Time is running out of 2022, but there are going to be plenty of cruises in November to look forward to before the month ends.
November marks the beginning of the peak Caribbean cruise season, with many ships beginning their repositioning to North America after a summer in Europe.
Hopefully this article shares with you what you need to know about going on a Royal Caribbean cruise in the month of November, with important news, tips, and helpful information along the way.
November is a month dichotomies: the first half of the month is traditionally a less in-demand time to cruise, with some great cruise deals to be found, while the second half of the month transitions into higher demand with the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States. Nonetheless, there can be excellent deals to be found, even at the last minute.
November is also the very end of hurricane season in the Caribbean.
Technically, hurricane season ends on November 30, so there is still a chance of a tropical disturbance impacting your sailing. Storms this late in the season are rarer, but not unheard of, so keep tracking storms leading up to your sailing.
Ships sailing in November 2022
All of Royal Caribbean's cruise ships are back in service, and Royal Caribbean has returned for the first time to Australia since 2019.
Royal Caribbean's cruises down under this season will offer 2- to 12-night cruises to Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.
Here's where you can find each ship this month.
- Freedom of the Seas from Miami, Florida
- Anthem of the Seas from Cape Liberty, New Jersey
- Allure of the Seas from Galveston, Texas beginning November 13.
- Symphony of the Seas from Miami, Florida
- Independence of the Seas from Port Canaveral, Florida
- Harmony of the Seas from Port Canaveral, Florida
- Mariner of the Seas from Port Canaveral, Florida
- Liberty of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Adventure of the Seas from Galveston, Texas
- Explorer of the Seas from Miami, Florida
- Navigator of the Seas from Los Angeles, California
- Spectrum of the Seas from Singapore
- Grandeur of the Seas from Miami, Florida
- Enchantment of the Seas from Baltimore, Maryland
- Radiance of the Seas from New Orleans, Louisiana
- Serenade of the Seas from Tampa, Florida
- Voyager of the Seas from San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Quantum of the Seas from Brisbane, Australia
- Ovation of the Seas from Sydney, Australia
- Oasis of the Seas from Miami, Florida
- Brilliance of the Seas from Tampa, Florida
- Wonder of the Seas from Port Canaveral, Florida
- Odyssey of the Seas from from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Vision of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Rhapsody of the Seas from Bridgetown, Barbados
- Jewel of the Seas from Port Canaveral, Florida
Not only will ships begin sailing in Australia, but Royal Caribbean will commence cruises from Bridgetown, Barbados.
Another big change for Royal Caribbean will be the opening of its new cruise terminal in Galveston, Texas.
The $125 million, 161,334-square-foot Galveston Cruise Terminal significantly expands Royal Caribbean’s presence in the city, increasing its ability to welcome up to 630,000 guests each year.
The new terminal opens on Nov. 9, 2022, which also marks the arrival of Allure of the Seas. For the first time, Texas will be home to an Oasis Class ship, which are the largest ships in the world.
Health protocols for November 2022 cruises
Royal Caribbean's health protocols for November are fairly similar to the protocols from October.
Vaccinated guests do not need to take a test for sailings of 9 nights or fewer for cruises from North America and the Caribbean.
On sailings of 10 nights or longer, fully vaccinated guests age 12 and older will need to bring a negative test result for a COVID-19 test within 3 days before boarding day.
Guests age 12 and up who are not vaccinated have 3 days to take a test before their cruise, regardless the duration of the cruise.
Guests under the age of 12, do not need to take a test prior to cruising.
Cruises from Australia
All guests aged 2 and above, regardless of vaccination status, must present a negative test result for a COVID-19 PCR test taken within 2 days before boarding day, or a self-administered Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) within 1 day before boarding, for sailings of any length.
Required testing for all guests can be completed using a PCR test administered at a private laboratory, or any self-administered Rapid Antigen Test (RAT). Rapid Antigen Tests are not required to be administered under live video supervision.
You will be required to present the negative test result at the time of boarding. You can show it in the form of a printout or email if taking a PCR test. Or if taking a RAT, you can show a picture of your negative RAT test on your phone, or present the actual negative test itself.
Guests under 2 years of age do not require testing.
Cruises from Singapore
Unvaccinated guests age 5 - 11 must present a negative test result for a COVID-19 antigen or PCR test taken within the 3 days before boarding day, for sailings of any length.
Fully vaccinated guests age 12 and older, do not have any pre-cruise testing requirements for sailings of 9 nights or less. On sailings of 10 nights and longer, fully vaccinated guests must present a negative test result for a COVID-19 antigen or PCR test taken within the 3 days before boarding day. Kids age 11 and younger who have been vaccinated may follow the testing protocols for vaccinated guests.
Guests ages 12 and older who are not up-to-date must present a negative test result for a COVID-19 antigen or PCR test taken within the 3 days before boarding day.
Required testing for all guests can be completed using any type of PCR or antigen COVID-19 test. It can be professionally proctored at your doctor or drugstore, or it can be a test you administer to yourself at home without supervision.
Guests who are not up to date with their vaccination, must ensure they have a valid medical reason for the exemption and must be approved by a medical provider. The validity of the exemption is also subject to ship Medical Doctor approval. Handwritten medical exemptions will not be accepted.
Guests under 5 years of age do not need to complete a pre-cruise test.
Everyone should review the full list of protocols related to where and when you need to wear a mask, vaccinated-only guest areas of the ship, and more on Royal Caribbean's website.
November weather on a cruise
While it may start getting chilly where you live, temperatures in the Caribbean remain steady, with a range in the 70s-80s.
The end of the rainy season comes in November, so storms are not unheard of, especially since hurricane season does not end until the end of the month.
According to data from NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, for the years from 1851 to 2018, 47 total hurricanes have formed in November and only five of those made landfall in the United States.
Of course, Mother Nature does not follow a calendar, so there are no guarantees when bad weather could or could not occur.
Just like other times of the summer and fall, your best bet is to assume a passing shower or storm, but not an all-day rain out. Packing a poncho or rain coat/windbreaker would allow you to quickly adapt to a storm.
Thanksgiving on Royal Caribbean
If your cruise happens to sail over the Thanksgiving holiday, you can expect the celebration to extend onboard as well.
Royal Caribbean gets into the spirit of the holiday with fall color decorations around the ship on Thanksgiving sailings, and even a few special events such as Thanksgiving trivia games, and special cocktails.
Of course, there will be plenty of turkey offerings. The main dining room menu will have its regular menu, as well as a special Thanksgiving menu you can order from that has the traditional foods available.
Football games will be available to watch in the bars and screens around the ship.
And in case you are wondering, Christmas decorations start going up around this time, but it varies by ship. Some ships don't start putting them up until after Thanksgiving. This can vary by ship and year-to-year. Some ships doing early December.
