Royal Caribbean International has announced some changes to its coronavirus protocols.
Beginning Sept. 5, the cruise line will allow both unvaccinated and vaccinated travelers, as long as they follow the updated rules and requirements.
Among the new policies, unvaccinated guests must present a negative COVID -19 test result before traveling. Vaccinated travelers will not be required to take a coronavirus test on voyages of nine nights or less.
Children up to age five are exempt from all vaccinations and testing on all sailings.
Passengers on cruises of 10 nights or more, regardless of vaccination status, must provide a negative test within three days prior to the departure date.
The cruise line has stated that vaccinations are required for voyages to or from Australia, Bermuda, Canada, and Singapore.
The line continues to adhere to recommended health and safety measures, such as the vaccination of all crew members, booster vaccinations when they are eligible, and enhanced testing and care options at each onboard medical center, to name a few.
Just days after ending the COVID -19 program for cruise ships, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a new set of recommendations for the cruise industry in July.
As a result, many cruise lines have changed their vaccination and testing criteria, such as relaxing the ban on unvaccinated passengers and strict pre-cruise testing protocols.
While many cruise lines are again accepting unvaccinated passengers following the CDC’s decision, Disney Cruise Line has announced that all customers 12 years of age and older must be properly vaccinated against COVID-19 to sail from ports in the United States and Canada.