It looks like anyone doing more than Royal Caribbean cruise in a row does not need to take a Covid test again between sailings.
A number of Royal Caribbean cruisers have alerted us that the cruise line informed them while on a back to back cruise a new Covid test is no longer necessary.
Among the many people to tell us about the policy change is Royal Caribbean's top cruiser of all time, Mario "Super Mario" Salcedo.
"Just been informed that back-to-back cruisers no longer need to be Covid tested for the following cruise," Mr. Salcedo wrote in an email.
Read more: Back-to-back cruises tips and advice
Royal Caribbean's website has also been updated to note the change that fully vaccinated guests and/or guests with a valid certificate of recovery to not need a test.
New policy on Royal Caribbean's website
Old policy on Royal Caribbean's website
"Fully vaccinated guests and guests with a valid certificate of recovery do not require additional testing to board their subsequent sailing. Unvaccinated guests will require a new precruise test prior to boarding their subsequent sailing."
In addition, RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader CruiseGus shared a copy of his back to back cruiser letter from his sailing.
Up until now, Royal Caribbean required passengers who were staying on for another sailing to get a Covid test done while onboard the ship.
Guests would head to a designed area of the ship to get a complimentary Covid test on the last day of the cruise.
What about people changing ships?
According to Royal Caribbean's website, guests who are changing ships on consecutive sailings or have a day or more inbetween subsequent sailings will not have a change in policy.
"If you are moving to a different ship for your subsequent sailing, or your subsequent sailing on the same ship departs the following day, you will need to meet the precruise testing requirements for your subsequent sailing. "
The website says complimentary testing will be conducted onboard for those passengers changing ships, with instructions provided while onboard.
To be considered back-to-back, the time between sailings must not exceed 1 day.
For example, if Sailing A disembarks on Monday, Sailing B must embark on Monday or Tuesday to be considered back-to-back.
Guests whose sailings are not considered back-to-back will be responsible for procuring their own Covid-19 test at their own expense to meet the precruise testing requirements for the subsequent sailing.
