Royal Caribbean has shortened the amount of time before your cruise you can must get your Covid test done before your cruise.
Following an update from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last week, Royal Caribbean has adjusted its policy, beginning with sailings departing September 13, 2021 or later.
In order to meet the CDC’s requirements, Royal Caribbean will now require vaccinated guests 12 and older to show a negative Covid-19 test result for a PCR or antigen test taken no more than 2 days prior to sailing in order to board. (Previously, it was 3 days.)
Unvaccinated kids age 2 to 11 must show a negative test result for a PCR test taken no more than 3 days before boarding. Antigen tests will not be accepted.
Guests under 2 years of age will not be tested.
Test results must be issued by an accredited test provider and show a laboratory negative result which can be printed or shown via a phone.
Under the new rules, you would have two days before your sailing date to get the test done. As an example, if your cruise departs on a Saturday, you could get your test done on
- Friday (Day 1)
- Thursday (Day 2)
Sailings departing before September 13 will still have the requirement for all guests age 2 and older — regardless of their vaccination status, departure port or the length of their cruise, to get a Covid-19 test done no more than 3 days before their sail date.
Other cruise lines changed their policies this week as well, such as Carnival Cruise Line and MSC Cruises.