Royal Caribbean Worldwide has introduced the elimination of pre-cruise testing for many cruises from the US and Europe. The cruise line now accepts all company, no matter vaccination standing, without having to supply a unfavourable pre-cruise take a look at consequence.
The brand new protocols are efficient instantly however nonetheless embody some exceptions, most notably for cruises visiting Colombia, Haiti, or Honduras. Cruises that decision in or sail from Australia and transatlantic cruises additionally require company to supply a unfavourable take a look at consequence.
No extra Testing Earlier than a Royal Caribbean Cruise
A day earlier than mum or dad firm Royal Caribbean Group will announce its Q3 quarterly outcomes, the cruise line up to date its pre-cruise testing necessities in away that each company and traders will welcome.
Efficient instantly, Royal Caribbean Worldwide doesn’t require company to supply unfavourable COVID-19 take a look at outcomes earlier than crusing, no matter whether or not they have been totally vaccinated.
Royal Caribbean mentioned the next in an e mail notification:
“Efficient November 2, 2022, all vacationers on U.S. sailings, no matter vaccination standing, will now not require pre-departure testing excluding sailings to Colombia, Haiti, & Honduras.”
As talked about, there’ll nonetheless be restricted cruises that require a unfavourable take a look at consequence earlier than crusing if company haven’t been totally vaccinated or are usually not in a position to present appropriate proof of vaccination.
These are Roatan in Honduras, Colombia, and most notably, Royal Caribbean’s non-public resort vacation spot in Haiti, Labadee. For sailings visiting these ports, company aged 12 and up who are usually not totally vaccinated have three days to take a take a look at earlier than their cruise, whatever the cruise size.
Visitors beneath the age of 12 would not have any testing necessities.
Medically supervised in-person assessments, medically supervised telehealth assessments, and self-swab assessments, together with unsupervised testing, are all accepted.
Additionally excluded from this leisure are cruises crusing to, from, or with a name in Australia.
No matter vaccination standing, all company aged two and above should current a unfavourable take a look at consequence for a COVID-19 PCR take a look at taken inside two days earlier than boarding day, or a self-administered Speedy Antigen Take a look at (RAT) inside in the future earlier than boarding, for Australian sailings of any size.
The native authorities mandate these destination-specific necessities, which Royal Caribbean has little affect on.
For transatlantic voyages, all company ages 5 and up ought to present proof of a unfavourable take a look at consequence taken inside two days earlier than crusing.
The transfer from a significant cruise line resembling Royal Caribbean, which carries extra passengers per day than most different cruise traces, could possibly be seen as the tip of the pandemic-related protocols which have been a staple of cruising within the final two years.
Whereas these protocols offered a manner for the cruise business to re-open greater than a yr in the past whereas caseloads had been nonetheless vital worldwide, at this time the protocols have meant that taking a cruise concerned way more effort than taking a land-based trip.
In July of this yr, Jason Liberty, the CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises, hinted at making a transfer towards ending pre-cruise testing:
“We’re persevering with to adapt our protocols to align extra carefully with how the remainder of society and different journey and leisure companies are working. Which means we’re transitioning to the purpose the place everybody will be capable of trip with us whereas at all times working with our vacation spot companions to fulfill their rules.”
With at this time’s announcement, that transition has largely been met.
Within the final couple of weeks, we’ve seen a number of cruise traces change their pre-cruise and onboard protocols. Normally, protocols solely stay in place for for much longer cruises and those who go to locations with stricter regional necessities.
Even these protocols might disappear within the following weeks and months, particularly with cruise corporations desirous to take full benefit of the upcoming busy Caribbean cruise season.
