Great news! Royal Caribbean will be back in the water in the US starting in July! We are your resource for the most up to date information around vaccination & testing requirements, whether you will need a mask, taking shore excursions, and health & safety measurements taken by the cruise line.
Do I need a vaccine to travel on a Royal Caribbean cruise?
U.S. Departures requiring vaccines
Royal Caribbean International recommends that guests age 16 and older get fully vaccinated.
The following sailings require vaccinations for any guest age 16 and older (Starting August 1, the age requirement for vaccination changes from 16 to 12 years of age)
- Nassau, Bahamas departures on Adventure of the Seas®
- Galveston, Texas departures on Independence of the Seas®
- Seattle, Washington departures on Ovation of the Seas® and Serenade of the Seas®
Guests under the age of this requirement don’t need to be vaccinated and will receive a SARS-Cov-2 test before boarding. If a guest younger than the age requirement happens to be fully vaccinated, they should bring their original vaccination record card to board and should follow all vaccinated guest protocols while boarding and throughout their vacation.
U.S. Departures NOT requiring vaccines
The following sailings do not require vaccinations, but Royal Caribbean strongly recommends all guests 16+ be fully vaccinated.
- Miami, Florida departures on Freedom of the Seas® in July 2021
- Ft Lauderdale, Florida, July departures on Odyssey of the Seas® in July 2021
At check-in, guests will be asked to provide documentation of their vaccination, such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card. Those who are 16 and older and do not have or are unable to provide documentation will be considered unvaccinated.
Our unvaccinated guests must undergo additional COVID-19 testing at their own expense, and follow the health protocols described below, which are based on guidance from the CDC.
All crew onboard Freedom of the Seas and Odyssey of the Seas will be fully vaccinated.
Travel Insurance Requirement for Unvaccinated Guests - Florida Based Ships 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.
Royal Caribbean will ask fully vaccinated guests to provide documentation of vaccination before boarding (for example, a U.S. CDC vaccination card). A guest who is either unvaccinated or cannot provide documentation of vaccination will be considered unvaccinated and must undergo SARS-CoV-2 testing and adhere to all additional health protocols.
What COVID-19 Vaccine is accepted?
Vaccines that are fully approved or authorized for emergency use by a national regulatory authority (such as the U.S. FDA), or global health organization (such as the World Health Organization) are accepted. Please be aware that certain countries we sail from or visit during a voyage may require a specific vaccine, and only those travelers vaccinated with the requisite vaccine will be considered fully vaccinated. Be sure to review your departure country's requirements or consult our guest materials prior to sailing for these requirements.
What proof of Vaccine do I need to provide?
In order to present proof of vaccination for our cruises, the guest must show eligible documentation on boarding day at the terminal in the form of the vaccination record issued by either (1) the country’s health authority that administered the vaccination (e.g., U.S. CDC's Vaccination Record Card) (2) electronic vaccination records where country policy requires the use of electronic documentation via app or health agency site (e.g. UK NHS App, NHS Certificate, Israel Green Pass, EU Digital COVID Certificate), or (3) a letter from the guest's medical provider that administered the vaccination, which meets the following criteria:
- The Proof of Vaccination must include the name of the vaccinated person matching the registered cruise guest with date of birth (DoB), the dates of the completed vaccination cycle, the administering physical or medical services provider, and the manufacturer of the vaccine issued.
- The full vaccination cycle must be completed at least 14 days before your sail date (e.g., received the second dose in a two-dose series such as Pfizer or Moderna or a single dose of J&J).
- The vaccine is recognized and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) and/or the World Health Organization (WHO).
NOTE: Royal Caribbean will accept a laminated original vaccine card from your country’s health authority as acceptable proof of vaccination, providing it meets all the aforementioned criteria.
We do not collect vaccination cards or store proof of vaccination. Those cruise lines that have vaccine requirements to cruise will likely ask for proof at the time of boarding.
Vaccine and Testing Requirements
- Vaccination: All guests 16 years and older are required to bring proof of vaccination, such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) COVID-19 vaccination record card, with the final dose of the vaccine completed at least 14 days before sailing.
- Testing: At the terminal: Unvaccinated guests ages 2 to 15 years are required to take a PCR test for COVID-19 when checking in at the terminal. Registration details for this test will be sent via email in advance.
- Prior to disembarking: Unvaccinated guests ages 2 to 15 years are required to take an antigen test onboard within 24 hours of the end of voyage. Vaccinated guests who require an antigen or PCR test for entry into their destination country may receive one onboard at no charge. Registration details will be provided during the cruise.
Dining & Lounges
- 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 before the cruise or the Royal Caribbean app once onboard. Grab-and-go cafes will also be available for everyone.
Other Venues
- Theaters and activity venues will offer spaced seating with options for everyone and for vaccinated guests only. Be sure to make show reservations once onboard using the Royal Caribbean app.
- Spa services, except those offered in treatment rooms, are available to everyone and the Fitness Center will be open to everyone at designated times. The Casino will be open to vaccinated guests only.
- Youth spaces will be open to all children and teens.
- The Fitness Center will have dedicated operating hours for everyone, as well as hours reserved for vaccinated guests only.
- The Casino will be open to vaccinated guests only.
International Requirements:
Bahamas:
- Vaccines required for guests 18 years of age and older
- Negative PCR Test Results for all guests regardless of age or vaccination
- A health visa will be required for entry into the Bahamas
- The cost will be absorbed by the guest initially and, upon boarding, an onboard credit will be loaded to each guest’s onboard account to assist in funding
- Royal Caribbean Health Questionnaire, available in the app 24 hours before sailing
- Bahamas Health Visa is required for entry by the local government for all guests 18 years and older. Guests under 18 years need to be added to a parent or guardian’s visa profile.
- Passport Books (not cards) are needed for all guests with validity of at least 6 months after sailing’s return date.
Cyprus:
- For guests 18 years of age and older, proof of being fully vaccinated for COVID-19
- Proof of vaccine must indicate that the full cycle of required dose(s) was administered at least 14 days prior to the sail date
- Travelers aged 12 years and older from United States must have a negative COVID-19 PCR test result from a test taken within 72 hours before departure to Cyprus
- Cyprus Flight Pass within 24 hours prior to departure
- Completed Royal Caribbean Health Questionnaire, available in the app 24 hours before sailing
- Typical travel documents, including passport or any visas as required by the departure country
Royal Caribbean has not announced a vaccine or testing policy for other ships that might return to service in the coming months.
Things to know:
- Fully vaccinated means the final dose of the vaccine was administered 14 days prior to embarkation
- Starting August 1, the age requirement for vaccination changes from 16 to 12 years of age. Guests under the age of this requirement don’t need to be vaccinated and will receive a SARS-Cov-2 test before boarding. Booked guests will be provided details of travel requirements prior to sailing.
Please note that these guidelines are subject to change.
Do I need to wear a mask?
Vaccinated Guests
- Are not required to wear masks onboard or at Perfect Day at CocoCay. Masks may be required at the ports visited.
Unvaccinated Guests
- Are not required to wear masks in their stateroom, outside on open decks or at Perfect Day at CocoCay, unless in a crowded setting. Masks are not needed in the pool or for activities where they could become wet. Unvaccinated guests must wear masks indoors unless seated and actively eating or drinking. Masks may be required at the ports visited.
- Guests under the age of 2 years do not need to wear a mask.
Things to know:
- When indoors, CDC guidelines require all guests 2 years and older to wear masks unless they are actively eating or drinking. The CDC makes allowances for guests to remove their masks in venues and events dedicated to fully vaccinated parties. Masks are not required in your stateroom when with one’s traveling party or outside on the open decks, unless in a crowded setting. Should updates occur to our mask guidelines, we will update you.
Can I get off the ship at port?
According to the CDC's Conditional Sailing Order cruise ship operators, at their discretion, may advise passengers and crew that — if they are fully vaccinated — they may engage in self-guided or independent exploration during port stops, if they wear a mask while indoors. The cruise ship operator is additionally advised that foreign jurisdictions may have their own requirements.
Things to know:
- 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. These shore excursions may be purchased in advance on Cruise Planner or once onboard using the Royal Caribbean app.
- Fully vaccinated parties have the choice of booking a shore excursion or safely visiting the port freely. All guests are also subject to restrictions and requirements as defined by local authorities in the ports we visit.
These restrictions are under the control of local government and are subject to change without advance notice, so we encourage guests to come prepared for potential mask requirements ashore.
Health & Safety on the Ship
As we return to sea, your health and safety remains our top priority. We’ve partnered with expert medical and scientific minds to guide us in the development of comprehensive protocols to protect you and the ones you love. And we're working with local health authorities in our homeport countries to ensure our guests meet current inbound travel requirements. We’re continually evaluating these protocols and will make updates as public health standards evolve.
Buffets will be open to everyone for breakfast and lunch, and the food will be served by our crew. My Time Dining will not be available to parties that include unvaccinated guests.
Things to know:
- In the event a guest or crew member tests positive while we’re sailing, Royal Caribbean has partnered with local authorities to develop transport protocols to get you home safely.
- The Main Dining Room, which spans two decks, will have one deck for everyone, which includes parties with both vaccinated and unvaccinated guests, such as parents and unvaccinated children. The other deck will be for vaccinated parties.