Florida Homeport AUGUST 2021 Departures - Protocol

VACCINATION RECOMMENDATION on ROYAL CARIBBEAN

We strongly recommend all guests 12 years and older be fully vaccinated which means:

The final dose was administered at least 14 days before sailing
Proof of vaccination (such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) COVID-19 vaccination record card) will be presented

Fully vaccinated guests have no further testing or insurance requirements to sail with us.

Unvaccinated Guests 12 years and Older

Guests who are 12 years and older and do not have or are unable to provide vaccination documentation will be considered unvaccinated and will have additional testing at their own expense and must follow health and safety protocols described below, including:

Negative results from a pre-arrival PCR test for COVID-19
A PCR test at the terminal
Onboard antigen testing
Mid-cruise antigen test [For sailings 6 nights or longer]
Disembarkation antigen testing
Travel insurance requirements
Shore excursions required to visit ports
Additional health protocols onboard

See below for more information on these tests and protocols. If guests do not wish to undergo or pay for additional testing and insurance, or adhere to these health and safety protocols, we are happy to provide a refund for the cruise. We believe that in the coming months, restrictions and requirements will be more accommodating as public health circumstances evolve.

Unvaccinated Guests 2-11 Years Old

Children not yet eligible for the vaccine will undergo additional testing at no additional charge, as well as additional health and safety protocols, including:

A PCR test for COVID-19 at the terminal
Onboard antigen testing
Disembarkation antigen testing
Shore excursions required to visit ports
Additional health protocols onboard

DOCUMENTS TO BRING

All guests: A Passport Book or Passport Card, valid for at least six months after the cruise, is strongly recommended. If guests do not have a Passport, they may present a state-certified U.S. Birth Certificate (not a “baby feet” hospital certificate or baptismal paper). Guests 16 years and older that present a Birth Certificate will also need to provide a valid Driver’s License or picture ID issued by the government.
Vaccinated guests: COVID-19 vaccination record card with the final dose given at least 14 days before sailing.
Unvaccinated guests 12 and older: A negative COVID-19 PCR test result taken within three days of boarding and proof of travel insurance

TESTING REQUIREMENTS AND COST FOR UNVACCINATED GUESTS

As a requirement to sail with us, all unvaccinated guests must undergo multiple COVID-19 tests as described below. Testing at the terminal prior to embarkation and onboard prior to disembarkation will be conducted by licensed and accredited third-party testing providers we have contracted. Our unvaccinated guests must register for this testing and agree to the third-party testing provider terms and conditions. Registration details will be sent via email in advance.

The total charge for unvaccinated guests 12 years and older from the third-party testing vendor for these tests is $136 USD per guest for sailings 5 nights or less and $178 USD per guest for sailings 6 nights or longer. This amount will be applied to the guest’s onboard expense account. Royal Caribbean will pay the testing vendor(s) on the guest’s behalf and will not retain any part of the testing costs. For children 2 to 11 years not yet eligible to be vaccinated, we will cover the cost of any required testing.

Pre-Cruise

Unvaccinated guests 12 years and older will need to undergo a PCR test for COVID-19 administered by an accredited laboratory of the guest’s choice and taken within three days of boarding. We will require documentation of a negative result for this test prior to embarkation. All costs for this test are the unvaccinated guest’s responsibility.

At the Terminal

Unvaccinated guests 2 years of age and older are required to take a rapid PCR test when checking in at the terminal, which will be administered by one of our testing vendors. Registration details will be sent via email in advance.

Mid-Cruise [For sailings 6 nights or longer]

Unvaccinated guests 12 years and older will take an antigen test onboard mid-way through the cruise. Registration details will be provided onboard.

Prior to Disembarking

While onboard, unvaccinated guests 2 years and older will be required to undergo antigen testing the day before the cruise ends. This test will be conducted by one of our testing vendors. Registration details will be provided onboard.

INSURANCE REQUIREMENT

As a condition of boarding, each unvaccinated guest 12 years and older departing from a Florida homeport on a Royal Caribbean International cruise must provide proof of a valid insurance policy that has a minimum of (a) $25,000 per person in medical expense coverage and (b) $50,000 coverage for emergency medical evacuation and no COVID-19 exclusions.

The insurance policy must name the unvaccinated guest as the policy holder or beneficiary and may be purchased from a travel insurance company of the guest’s choosing or through the Royal Caribbean Travel Protection Program, which includes this coverage. Insurance is required for sailings from August 1 through December 31, 2021 (except for bookings made between March 19, 2021 and June 28, 2021).

GOING ASHORE

At ports of call, fully vaccinated parties have the choice of booking a shore excursion or visiting freely. Parties that wish to go ashore and include any unvaccinated guests, including parents traveling with unvaccinated children, must book a shore excursion through Royal Caribbean that is provided by an independent local tour operator that has agreed to comply with recommended health protocols. Vaccinated parents wishing to go ashore freely can visit our youth facilities once onboard to learn about drop off program hours and availability, and reserve time for their child on the day they wish to go in port.

Shore excursions may be purchased in advance on the Cruise Planner website. Once onboard, they can be purchased at the shore excursions desk or by using the Royal Caribbean app. All guests are also subject to restrictions and requirements as defined by local authorities in the ports we visit.

No tours are required for any guests to go ashore at our private destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE CRUISE

If guests have cruised with us before, they will notice some changes. Royal Caribbean, like all cruise companies sailing from U.S. ports, is guided by CDC regulations which currently govern many aspects of our operations. On the sailing, most guests (and all our crew) will be vaccinated and those that aren’t are primarily children. While we are ready to give all our guests an amazing vacation, we do want to share some details about the experience, so our guests know what to expect.

Please note, a guest’s SeaPass card will be required to access lounges, shows, and dining venues, so it’s best to keep it handy at all times during the cruise.

Face Masks and Physical Distancing

When indoors, CDC guidelines require all guests 2 years and older to wear masks unless actively eating or drinking. The CDC makes allowances for guests to remove their masks in venues and events dedicated to fully vaccinated parties. Since so many of our guests are vaccinated, there will be plenty of these opportunities.
Masks are not required in one’s own stateroom when with his/her traveling party, outside on the open decks, or at Perfect Day at CocoCay, unless in a crowded setting. Updates will be provided as changes to CDC mask guidelines occur.
Guests will find the entire ship and boarding process set up to allow for physical distancing, which is encouraged whenever interacting with those outside of one’s traveling party.

Dining

For Main Dining, we will designate areas for everyone, including parents and unvaccinated children, and areas for vaccinated parties only. My Time Dining will not be available to parties that include unvaccinated guests.
Some specialty restaurants will be open to everyone, while others will be for vaccinated parties only. If a buffet is preferred, Windjammer will be open to everyone for breakfast and lunch, and the food will be served by our crew. We recommend that guests make dining reservations via Cruise Planner in advance of the cruise or the Royal Caribbean app once onboard. Grab-and-go cafes will also be available for everyone.

Bars and Lounges

Many bars and lounges will be open to everyone and others will be available to vaccinated guests only. There will be crew stationed nearby and signage to help direct guests.

Casino

Given the casino’s physical constraints, there is not enough space to accommodate everyone. Since most of our adult guests are vaccinated, the casino will be open to vaccinated guests only.

Fitness and Spa

The Fitness Center will have dedicated operating hours for everyone, as well as hours reserved for vaccinated guests only. Salon services will be available to everyone but given the enclosed space and longer length of spa services, the treatment rooms used to provide facials, massages and other services will only be available to vaccinated guests.

Entertainment

Entertainment venues will offer spaced seating and more showtimes throughout your cruise. Select showtimes will be for everyone and other showtimes for vaccinated guests only. Be sure to make show reservations once onboard using the Royal Caribbean app.

Diamond Lounge for Loyalty Members

The Diamond Lounge will be open and operating at 50 percent capacity to allow for physical distancing.

Adventure Ocean and Teen Lounges

Youth spaces will be open to all children and teens.

If you/your clients have questions about these protocols or have any concerns about sailing as a result of them, please contact us. We will gladly answer your questions or work with you to reschedule or refund your client’s cruise.

Please note that health protocols are expected to change over time. Guidance for other ports and sailings is still in development with federal, state, and local authorities. We will update you as protocols change.

Venue Grids for Reference:

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