Royal Caribbean has extended its health protocols for both North America and European departures.
North America protocols will be extended for sailings departing on or before September 30, 2022. In addition, European protocols have been extended for departures through June 30, 2022.
The only notable adjustment to the previous health & safety requirements includes terminal testing updates for departures from Italy, with the full details provided below.
The remainder of the protocols remain unchanged and are simply extended beyond a broader sailing window.
An update was sent to guests booked on cruises, as well as travel advisors, with the changes.
You can review every protocol depending on where you are sailing from on Royal Caribbean’s website.
Protocols for sailings from Florida
Vaccines
All Royal Caribbean guests age 12 and older must present proof of full COVID-19 vaccination with the final dose administered at least 14 days before sailing.
Children age 11 and under do not require COVID-19 vaccination to cruise. However, kids age 5 to 11 who have been vaccinated may present proof of full vaccination and follow the protocols for vaccinated guests.
Royal Caribbean will not accept a Certificate of Recovery in lieu of a vaccination record card for guests of vaccine eligible age.
All crew onboard the ship and at our private destinations are fully vaccinated and receive a booster dose as they become eligible.
Testing
Before arriving on boarding day, you’ll need to take a COVID-19 test on your own, at your own expense, to meet boarding requirements in line with U.S. CDC guidance.
- Vaccinated guests must show a negative result for a PCR or antigen test taken no more than 2 days before boarding day. Kids age 5 to 11 who have been vaccinated may present proof of full vaccination and follow the testing protocols for vaccinated guests.
- Unvaccinated kids age 2 to 11 must show a negative test result for a PCR test (not antigen) taken no more than 3 days before boarding day.
- Unvaccinated kids’ pre-cruise test cannot be taken on boarding day, because that may affect the sample taken during the kids’ test at the terminal.
- Guests under 2 years of age do not need to complete a pre-cruise test.
For guests sailing to Bermuda, additional travel and testing requirements may apply to your sailing.
In addition to the pre-cruise test, unvaccinated kids will take one or two more tests, depending on the length of the cruise. Royal Caribbean’s test provider will administer these, at no cost to our guests.
At the Terminal
For all cruises, unvaccinated kids will take a complimentary test when checking in at the terminal. Registration details will be sent via email in advance.
Prior to Disembarking
For cruises that are 5 nights or longer, unvaccinated kids will take a complimentary antigen test onboard before the cruise ends. Guests will be notified onboard about how to register for this test.
Guests under 2 years of age will not be tested.
Sailings longer than 10 nights may have additional onboard testing requirements.
Masks
Masks are optional for vaccinated guests and recommended for unvaccinated children while onboard.
In cruise terminals, masks are optional unless required by local regulation. Some destinations we visit may require masks.
Guests under 2 years old don’t need to wear a mask. These protocols remain subject to change.
Dining
In the Main Dining Room, vaccinated guests may dine with other vaccinated guests outside their travel party. Parties that include unvaccinated kids will be assigned a table of their own.
We recommend that you make dining reservations via Cruise Planner before your cruise or using the Royal Caribbean app onboard.
Tables and chairs in all dining areas are sanitized frequently.
Ports of call
Guests can visit most ports of call freely, regardless of vaccination status.
A couple of ports currently require guests to book a shore excursion to go ashore. These tours are available at a variety of price points and may be purchased in advance on Cruise Planner or once onboard using the Royal Caribbean App.
Protocols for cruises from Italy
Vaccines
Guests 12 years and older must present proof of full COVID-19 vaccination with the final dose administered at least 14 days before sailing.
Guests under 12 years who are vaccinated can present proof of vaccination and follow the vaccinated protocols.
Additionally, to be considered up-to-date, guests must have received all doses in their vaccine series and have received their booster if the second vaccine was administered over 270 days (9 months) ago.
The vaccine must be approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Guests who are vaccinated with WHO approved vaccines, not approved by the EMA, will be considered unvaccinated for the purpose of our sailings departing from Italy.
Testing
Pre-Cruise
- Guests who are fully vaccinated must show a negative result for a PCR or antigen test taken no more than 2 days before boarding day.
- Guests who are considered unvaccinated must show a negative result for a PCR or antigen test taken no more than 1 day before boarding day.
- Kids under 12 years who have been vaccinated may present proof of full vaccination and follow the testing protocols for vaccinated guests.
Embark
There will no longer be testing requirements in the terminal for Italian departures.
Onboard Testing
- Guests who are considered unvaccinated by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or who are not up-to-date with their vaccines will require additional testing during our sailings.
- Onboard testing will be at the guest’s expense if they 12 years and older and considered unvaccinated or if they are not up-to-date at the price of $55 USD per test.
- Onboard testing will be complimentary for any unvaccinated guests ages 6 – 11 years who require testing.
- These guests will receive registration information once onboard based on the below.
- During the Cruise: Depending on our itinerary, guests 12 years and older — or 6 years and older in Italian ports — will have additional testing requirements.
- Prior to Disembarking: Guests 6 and older who meet the above criteria may be required to test before disembarking.
Guests under 2 years old are not required to test.
Masks
Masks are optional for vaccinated guests and recommended for unvaccinated children while onboard. In our terminals, masks are optional unless required by local regulation.
Some destinations we visit may require masks. Guests under 2 years old don’t need to wear a mask.
These protocols remain subject to change.
