The minimum percentage of vaccinated passengers on a cruise ship has gone down.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced updates to its highly vaccinated program, which lists the requirements for cruise lines to follow.

Royal Caribbean is one of many cruise lines in the CDC's highly vaccinated program.

CDC will reduce the percentage threshold requirement for determining ‘highly vaccinated voyages’  from 95% to 90% of eligible passengers (90% of passengers who are 5 years of age and older).

The crew vaccination percentage will remain at 95% or greater for highly vaccinated voyages.    

Up until now, cruise ships in this program were required to sail with at least 95% vaccinated passengers.

By lowering the number of required vaccinated passengers, this opens up more capacity to unvaccinated children.

The CDC also made another change related to cabins used for isolating Covid-19 passengers.

Isolation rooms no longer need to have negative pressure but must still be in predesignated areas. The exception to transferring individuals to predesignated cabins if within 36 hours of disembarkation remains in effect.

Following these changes, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) issued a statement in support of the CDC changes.

"The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and its member cruise lines welcome the recent update to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships Operating in U.S. Waters."

"The CDC’s adjustment of vaccination and quarantine and isolation room requirements recognizes the highly protective measures in place on board cruise ships and is in keeping with the CDC’s lifting of any travel-related advisory against cruising. CLIA-member cruise lines continue to provide one of the highest levels of COVID-19 mitigation for the traveling public with higher-vaccination rates and higher frequency of testing than most any other setting."

"We look forward to the further development of the program to bring greater alignment across the travel and tourism sector."

Inside the highly vaccinated program

Royal Caribbean opted into the CDC's highly vaccinated program at the end of February 2022 once the CDC's Conditional Sail Order became voluntary.

The program regulates foreign-flagged cruise vessels operating in U.S. waters with a common set of Covid-19 protocols for guests and crew members to abide by.

Even before Royal Caribbean opted into the program, its ships were usually sailing right around the 95% vaccinated mark.

In late December 2021, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley said a typical sailing has anywhere between 95 to 98 percent fully vaccinated onboard population.

Royal Caribbean has rolled back the rule requiring children to wear masks in the supervised programming areas of the cruise ship.

When Royal Caribbean dropped its mask requirement for vaccinated cruisers in late February, the only area of the ship that still required mask wearing as in Adventure Ocean, regardless of vaccination status.

As of this weekend, it appears the mask rule in Adventure Ocean has been changed.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader AshleyDillo posted a new posted rule on Oasis of the Seas that says masks are now optional for kids in Adventure Ocean.

"Mask wearing is optional for children participating in Adventure Ocean. However, masks are recommended for unvaccinated children 2 and up."

"Children under 2 do not need to wear a mask at any time."

Adventure Ocean is the kids camp on Royal Caribbean ships, where parents can drop their children off.

The updated mask rules for Adventure Ocean matches the general guideline for masks on ships made last week, in which Royal Caribbean said masks are optional for vaccinated guests and recommended for unvaccinated children onboard.

The change in mask wearing for Adventure Ocean tied in with the cruise line relaxing mask rules in cruise ship terminals.

Masks on a cruise are virtually non-existent

Over the last couple of months, mask requirements are greatly eroded away to point now they are all but gone from cruise ships.

As cruise ships restarted operations in 2021, masks were a cornerstone of new cruise ship protocols.

It looked as though masks might have gone away as required in summer 2021, but a combination of the Delta and Omicron variants required Royal Caribbean to keep the requirement in place for much longer.

A combination of Covid cases dropping dramatically on land and Royal Caribbean opting into the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highly vaccinated program has enabled the cruise line to progressively remove mask requirements.

Face masks are among the most visible signs of the pandemic, and the need to wear them has been a major pain point for cruise fans who want to get the cruise experience back to a sense of normalcy.

In late February, Royal Caribbean dropped the requirement to wear masks while indoors.

Just last week, the cruise line announced masks are optional in cruise ship terminals.  

Now with masks not needed in Adventure Ocean, the only time you would need to wear a mask potentially on a cruise is due to local regulations, such as in a port of call the ship visits or in some cruise ship terminals as mandated by local requirements.

The question of if you’ll have to wear a face mask before and after your cruise in the terminal is officially answered.  

In an update to guests, Royal Caribbean updated it’s health protocols by indicating masks are now optional while in cruise terminals. 

Following the overturning of a federal mandate for masks in transportation hubs earlier this week, the question remained if masks would be required since there wasn’t any announcements by the cruise lines initially. 

An email was sent to guests with the new policy, "Due to recent changes in mask guidance, we’ve updated our mask policy, effective immediately, for all of our sailings where we've announced protocols, excluding Singapore departures."

"In our terminals, masks are optional unless required by local regulation. Some destinations we visit may require masks."

Royal Caribbean also added that these protocols are subject to change.

Prior to Royal Caribbean making this change in policy, Port Everglades said it would defer to the cruise lines to craft a mask policy, "Our intention at Port Everglades is to allow the cruise lines to take the lead on instituting and maintaining their own safety policies in the cruise terminals and on their ships."

The announcement comes on the heels of the United States Coast Guard announcing it would not enforce mask mandates.

Similar to how the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) enforced the mask mandate for air travel, the Coast Guard was responsible for doing the same for the cruise industry.

In an update to the Coast Guard's Maritime Transportation System, the armed force said that unless something changes, mask enforcement is out, "the Coast Guard will not enforce the directives requiring mask use on public transportation and in transportation hubs."

Royal Caribbean's announcement came the same day Carnival Cruise Line announced a similar change to its policy.

Carnival says masks are highly recommended during the embarkation and debarkation process. 

It looks as though cruise ship terminals will not require passengers to wear a face mask.

Following a federal judge's decision to overturn the federal mask mandate in transportation hubs on Monday, the cruise industry has been wondering if the mask requirement would be rescinded.

Almost immediately airlines and some airports began informing the public masks were no longer required, but cruise ports remained quiet.

Late on Tuesday, the United States Coast Guard issued an update to its Requirements in the Maritime Transportation System to indicate they will no longer enforce the mandate following the judicial ruling.

"On April 18, 2022, the US District Court, Middle District of Florida, vacated the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mandate for mask wear in airports, train stations, and other transportation hubs as well as on airplanes, buses, trains, and most other public conveyances in the United States, including vessels."

Per this ruling, the CDC has declared that the mandate is no longer in effect. Federal agencies are reviewing the court’s decision. In the interim the Coast Guard will not enforce the directives requiring mask use on public transportation and in transportation hubs."

The Coast Guard had been responsible for implementing the mask requirement, similar to how the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was responsible for enforcing it in airports.

In addition to the Coast Guard update, the CDC also updated its website to indicate the mask requirement is no longer in effect, "As a result of a court order, effective immediately and as of April 18, 2022, CDC’s January 29, 2021 Order requiring masks on public transportation conveyances and at transportation hubs is no longer in effect.

"Therefore, CDC will not enforce the Order. CDC continues to recommend that people wear masks in indoor public transportation settings at this time."

Royal Caribbean removed face masks as a requirement while onboard and indoors on its ships back in February 2022.

Since Royal Caribbean made that change, masks were only mandatory for all guests while in the cruise ship terminal immediately before or after a cruise.

With this change, masks will be optional to wear in the cruise terminal.

What will the cruise ports do?

So far, only one port has officially said masks are not required indoors.

Flynn Cruiseport Boston issued a statement on social media that masks are optional.

Effective April 18: Masks are optional. The @TSA no longer requires face masks at the airport, cruise terminal and on Massport operated buses. pic.twitter.com/XFczuTbaCS

— Flynn Cruiseport Boston (@flynncruiseport) April 19, 2022

Prior to the Coast Guard's update, Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida issued this statement, "Our intention at Port Everglades is to allow the cruise lines to take the lead on instituting and maintaining their own safety policies in the cruise terminals and on their ships."

Guests that boarded Mariner of the Seas on Tuesday from Port Canaveral still had to wear a mask during the boarding process.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog writer Allie Hubers shared a photo that the mask rule was still being enforced. Her report came in hours before the Coast Guard update.

Royal Caribbean has shared the health protocols for summer 2022 cruises out of Southampton.

The newly released protocols apply to ships sailing from Southampton, England through May 31, 2022.

Keep in mind these protocols are subject to change.

Here's a look at what Royal Caribbean has planned for protocols.

Vaccine & booster requirement

All guests 12 years and older must be fully vaccinated, having received their final dose no less than 14 days prior to sailing.

Additionally, for the purpose of these sailings from Southampton, to be considered up-to-date, guests must have received all doses in their vaccine series and have received their booster if the second vaccine was administered over 270 days (9 months) ago.

Children aged 5 to 11 years are not required to be vaccinated.

Royal Caribbean will not accept a Certificate of Recovery in the place of a vaccination record.

All crew onboard the ship and at our private destinations are fully vaccinated and receive a booster dose as they become eligible.

Entry into the UK

Guests traveling into England do not have any entry requirements at this time. This applies whether you are vaccinated or not. 

Royal Caribbean advises guests traveling into England from another country to look into any requirements of their own home country may have for exiting or re-entering its borders.

Testing

Pre-cruise

Guests who are up-to-date with their vaccines will be required to present a negative test result for a COVID-19 test taken no more than 2 days before sailing.

Guests 2 years and older who are not up-to-date with their vaccines, or who are unvaccinated, will be required to present a negative test result for a COVID-19 test taken no more than 1 day before sailing. 

The test must be conducted at a certified testing location or supervised by a healthcare telemedicine professional.

Onboard

Depending on the itinerary, guests 12 years and older who are considered unvaccinated by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or who are not up-to-date with their vaccines will require additional testing during UK sailings.

This test is at the guest's expense if they are ages 12 years and up and considered unvaccinated or if they are not up-to-date at the price of $55 USD per test.

Guests under 2 years of age will not be tested. 

Return home

Guests may be required to complete testing before flying home at their own expense. 

• Guests can take advantage of testing offered via ExpressTest at Heathrow and Gatwick airports by registering ahead of time here. 
• Some local testing options include The Regenerative Clinic or Randox Health. 
• Vaccinated North American guests can travel with tele-health testing kits such as eMed for U.S. guests and Switch Health tests for Canadian guests.

Shore Excursion

Fully vaccinated guests and unvaccinated kids can visit ports of call freely.

Additional testing requirements may exist in some countries for guests who are unvaccinated.

For sailings visiting France, guests who are from an Orange List country will not be allowed to visit the port, per French government regulations. Learn which countries are on the Orange List. 

Masks

Masks are optional for fully vaccinated guests.

Unvaccinated children are expected to continue wearing masks indoors and in crowded settings.

Masks will be required in Adventure Ocean, in the cruise terminal, and may be required at various destinations.

Guests under 2 years do not have to wear a mask at any time.

Full protocols

The next batch of health protocols for Royal Caribbean's North American cruises has been released.

Royal Caribbean announced health & safety protocols for North America departures through June 30, 2022. 

As always, these protocols are subject to change at anytime.

The newly released protocols are identical to the existing protocols they replaced, with no noticeable differences.

You can also refer to the health protocols for Alaska cruises, which differ slightly.

Vaccines

All guests 12 years and older must be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before sailing.

Guests under the age of 12 years, who are considered fully vaccinated, should follow the guidance for vaccinated guests below.

Testing

Pre-Cruise

All guests 2 years and older must present a negative COVID-19 test result.

Vaccinated guests ages 12 years and over: PCR or antigen test must be taken no more than 2 days prior to sailing.

Unvaccinated children ages 2 to 11 years: PCR test must be taken no more than 3 days prior to sailing — but not on boarding day. Antigen tests are not accepted for unvaccinated guests.

No testing required for guests under age 2.

Pre-cruise testing costs and scheduling are the guest's responsibility.  

Embarkation Day

Unvaccinated guests ages 2 to 11 years will take a complimentary test for COVID-19 during check-in. 

Onboard

For sailings that are 5 nights or longer, unvaccinated guests ages 2 to 11 years will take a complimentary antigen test prior to debark. 

Masks

Masks are optional for fully vaccinated guests.

Unvaccinated children are expected to continue wearing masks indoors and in crowded settings.

Masks are required for all children 2 years and older while at the Adventure Ocean youth program.

Guests under 2 years do not have to wear a mask at any time.

Shore Excursions

All guests, regardless of vaccination status, may visit most ports freely or book a shore excursion.

A few ports still require an excursion to go ashore, regardless of vaccination status. 

Full protocols

With less than a month until cruises begin in the Mediterranean this year, Royal Caribbean has released its Barcelona & Italy health protocols.

The Mediterranean cruise season will commence in earnest in May, so Royal Caribbean has published what the pre-cruise & onboard Covid health requirements will be for passengers.

These particular protocols apply to sailings from Spain and Italy through May 31, 2022. 

Some destinations we visit require additional testing and may have restrictions for guests who are not up-to-date with their vaccines. 

Vaccines

All guests 12 years and older must be fully vaccinated, having received their final dose no less than 14 days prior to sailing.

Additionally, for the purpose of these Barcelona & Italy sailings, to be considered up-to-date, guests must have received all doses in their vaccine series and have received their booster if the second vaccine was administered over 270 days (9 months) ago.

Children aged 5 to 11 years are not required to be vaccinated. However, kids who have been fully vaccinated may present proof and follow the protocols for vaccinated guests. Children with one dose of a vaccine do not count as fully vaccinated.

Royal Caribbean will not accept a Certificate of Recovery in the place of a vaccination record.

Entry requirements

All guests traveling to Spain will need to complete an FCS Health Control Form prior to entering Spain.

All guests ages 6 years and up traveling to Italy will need to complete an European Passenger Locator Form (PLF) prior to entering Italy.

Testing

Pre-cruise from Spain

​Guests who are up-to-date with their vaccines will be required to present a negative test result for a COVID-19 test taken no more than 2 days before sailing.

Guests who are not up-to-date with their vaccines will be required to present a negative test result for a COVID-19 test taken no more than 1 day before sailing.

Embarkation from Spain

All unvaccinated guests ages 2 - 11 years will be required to take a boarding day antigen test in the terminal and receive a negative result in order to sail. 

Pre-cruise from Italy

All guests who are up-to-date with their vaccines will be required to present a negative test result for a COVID-19 test taken no more than 1 day before sailing.

Embarkation from Italy

All unvaccinated and not up-to-date guests ages 2 years and older will be required to take a boarding day antigen test in the terminal and receive a negative result in order to sail.

This test will be complimentary for children ages 2 - 11 years.

Guests ages 12 years and older who are considered unvaccinated or not up-to-date will be charged $55 USD per test.

Onboard testing

Guests who are considered unvaccinated by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or who are not up-to-date with their vaccines will require additional testing during our sailings.

This test is at the guest's expense if they are ages 12 years and up and considered unvaccinated or if they are not up-to-date at the price of $55 USD per test. These guests will receive registration information once onboard based on the below:

• During the Cruise: Depending on the itinerary, guests 12 years and older — or 6 and older in Italian & Greek ports — will have additional testing requirements.
• Prior to Disembarking sailings from Spain: Guests 12 and older who meet the above criteria will test before disembarking.
• Prior to Disembarking sailings from Italy: Guests 6 years and older who meet the above criteria may be required to test before disembarking, based on the itinerary.

Guests under 2 years old are not required to test.

Masks

Masks are optional for vaccinated guests and expected for onboard for unvaccinated children aged 2 years and older. 

Masks will be required in Adventure Ocean, in the cruise terminal, and may be required at various destinations.

These protocols are subject to change.

Shore Excursions

Fully vaccinated guests can visit most ports of call freely. Depending on their itinerary, guests who are not up-to-date with their vaccines may require multiple tests to disembark in ports of call. All guests going ashore must still follow local health and safety guidance when visiting each port of call.

What travel documents to bring with you

• Passport/European ID Card is needed for all guests with a validity of at least 6 months after their sailing’s return date. EU Nationals may also present their European ID card.
• Proof of Vaccine must be presented by all guests 12 and older. Acceptable proof of vaccination must be in the form of the original vaccination record document issued by your country's health authority or healthcare provider that administered the vaccination, with the full cycle of doses being completed no less than 14 days prior to sailing. Guests living in the EU are advised to present their EU Digital COVID-19 Certificate.
• Negative Test Result must be presented by all vaccinated guests upon arrival at the port.
• For Spain: Negative Test Result must be presented by all vaccinated guests upon arrival at the port.
• For Italy: Negative Test Result must be presented by all up-to-date guests upon arrival at the port
• For Spain: FCS Health Control Form must be completed here by all guests age 12 and up before entering Spain.
• For Italy: European Passenger Locator Form must be completed here by all guests ages 6 years and older before entering Italy.
• Proof of Residency may be needed for guests traveling with a passport/European ID card that was issued from a country different from their country of residence.
• Health Questionnaire to be completed on our Royal Caribbean App the day before you board.

Full protocols

More information

• What is the best time to cruise the Mediterranean?
• What is the cheapest month to go on a cruise?
• 7 tips for a great Mediterranean cruise

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has removed its warning against going on a cruise ship due to Covid-19.

The CDC website removed the warning from its website after previously dropping the warning level to level 2.

Plummeting Covid cases on cruise ships as a result of the cruise industry's effective health protocols have meant the government agency sees no reason to warn the public against traveling on a ship as a risk for catching Covid.

The CDC last lowered the warning level to level 2 on February 15, 2022.

The CDC website now just talks about being up to date with Covid-19 vaccines before going on a cruise, and sharing its recommendations for how to keep yourself safe while traveling. 

The CDC recommends anyone going on a cruise

• Check cruise line requirements for testing and/or vaccination
• Get travel insurance
• If traveling by air, check airline requirements.
• Wear a well-fitting mask on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation.

The rest of the recommendations center around not traveling if you have or had Covid and how to protect yourself and others.

Cruise industry reaction

As you might imagine, the cruise industry welcomed this change by the CDC.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) issued a statement following the removal of the warning, "Today’s decision by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to altogether remove the Travel Health Notice for cruising recognizes the effective public health measures in place on cruise ships and begins to level the playing field, between cruise and similarly situated venues on land, for the first time since  March 2020."

"From the onset of the pandemic, CLIA’s cruise line members have prioritized the health and safety of their guests, crew, and the communities they visit and are sailing today with health measures in place that are unmatched by virtually any other commercial setting."

A full circle for the CDC

Throughout the previous two years, the CDC and the cruise industry have been at odds with views of how safe going on a cruise ship is due to Covid-19.

Following the cruise industry voluntarily shutting down in March 2020, the CDC banned cruise ship travel in the United States. This ban would remain in place for many months while the CDC and cruise industry worked to craft new regulations to ensure its return would be safe for all guests, crew members, and the communities ships visit.

There was a lot of back and forth, and the CDC held the cruise ships to a different standard from other forms of leisure travel.

Following the Omicron variant, the CDC began relaxing its view of risks of going on a cruise ship. The CDC lowered its warning level, while at the same time relaxing health protocols.

Royal Caribbean has released its Covid-19 health protocols for cruises sailing to Alaska, including ships that sail from Vancouver.

The Alaska cruise season is set to begin soon, and Royal Caribbean has released the pre-cruise & onboard Covid health requirements for passengers.

The protocols differ slightly if your ship embarks in Vancouver or Seattle.

The latest protocols are for guests cruising to Alaska from the U.S. and from Vancouver, British Columbia through May 31, 2022. 

Vaccines

All guests 12 and older must be fully vaccinated.

Children aged 5 to 11 are not required to be vaccinated. However, kids who have been vaccinated may present proof and follow the fully vaccinated protocols. 

All crew members onboard will be fully vaccinated. 

Royal Caribbean will not accept a Certificate of Recovery in the place of a vaccination record.

Testing

Testing is required to enter Canada and to board the ship. These requirements vary depending on guests’ age and vaccination status.

• Pre-Cruise: All guests 2 years and older must present a negative COVID-19 test result to board the ship.
  • Vaccinated guests: PCR or antigen test must be taken no more than 2 days prior to sailing.
  • Unvaccinated children ages 2 to 11: PCR test must be taken no more than 3 days prior to sailing — but not on boarding day. Antigen tests are not accepted for unvaccinated guests.
  • Pre-cruise testing costs and scheduling are the guest's responsibility.
• Certificate of Recovery: Instead of a negative pre-cruise test, a Certificate of Recovery and a positive PCR test taken between 11-90 days prior to our sail date can be provided to sail with us.
• Embarkation Day: Unvaccinated guests ages 2 to 11 will take a complimentary antigen test for COVID-19 during check-in. Registration details will be sent via email in advance. 
• Prior to Entering Canada: Unvaccinated guests 5 to 11 years old will take a complimentary antigen test onboard prior to visiting or debarking in Canada.

For sailings debarking in Seattle, Washington or Seward, Alaska: Unvaccinated guests age 2 – 11 years will take a complimentary antigen test onboard no more than 1 day before arrival to the U.S. 

Guests under 2 years of age will not be tested.

Testing for Cruisetour Guests

Passengers that booked an add-on tour before or after their cruise in Alaska (known as a cruisetour) have additional testing requirements.

• Royal Caribbean Cruisetour guests need to take a COVID-19 test on their own, at guest's expense, before the land-tour portion of your Cruisetour.
• Vaccinated guests must show a negative result for a PCR or antigen test taken no more than 2 days before the day the land tour starts. Kids age 5 to 11 who have been vaccinated may present proof of full vaccination and follow the testing protocols for vaccinated guests.
• Unvaccinated kids age 2 to 11 must show a negative test result for a PCR test (not antigen) taken no more than 3 days before the day the land tour starts.
• Guests under 2 years of age do not need to complete a pre-Cruisetour test.

Cruisetour guests will also need to complete the pre-cruise testing to board the ship in addition to the pre-tour testing. Vaccinated guests are advised to bring an eMed test kit with them on their Cruisetour to meet the pre-cruise testing requirement.

For vaccinated guests without a test kit or unvaccinated kids age 2-11 in need of a PCR test, a testing provider in Anchorage will be available to test guests at their own expense.

Details on how to register for testing in Anchorage will be provided by your Cruisetour guide.

Excursions

There are no restrictions on which tours passengers can book in Alaska, regardless of vaccination status.

Royal Caribbean is still "working closely with local government and health authorities to finalize protocols and requirements for going ashore in Canadian ports of call."

Masks

Masks are optional for fully vaccinated guests.

Royal Caribbean expects unvaccinated children to continue wearing masks indoors and in crowded settings.

Masks are required for all children age 2 years and older while at the Adventure Ocean youth program.

Guests under 2 years do not have to wear a mask at any time. 

Documentation

In addition to bringing a passport, Covid-19 vaccination card, and a Covid-19 test result, there's one additional piece of documentation passengers should bring for all sailings from Seattle, Seward and Vancouver.

All travelers to Canada, or their legal guardians, must download the ArriveCAN app or complete the mandatory travel information via the ArriveCAN website prior to your entry into Canada.

This applies whether guests are departing on their cruise from Canada, ending the cruise in Canada, or visiting the country as a port of call.

Royal Caribbean says they are working with the Canadian government to make this process easier for guests arriving by cruise ship, and will ensure guests have guidance to complete this process smoothly onboard. 

More information

• Top 10 tips for planning your Alaska cruise
• What is the cheapest month to go on a cruise?
• What is the best time to cruise to Alaska?

With Royal Caribbean's European cruise season just weeks away from beginning, the cruise line has begun to publish its health protocols for cruises in the region.

Guests with cruises booked in Europe this summer have been anxious to know what the onboard experience will be like, as well as what changes they can expect. 

Royal Caribbean has been cautious with announcing protocols, as government regulations and health expert recommendations have been changing regularly. But the first set of protocols for cruisers is starting to emerge.

Royal Caribbean informed passengers on its transatlantic sailings, as well as cruises from Copenhagen, Denmark, of what to expect for Covid protocols.  Protocols for other ships sailing in Europe in 2022 are expected soon.

Royal Caribbean also added that these protocols are subject to change due to evolving government regulations in the region.

Here's a look at the first protocols released so far on Royal Caribbean's website.

Transatlantic

Royal Caribbean has released protocols for guests sailing from U.S. to Europe on Transatlantic cruises.

These apply to the following sailings:

• April 20, 2022 Wonder of the Seas sailing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Barcelona, Spain
• April 23, 2022 Odyssey of the Seas sailing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Rome, Italy
• April 29, 2022 Vision of the Seas sailing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Barcelona, Spain
• April 29, 2022 Jewel of the Seas sailing from Miami, Florida to Amsterdam, Netherlands
• May 2, 2022 Anthem of the Seas sailing from Cape Liberty, New Jersey to Southampton, U.K.

Vaccination

For transatlantic sailings, all guests, regardless of age, must be fully vaccinated. Guests who do not meet this requirement, including unvaccinated children under age 12, will not be permitted to board a transatlantic sailing departing from the U.S. to Europe.

Additionally, all crew members onboard will be fully vaccinated.

Testing

Depending on where your ship sails to, the testing requirements are different.

Most transatlantic guests must show a negative result for a PCR or antigen test taken no more than 1 day before boarding day. This is due to a requirement from the government of Spain for ships that visit the country.

Guests on the May 2nd Anthem of the Seas sailing to the U.K. will have 2 days to complete this test.

During the cruise, guests 12 and older who are considered unvaccinated by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or who are not up-to-date with their vaccines will require additional testing during the sailing depending on itinerary. 

Masks

Masks are optional for vaccinated guests onboard. Masks will be required in Adventure Ocean, in the terminal, and may be required at various destinations.

Excursions

Fully vaccinated guests can visit most ports of call freely. Depending on their itinerary, guests who are not up-to-date with their vaccines/ boosters may require multiple tests to disembark in ports of call.

Cruises from Copenhagen, Denmark

Voyager of the Seas will sail from Copenhagen in the summer of 2022.

Vaccination

All Royal Caribbean guests aged 12 and older must present proof of full COVID-19 vaccination approved by the WHO or EMA, with the final dose administered at least 14 days before sailing.

Children aged 11 and under do not require COVID-19 vaccination to cruise. However, kids aged 5 to 11 who have been vaccinated may present proof of full vaccination and follow the protocols for vaccinated guests. 

All crew onboard the ship are fully vaccinated and receive a booster dose as they become eligible.

Testing

Sailings longer than 10 nights may have additional onboard testing requirements.

Pre-cruise

Besides what Royal Caribbean requires, non-EU or Schengen visitors must present a negative Covid-19 antigen test taken within 24 hours of their flight departure time.

Prior to embarkation day, fully vaccinated guests will need to show a negative result for an antigen test taken no more than two days before boarding day.

Unvaccinated kids age 2 to 11 will take a complimentary test when checking in at the terminal.

During the cruise

Depending on their itinerary, guests who are not up-to-date with their vaccines/ boosters or whose vaccine is not approved by the EMA, may require multiple tests and curated shore excursions to disembark in ports of call.

For sailings from Copenhagen, this currently includes guests age 12 and above for the rest of Europe.

Prior to disembarkation

Guests age 15 and above not up-to-date with their vaccines/ boosters , will take an antigen test within two days of disembarkation day. Guests will be notified onboard about how to register for this test.

Guests under 2 years of age do not need to complete a pre-cruise test.

Masks

Masks are optional for fully vaccinated guests.

Masks are required for all children age 2 and older while at the Adventure Ocean youth program. Guests under 2 do not have to wear a mask at any time. 

Excursions

Fully vaccinated guests can visit most ports of call freely. Depending on their itinerary, guests who are not up-to-date with their vaccines/ boosters may require multiple tests to disembark in ports of call.