However, the cost is high, with some prices exceeding $200, and it's not covered by insurance. Now, they're making another key covid change. Many major airports also offer rapid testing -- both antigen and PCR -- with same-day results if you find yourself in a pinch. Guests can now order a COVID home test kit from Royal Caribbean through the Optum store. When a passenger tests positive for COVID-19, Royal Caribbean quarantines the guest, tests the immediate travel party, conducts contact tracing and transports them home via private jet in the majority of cases. Both cruise lines are continuing to ease That led Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, and the rest of the cruise industry to make changes to their rules. The new policies go into effect July 31 and run through August 31, with all passengers over two years old required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test before sailing on Three major cruise lines haveannounced they will accept self-administered COVID-19 tests in many cases where requirements remain. Alison Fox. Holland America, Carnival and more to drop vaccination requirements for some sailings, World-famous wine, Dijon mustard from taps, This residential ship offers full-time cruising, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. CLEAR is available at more than 50 U.S. airports and stadiums. It also came the same week that six passengers on the Adventure of the Seas tested positive for Covid-19 during routine testing of all guests, Royal Caribbean said. Unvaccinated guests will be allowed to use the results of a self-administered test if taken within three days of sailing. There are exceptions based on destinations, but for the most part self-testing will be allowed for unvaccinated passengers, and vaccinated passengers won't need to test at all. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. Earn 1.5X points (thats an extra half point per dollar) on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. "To all the unvaxed cruisers, welcome back! And, while it would eventually provide some guidance to the industry, it was no longer setting any rules. :This residential ship offers full-time cruising. Atlas Ocean Voyages, Receive an additional 5% Advance Payment Bonus Savings with The new policies go into effect July 31 and run through August 31, with all passengers over two years old required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test before sailing on itineraries of five days or longer, regardless of vaccine status. It is important to know this home test kit is only valid for Royal Caribbean guests who are fully vaccinated. "How will anyone know if the self-administered test is valid if there is no proctor? That allowed cruise lines to return to sailing from U.S. ports but they had to follow very strict protocols. Travel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. Those are tough lines to straddle. No ones gonna stick that thing up their noses if no ones looking. Royal Caribbean plans a similar change as of any sailing leaving Sept. 5 or later. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. "The attractive new-to-cruise segment is now returning faster with non-loyalty guests doubling in Q2, compared to Q1, and the mix is essentially on par with 2019 levels," he said. gallery icon These comments were made before the cruise line had dropped its vaccine requirement. The test kit by Abbott Guests that reserved their cruise before August 8, 2022 will have the following COVID-19 Assistance at no extra charge. Or you can show a picture of your negative home test on your phone, or present the actual negative test itself. Receive full access to our market insights, commentary, newsletters, breaking news alerts, and more. While it's certainly not the card for the average consumer, a business owner with tons of expenses -- especially related to travel -- will find this card incredibly valuable. Impacting Travel, 10 Reasons Your Next Vacation Should be a Cruise In July, however, the CDC dropped all monitoring of covid on cruise lines. 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. The cruise line recommends guests testwithin one day of the tripwhen possible. You will present the negative test result at the time of boarding. On cruises 16 nights or longer, all guests 5 and upmust provide "amedically supervised COVID-19 test with written negative result." See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. Travel + Leisure magazine may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. The new home test kits comply with the cruise lines testing protocols. That may make sailing slightly less safe for everyone onboard, but it's an important step to bringing the industry back to where it was in 2019, before covid. Cruise Lines Relax COVID Testing and Vaccination Policies For trips shorter than six days, vaccinated passengers will no longer need to obtain a negative test result It's hard to find a card that competes with the mile-long list of benefits that come with the Amex Business Platinum. 2022 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. The test kit by Abbott BinaxNOW is available at $69.99 for a two-pack and $99.99 for a three-pack. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. Unvaccinated travelers can join us for almost all U.S. Guests can now order a COVID home test kit from Royal Caribbean through the Optum store. Both major cruise lines had decided to welcome unvaccinated guests. Voting is now open in the 2022 Cruise Ship Awards, Royal Caribbean Changes Loyalty Program Perk for Top Tiers, 2022 Proves to Be Record-Breaking for Canada Cruise Port, Norwegian Cruise Line Wins $159 Million Lawsuit, Carnival Leadership Change, Major Board Member Stepping Down. Ideally, the cruise line wants all of its passengers to be vaccinated and to properly test, but it needs to fill its cabins in order to return to pre-pandemic normals. Although there are no guarantees, results are generally returned within 48 hours. Unvaccinated guests age 5 and up will need to test within three days before boarding, regardless of cruise length. They also added strict rules regarding covid. Passengers aged four and below are not bound This is an additional layer of precaution to ensure the safety of everyone onboard, Royal Caribbean said on its website. But that does not include sailings16 nights or longer, and the change is subject to local rules. Basically, you had to answer questions that determined if you were actively sick. Her favorite cities include London; Amsterdam; Krakow, Poland; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Dawson City, Yukon; and anywhere known for outstanding pizza and theater. The cruise line states that all guests aged five and older must bring a negative test result for COVID-19 within two days of boarding. Major cruise lines have also dropped testing rules for vaccinated passengers, but testing is still required in a number of cases. For cruises longer than 16 nights self-testing is not accepted for unvaccinated travelers. Carnival saw a surge in bookings when it welcomed back unvaccinated guests and the same thing likely happened when Royal Caribbean made the same change. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Masks will be required during embarkation and disembarkation, too. Initially, some cruise lines did provide free testing at the pier for unvaccinated passengers, but that's because those passengers are small in number, given that most lines are sailing with at least 95% of the onboard population vaccinated. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises to Accept At-Home COVID Tests for Unvaccinated Passengers. Guests who are not vaccinated can sail on any cruise from the U.S. or Europe (*except itineraries that visit Canada or Bermuda). The American Express Global Lounge Collection can provide an escape at the airport. American Queen Voyages, Learn About Saudi Arabia With the Discover Unexpected Saudi Webinar Complete your pre-cruise test at home, with live video supervision by a Certified Guide, and get your results in 15 minutes. Cruise lines change COVID-19 rules:Holland America, Carnival and more to drop vaccination requirements for some sailings, 'Demand is definitely going to go up':What to know about booking a cruise now. 2022 TheStreet, Inc. All rights reserved. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. Rachel Virga, Discover Panama's Rich Culture Some exceptions apply, so passengers should check their cruise line's policy. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. (For Disney sailings, unvaccinated passengers will still have to be tested prior to arriving at the terminal and provide a negative result.). There are different measures in place depending on where a ship is departing from. This card is similar to the consumer version that Amex offers, but with more business-oriented perks around statement credits and earning rates that are a better fit for business owners. Carnival's loyalty ambassador, John Heald, outlined the cruise line's changes on his Facebook page. Changes are subject to local requirements. Cruise Line & Cruise Ship, Flying With Weed: TSA Marijuana Rules Explained My current one, on Allure of the Seas, is the first one to feel like covid no longer plays a factor. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.will drop all pre-cruise requirements for vaccinated passengers ages 12 and over as of Sept. 3, according to anews release. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Carnival cruise lines are easing their pandemic-era protocol by allowing unvaccinated travelers on more sailings, as well as accepting at-home COVID-19 tests for boarding. We'll send you a weekly newsletter to your inbox. In the US, the cruise line still requires a negative covid test for unvaccinated people 3 days prior to boarding a ship. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. Around 97 percent of the people on board were fully vaccinated. provide negative test results in order to cruise, Get 5X Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, Earn 1.5X points on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. Before the pandemic, the health protocols at the major cruise lines were fairly loose. Horacio Villalobos#Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images. The Business Platinum Card from American Express, Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. Action Alerts PLUS is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc. 5 RULES FOR TRADING DURING EARNINGS SEASON, MANAGING YOUR TRADING DURING A BEAR MARKET, CDC dropped all monitoring of covid on cruise lines. Kids age 5 to 11 who have been vaccinated may Abbott's other tests do not meet the requirements when self-administered at home. Because this test is antigen, and antigen test results will not meet the requirements for unvaccinated passengers, this option will work for vaccinated passengers only. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Carnival cruise lines are easing their pandemic-era protocol by allowing unvaccinated travelers on more sailings, as well as accepting at-home The go-to for this type of testing is the Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card Home Test. If you're interested in using an at-home test, the Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card Home Test kits are available in packs of one, two, three or six, and they range in price from about $50 to $150, based on how many you order. The rule is in effect through at least Oct. 31, 2021. Beginning Sept. 5, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity will also accept at-home tests on trips from U.S. ports that don't visit Canada or Bermuda. Royal Caribbean announced it would now require all passengers scheduled to sail from the United States to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test. Guests that reserved their cruise before August 8, 2022 will have the following COVID-19 Assistance at no extra charge. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for checked baggage fees, lounge day passes, and more at one selected airline. July 30, 2021. As an alternative, some cruise lines are making it easier for passengers to find testing in their areas by partnering with national labs. On sailings from the U.S., MSC Cruises requirestests for fully vaccinated passengers sailing on trips six nights or longerand for all unvaccinated passengers age 2 or older, regardless of trip length, according to a press release. Travel Agent, 19 Caribbean All-Inclusive Resorts with the Finest Dining Vaccinated guests wont have to take a pre-cruise test on cruises that are shorter than 10 nights. Passengers who are unvaccinated or do not show proof of vaccination will still need to "present the results of a negative PCR or antigen test taken within three days of embarkation." As for the crew members working the voyages, Bayley reported all employees are fully vaccinated and tested once a week for coronavirus. Royal Caribbean has greatly relaxed its covid rules. 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases. Aug 25, 2022, News 12 has learned some major cruise lines are now accepting self-administered $189 CLEAR Credit: Use your Card and get up to $189 back per year on your CLEAR membership. Currently, Royal Caribbean requires travelers 12 and older to be vaccinated on U.S. cruises. The changes are subject to local rules. "Finally!!! Virgin Voyages Becomes First Major Cruise Line to Eliminate Pre-embarkation COVID Testing in the U.S. Margaritaville at Sea Becomes Latest Cruise Line to Ease Pre-boarding COVID Testing Requirement, Where Can Americans Travel Right Now? Airlines & Airports, Copyright 2022 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. This is so foolish," said Dymond Blossom. The most important change may be the following: Vaccination rules have also been loosened quite a bit: By allowing people to take at-home tests without proctors, the cruise line has essentially made testing an honor system approach. Results must include the following in order to meet boarding requirements: first and last name, date of birth, type of test (NAAT or antigen), date and time the sample was taken, test result as either "negative" or "not detected," and laboratory site, testing location or healthcare provider details. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity will impose a $136 charge per unvaccinated cruiser who is 12 or older; testing for unvaccinated passengers younger than 12 is free. With the CDC's new recommendation that all passengers be tested, regardless of whether or not they're inoculated, cruise lines are now largely putting the responsibility (and cost) of pre-cruise testing back onto passengers. This will go into effect from September 13, 2021. Those changes are also subject to local restrictions. Get 5X Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases. Royal Caribbean Group CEO Richard Fain also released another video recently for travel advisors discussing the continued COVID-19 outbreak and how the cruise company is keeping guests and crew members safe. Dont leave your testing until the last minute, and don't assume that you'll be able to receive a test at the pier on the day your cruise departs, unless you're sailing with Norwegian or Disney. The rapid antigen home test will be monitored virtually to make sure the test is taken correctly. Royal Caribbean International For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit, We are trying to ride every single Disney World and Universal ride today here's why. They need to sail with as many people as possible on their ships while least appearing to care about the health of their passengers. On some sailings, passengers had to fill out a health form before boarding. Although a recent Florida ruling said the CDC's cruise protocols are recommendations and not mandates, cruise lines have committed to implementing them across their vessels. It also comes in handy after the CDC recently updated its requirements for passengers to show a negative test result taken within three days before departure. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. When you take a monitored at-home test before your cruise, the proctor watches every step of the process. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. American Queen Voyages, Explore North America and enjoy up to 20% Early Booking When she's not in New York City, she likes to spend her time at the beach or exploring new destinations and hopes to visit every country in the world. Royal Caribbean and Carnival have to balance health concerns, public relations/optics, and the bottom line. Both cruise lines are continuing to ease Carnival, for example, will allow unvaccinated passengers to board without a vaccine exemption - which are currently "limited to a small number of guests (age five and above)," according to its website - starting Sept. 6. Vaccinated travelers will not be required to get tested for cruises that are 9 nights or less. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises to Accept At-Home COVID Tests for Unvaccinated Passengers. What medical services are offered on board the ship for the evaluation and treatment of COVID-19? In most cases, vaccinated passengers don't need to test at all. Last week, big-ship cruising returned to Alaska as Royal Caribbean Internationals Serenade of the Seas departed from Seattle on its first Alaska cruise since September 2019. The cruise line has updated its test FAQ page with a link to the Optum store. For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter. The change comes just over a week after Royal Caribbean first eased vaccine requirements for cruises departing from Los Angeles, Galveston, New Orleans, and any European homeport as well as weeks after Royal Caribbean eliminated testing for vaccinated passengers on shorter sailings. I have taken a number of cruises with Royal Caribbean since the return to sailing. The cruise line does not accept a home test result administered without being supervised live by a telehealth professional. All passengers 12-and-over must be vaccinated and provide proof of that before boarding. Carnival Cruise Line is working on implementing mobile rapid testing at all of its embarkation homeports. Will crew members be vaccinated and wearing personal protective equipment like masks? Those rules do vary by port and length of sailing, but for the most part the requirement has been dropped. Carnival, Holland America and Princess will charge each unvaccinated passenger (even those younger than 12) a $150 fee for the cost of the testing. Tests must be taken within three days of embarkation. 2022 TheStreet, Inc. All rights reserved. Royal Caribbean will accept a variety of tests as proof to board, including simply taking a photo of a self-administered home test, a new rule that Bayley also noted on social media. Duration: 00:47 8/25/2022. "As we've always said, the health and safety of our guests, crew, and communities we visit are our top priority, and cruising has proven to be one of the safest environments anywhere.". The cruise line has been constantly changing and updating its protocols as the conditions of the pandemic have changed. Offers may be subject to change without notice. The cost of testing will be the responsibility of passengers. This is one of the best routes for unvaccinated passengers requiring PCR tests. Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity announced this month that they would welcome all passengers regardless of vaccination status on many sailings. In addition to lab-administered tests, self-testing is accepted for unvaccinated guests on cruises 15 nights and shorter. Currently, Celebrity requires all guests 12 and older to be fully vaccinated to sail. Trying to get tested and making arrangements is proving to be complex. 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. Effective August 22, 2022: A valid pre-travel COVID-19 test must be a COVID-19 NAAT test listed below or a supervised antigen test. The CDC issued the requirement to be tested within two days in an update on August 27 to the Conditional Sailing Order. 301 Route 17 N, Suite 1150, Rutherford, NJ 07070 USA | Telephone: (201) 902-2000, Last updated: 08:40 AM ET, Fri July 30 2021, Alaska Airlines Expands Flight Subscription Service to Salt Lake City, Arnold Donald Stepping Down From Carnival Corporations Boards of Directors. That feeling, however, was not unanimous as some people simply welcomed a return to normal (or at least close to normal). Duration: 00:47 8/25/2022. In addition to guidelines previously communicated, we are expanding acceptable pre-cruise testing for unvaccinated guests for voyages departing September 6, 2022, and later. All cruisers will now have to present negative test results (PCR for unvaccinated passengers and antigen or PCR for vaccinated ones) on embarkation day before they will be allowed to board and sail. Receive full access to our market insights, commentary, newsletters, breaking news alerts, and more. 2022 Travvy Awards Recognizes the Best Cruise Companies. Find the right card for you. The agency currently recommends all travelers are "up to date" with their COVID-19 vaccines before boarding a cruise. The system may not be foolproof but it makes cheating difficult. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. Donald Wood The Sights and Wonders of Saudi Arabia's Red Sea, For more information on Carnival, Royal Caribbean to accept self-administered COVID-19 tests. All guests age 2 and older, regardless of vaccination status, must present a negative COVID-19 test result for an antigen test taken within 2 days before boarding day or a PCR test taken within 4 That will change to just two days from September 13, 2021. Royal Caribbean will require vaccinated guests 5 and up to take a pre-cruise test on U.S. sailings 10 nights or longer within three days of boarding beginning Sept. 5, according to There were nuances, and slight changes based on ports, but those were the You can find them online (allow at least five days for shipping) or at some local pharmacies, depending on where you live.
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