Royal Caribbean will now offer limited Covid-19 testing at the cruise terminal on embarkation day

In:
27 Sep 2021
By: 
Matt Hochberg

There is now a new option to get your pre-cruise Covid-19 test at the cruise terminal.

Royal Caribbean announced it will offer boarding day test at the port on a limited basis.

Royal Caribbean said the new pre-cruise tests are "a last option if you simply can't find a pre-cruise test or could not secure results in time."

The terminal tests are only available for fully vaccinated passengers and available by appointment only.

The test will start at $99 per person, and guests will wait up to an hour for results outside of terminal. 

To book a test, schedule your appointment 30 minutes prior to sailing check-in time, 24 hours in advance.

These test options are for guests in the U.S. — international guests can use them only once they have arrived in the U.S.

PortMiami wants to broker a deal for shared cruise terminal between Royal Caribbean and MSC | Royal Caribbean Blog

Adding the new tests at the terminal is seemingly in response to guest feedback that getting a pre-cruise test is sometimes difficult due to overwhelming demand for Covid tests around the United States.

Royal Caribbean states it prefers guests use the at-home test kits, which can be ordered in advance of the cruise and are cheaper than the terminal testing.

Two at-home tests can be ordered for $69.99 USD; 3 tests for $99.99 USD.

You can order your test kit at RoyalCaribbean.com/HomeTestKit

Of course, guests can still opt to get a test done at a local pharmacy, lab, public test site, or doctor's office. 

Royal Caribbean's pre-cruise testing requirement

Two cruise lines shorten the window of time to get a pre-cruise Covid test | Royal Caribbean Blog

Regardless of which test you get, all passengers must get a pre-cruise Covid-19 test done within a few days of the cruise.

Guests age 12 or older must must show a negative COVID-19 test result for a PCR or antigen test taken no more than 2 days before boarding day.

Unvaccinated kids age 2 to 11 must show a negative test result for a PCR or antigen test taken no more than 3 days before boarding day. 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.

Kids will take a complimentary PCR test when checking in at the terminal.”


Matt started Royal Caribbean Blog in 2010 as a place to share his passion for all things Royal Caribbean with readers. He oversees all the writers at Royal Caribbean Blog, and writes a great deal of content on a daily basis.  He has become one of the foremost experts on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Over the years, he has reached Pinnacle Club status with Royal Caribbean's customer loyalty program.

Get our newsletter

Stay up-to-date with cruise news & advice

    We never share your information with third parties and will protect it in accordance with our Privacy Policy