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
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.
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?
At this time both vaccinated and unvaccinated guests are required to wear masks indoors unless seated and actively eating or drinking. Masks are not required in your stateroom when you are with your traveling party, outdoors, or at Perfect Day at CocoCay, unless in a crowded setting. Guests under the age of 2 years do not need to wear a mask.
Things to know:
- Masks won’t be required for vaccinated guests when in venues or at events designated for vaccinated guests only.
- In the coming days, we are expecting updated guidance from the CDC on mask policies for vaccinated guests and will update you at that time.
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:
- Guests must follow the health protocols for every port 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.
Royal Caribbean has not yet made an announcement about how buffets will operate.
Things to know:
- The HVAC system continuously supplies 100% fresh, filtered air from outdoors to all indoor spaces
- New sanitization protocols use EPA-certified disinfectants and techniques like electrostatic fogging to clean frequently and consistently
- More doctors and nurses on each ship and state-of-the-art equipment enhancements. And in the event of a suspected case of COVID-19, we’re fully prepared with immediate medical evaluations, rapid testing, and more critical care beds on each ship
- 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