruise line will make pre-departure. Further, the onboard mask rules were confusing. In a statement CEO Michael Bayley thanked DeSantis and other elected officials for their support of the industry, which has been paralyzed since it was forced to shut down in March 2020 after COVID-19 outbreaks and deaths on several ships. The industry-wide trend comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially ended its pandemic-era program for cruise ships last month. Follow her adventures on Instagram. Following August 1, this age requirement will fall to 12 years old or older. Business reporter, BBC News. Guests who have certain pre-existing medical conditions,. Royal Caribbean. Children will be allowed to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test within . Feel free to visitourFAQsfor full details on vaccination requirements. The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. More Cruise Lines to Start Allowing Unvaccinated Passengers on Board, These Major Cruise Lines Just Dropped COVID-19 Testing Requirements for Shorter Sailings What to Know, Norwegian Cruises to Allow Unvaccinated Passengers Starting in September, Anguilla Just Dropped Its Pre-arrival Testing for Vaccinated Travelers What to Know, 10 of the Best Mediterranean Cruises for Every Type of Traveler, New Zealand Eliminates Vaccine, Testing Requirements for Travel What to Know, The CDC Will No Longer Report COVID-19 Cases on Cruises to the Public. The vaccine is not perfect. The recently passed Florida law crafted by the Republican-controlled state Legislature and promoted by Gov. COVID-19 vaccines no longer will be required for Celebrity sailings from European countries with the exception of Iceland and sailings from . WOW: @RoyalCaribbean cruises is now requiring you to get an experimental vaccine to book a cruise with them. Carnival will follow with the same at-home test allowance on Sept. 6. Under the law, which takes effect on July 1, businesses can be fined up to $5,000 per violation. This will continue to evolve as new research and technology becomes available," the spokesperson added. For cruises longer than 16 nights self-testing is not accepted for unvaccinated travelers. Health, Travel & Risk Acknowledgement. On all itineraries departing Sept. 6 or later vaccinated guests will not need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test except on cruises 16 days or longer, according to Carnival. As Taylor Doven reported for the Miami Herald, Royal Carribean issued a statement on Friday that said, Guests are strongly recommended to set sail fully vaccinated, if they are eligible. The agency currently recommends all travelers are "up to date" with their COVID-19 vaccines before boarding a cruise. On Friday, Royal Caribbean announced new seven-night cruises aboard the Adventure of the Seas cruise ship that will depart from Nassau in the Bahamas starting in June. In a statement, Royal Caribbean said that while all crew members will be vaccinated against COVID-19, guests are "strongly . Under the voluntary program, the CDC had been tracking covid levels on ships, assigning color levels based on positive tests and exposures. This includes vaccination of all crew and keeping them up to date with boosters when eligible, routine surveillance of all crew, enhanced testing and treatment capabilities in our onboard medical centers, and much more. Learn more. Started in 2010, Royal Caribbean Blog offers daily coverage of news and information related to the Royal Caribbean cruise line along with other relevant topics of cruising, such as entertainment, news, photo updates and more. . $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. Ron DeSantis, who has insisted that there will be no exception made for cruise companies to a newly passed Florida law that fines companies $5,000 each time they ask a patron to provide proof of vaccination. Vaccines must be approved for use by the WHO or U.S. FDA, with the exception of CanSino. In late June, the Royal Caribbean cruise line will, be allowed to operate test cruises out of South Florida after receiving approval from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The post received nearly 100 likes since it was first tweeted. Most major cruise lines require proof of vaccination for all passengers age 12 and up, and some require them for kids as young as 5 years old (Pfizer's . But at the time, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson said these boycott demands were based on a "misconception.". I will be boycotting the company instead. Royal Caribbean Shares Huge News on Covid Testing, Vaccine Rules President Michael Bayley gave some straight answers on pre-cruise covid testing and potentially dropping vaccine. For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPGs new cruise newsletter. In Nassau, vaccinated passengers were allowed to explore however they wished, but unvaccinated cruisers were required to take ship-sponsored excursions to leave the ship. The CDC may not be directly saying that it's done all it can, but the cruise lines clearly have taken reasonable precautions, and given the state of covid in the U.S., that's all that anyone can reasonably expect. 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. box below. 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. These restrictions include wearing a mask in most public spaces and limitations on areas and services unvaccinated passengers can access. Hawaii. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. With NewsGuard's HealthGuard browser extension, users can verify if a website is a trustworthy source of health information. To find out more about the new guidelines issued, click here. Royal Caribbean reversed course on its vaccine policy last week, making the jab optional for most of its cruises after the company initially planned to require it. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Check directly with your cruise line about their COVID-19 testing or vaccination protocols before travel. As of today, 90% of all vacationers booking with Royal Caribbean are either vaccinated or planning to get vaccinated in time for their cruise, Bayley said in a statement. On my way, I passed lots of hand sanitizer dispensers and signs reminding people about social distancing and masks. At this time, only the following sailings have COVID-19 vaccination requirements: Guests age 12 and older must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to sail: Cruises from Australia Learn more about cruising from Australia Transatlantic and Transpacific Sailings Now, abruptly, the CDC has dropped its voluntary program and has stopped regulating or tracking covid on cruise ships.