Below are the current health protocols for our guests. Due to the uncertain global situation, our protocols may change and we are committed to notifying our guests and partners immediately. Future protocols may require booster vaccinations, shorter duration of vaccination, and changes in testing requirements. Where possible we will provide advance notice of any changes. Likewise, we will notify you if any requirements are simplified or eliminated.
These protocols include the rules and requirements for guests departing on a cruise between now and May 31, 2022 from applicable ports of departure. If your port is not listed, logs for it will be published later.
from Spain
The protocols outlined here apply to shipments from Spanish ports. We will continue to update these protocols as the public health situation evolves. Guests who have booked a cruise will be provided with complete information prior to departure.
These protocols are relevant for the following shipments
Vision of the Seas May 13 and May 21, 2022
Wonder of the Seas May 8, May 15, May 22, May 29, 2022
Vaccination and testing requirements
Vaccination
- All guests over 12 years of age must be fully vaccinated and must receive their final dose at least 14 days prior to departure.
- In addition, for a vaccine to be considered “current”, guests must have received all doses in their vaccine series and received a booster dose if the second vaccine was administered more than 270 days (9 months) ago.
- Vaccinations are not required for guests aged 5 to 11 years. However, children who have been fully vaccinated may present certificates and follow protocols for vaccinated guests. Children with one dose of vaccine are not considered fully vaccinated.
- Important: we are NOTWe will accept a certificate of a person who has been ill as proof of vaccination
Entry rules
- Before traveling, it is important that guests review the travel advisories issued by each country they plan to visit during their cruise. Failure to comply with each requirement will result in denial of boarding.
- All guests traveling to Spain will be required to complete the FCS Health Control Form prior to entering Spain.
Testing
Before the cruise
- Guests whose vaccine is considered “current” must provide a COVID-19 test result (PCR or antigen) taken no earlier than 2 daysbefore departure
- Guests whose vaccine is NOT considered “current” must provide a COVID-19 test result (PCR or antigen) taken no earlier than 1 day before departure
Boarding the plane
All unvaccinated guests between the ages of 2 and 11 will be required to take an antigen test on the day of boarding at the terminal and receive a negative result in order to travel on a cruise.
On board
- Guests who are considered unvaccinated by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or whose vaccines are not considered “up-to-date” will require additional testing during the cruise. This test is at the guest’s expense if they are 12 years of age or older at a cost of $55 per test. These guests will receive registration information upon arrival on board as per the information below.
- During the cruise: Depending on our itinerary, guests aged 12 years or older – or 6 years or older in Italian ports – must will take additional tests.
- Before disembarkation: Guests over 12 years of age must take a test subject to the conditions described above before the end of the cruise.
- Guests under 2 years old do not need to take tests
Masks
Masks are optional for vaccinated guests, but are required on board for unvaccinated children ages 2 and older. Masks will be required at the Adventure Ocean Kids Club, at the cruise terminal and may be required at various ports of call. These protocols are subject to change.
Landing
Fully vaccinated visitors are free to travel to most cities. Depending on the itinerary, guests whose vaccination status is not “up to date” may require multiple tests before disembarking at ports of call.
All guests disembarking must continue to follow local health and safety guidelines at each port of call. Excursions booked through Royal Caribbean follow our health guidelines and are available at a variety of prices.
Restaurants
Guests can make dining reservations through the Cruise Planner portal or through the app while on board
Entertainment
Guests can reserve seats for the show via the app while on board
What to take with you
Document checklist
- The health questionnaire must be completed in our Royal Caribbean app the day before boarding.
- Passport/European ID is required for all guests, valid for at least 6 months after the date of return. EU citizens can also present their European ID.
- All guests 12 years of age and older must provide proof of vaccination. Acceptable proof of vaccination must be in the form of an original vaccination record issued by your country’s health authority or health care provider who administered the vaccination, and the full vaccination cycle must have been completed at least 14 days prior to sailing. Guests residing in the EU are advised to present an EU Digital COVID-19 Certificate.
- A negative test result must be presented by all vaccinated guests upon arrival at port.
- All guests must complete an FCS health screening form before entering Spain.
- Proof of residence may be required for guests traveling with a passport/European ID issued in a country other than their country of residence.
from Italy
The protocols outlined here apply to shipments from Italian ports. We will continue to update these protocols as the public health situation evolves. Guests who have booked a cruise will be provided with complete information prior to departure.
These protocols are relevant for the following shipments
Rome:
Brilliance of the Seas May 9, 2022
Odyssey of the Seas May 7, May 16, May 25, 2022
Ravenna:
Brilliance of the Seas May 15, May 22, May 29, 2022
Rome – interporting:
Wonder of the Seas May 12, May 19, May 26, 2022
Vaccination and testing requirements
Vaccination
- All guests over 12 years of age must be fully vaccinated and must receive their final dose at least 14 days prior to departure.
- In addition, for a vaccine to be considered “current”, guests must have received all doses in their vaccine series and received a booster dose if the second vaccine was administered more than 270 days (9 months) ago.
- Vaccinations are not required for guests aged 5 to 11 years. However, children who have been fully vaccinated may present certificates and follow protocols for vaccinated guests. Children with one dose of vaccine are not considered fully vaccinated.
- Important: we NOT will accept a survivor’s certificate as proof of vaccination
Entry rules
- Before traveling, it is important that guests review the travel advisories issued by each country they plan to visit during their cruise. Failure to comply with each requirement will result in denial of boarding.
- All guests over 6 years of age traveling to Italy will be required to complete a health screening form, the European Passenger Locator Form (PLF) prior to entry into Italy.
Testing
Before the cruise
- Guests whose vaccine is considered “current” must provide a COVID-19 test result (PCR or antigen) taken no earlier than 1 day before departure
Boarding the plane
- Guests over 2 years of age who are considered unvaccinated or whose vaccine is not considered “current” will be required to take an antigen test at the port upon boarding
- This test will be free for children from 2 to 11 years old
- Guests over 2 years of age who are considered unvaccinated or whose vaccine is not considered “up-to-date” will be required to take the test at their own expense at a cost of $55
On board
- Guests who are considered unvaccinated by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or whose vaccines are not considered “up-to-date” will require additional testing during the cruise. This test is at the guest’s expense if they are 12 years of age or older at a cost of $55 per test. These guests will receive registration information upon arrival on board as per the information below.
- During the cruise: Depending on our itinerary, guests aged 12 years or older – or 6 years or older in Italian and Greek ports – will be required to take additional tests.
- Before Disembarkation: Guests over 6 years of age who meet the conditions described above must take a test before the end of the cruise.
- Guests under 2 years old do not need to take tests
Masks
Masks are optional for vaccinated guests, but are required on board for unvaccinated children ages 2 and older. Masks will be required at the Adventure Ocean Kids Club, at the cruise terminal and may be required at various ports of call. These protocols are subject to change.
Landing
Fully vaccinated visitors are free to travel to most cities. Depending on the itinerary, guests whose vaccination status is not “up to date” may require multiple tests before disembarking at ports of call.
All guests disembarking must continue to follow local health and safety guidelines at each port of call. Excursions booked through Royal Caribbean follow our health guidelines and are available at a variety of prices.
Restaurants
Guests can make dining reservations through the Cruise Planner portal or through the app while on board
Entertainment
Guests can reserve seats for the show via the app while on board
What to take with you
Document checklist
- The health questionnaire must be completed in our Royal Caribbean app the day before boarding.
- A passport/European ID is required for all guests, valid for at least 6 months after the date of return. EU citizens can also present their European ID.
- All guests 12 years of age and older must provide proof of vaccination. Acceptable proof of vaccination must be in the form of an original vaccination record issued by your country’s health authority or health care provider who administered the vaccination, and the full vaccination cycle must have been completed at least 14 days prior to sailing. Guests residing in the EU are advised to present an EU Digital COVID-19 Certificate.
- A negative test result must be presented by all vaccinated guests upon arrival at port.
- All guests over 6 years of age must complete a European Passenger Locator Form before entering Italy.
- Proof of residence may be required for guests traveling with a passport/European ID issued in a country other than their country of residence.
Vaccine requirements
What vaccines are accepted by Royal Caribbean?
Royal Caribbean accepts vaccines that are fully approved or authorized for emergency use by the US FDA or the World Health Organization. All doses of your vaccine must be from the same manufacturer and type (eg, mRNA) in the required number of doses for full vaccination (eg, 2 doses of Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, etc. or 1 shot of Johnson & Johnson vaccine). A guest is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after completion of vaccination.
We strongly encourage fully vaccinated guests to get their booster vaccine as soon as they are able to do so.
Sm. US FDA approved vaccines.
Sm. authorized vaccines by the World Health Organization
Vaccine policies may change as we monitor evolving public health guidance and government regulations.
Vaccination requirements in Europe
All Royal Caribbean guests 12 years of age and older must provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination, with the last dose administered at least 14 days prior to departure.
To have the best possible cruise experience in Europe, we strongly recommend that guests aged 6 years and older have a “current” COVID-19 vaccination and be prepared to present a certificate showing all doses, including their initial vaccination series, as well as any booster doses they may have received.
According to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), vaccine up-to-date means that you have received the second dose of the original vaccine series or a booster dose within the last 270 days and that you have been vaccinated with an EMA-approved product: Pfizer, Moderna , Johnson & Johnson, Novavax (Nuvaxovid, Covovax) or Astrazeneca; or with a vaccine approved by the World Health Organization. These standards apply to guests 12 years of age or older (or 6 years of age or older for visits to Italy).
If you require a booster dose, it will be taken immediately after your shot. Guests whose last jab was administered more than 270 days ago will be required to undergo testing on board in order to disembark at certain ports.
Some countries only accept guests vaccinated with an EMA-approved vaccine. Guests aged 12 years and older (or 6 years and older for Italy and Greece) who have received a vaccine from another manufacturer will be considered unvaccinated and will be required to undergo additional testing before disembarking at these ports.
Children 11 years of age and younger are not required to have a COVID-19 vaccination for a cruise. However, children ages 5 to 11 who have been vaccinated may show proof of full vaccination and follow protocols for vaccinated guests.
To board the ship, the guest must confirm receipt of at least two doses of a WHO or EMA approved vaccine, unless the guest has received a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson. No exceptions will be made even if the guest’s country of residence has authorized a single dose, two-dose vaccine regimen. Please note: Only EMA approved vaccines are accepted for cruises departing from Italy. Guests who have been vaccinated with a WHO-approved non-EMA vaccine will follow protocols for unvaccinated guests.
Royal Caribbean will not accept a Certificate of Recovery/Certificate of Recovery in lieu of a Vaccination Certificate for guests over the age required for vaccination.
All crew members aboard the ship are fully vaccinated and are receiving booster doses as they are eligible.
Mixed vaccines from different manufacturers
We accept mixed vaccinations consisting of doses from different manufacturers, provided that your vaccine lot meets the following requirements:
- Guests must receive at least two doses of vaccines that have been fully approved or authorized for emergency use by the U.S. FDA or the World Health Organization.
- Two doses should be given at least 28 days apart*.
- The last dose must be given at least 14 days before departure.
Mixed vaccines are not accepted at all ports of call. Guests who have been vaccinated with a mixed batch may not be allowed to go ashore at these ports or may be required to undergo additional testing if they wish to go ashore.
For routes departing from Bridgetown, Barbados, we will accept a mixed-dose mRNA vaccine consisting of one dose of Pfizer and one dose of Moderna, as long as the doses are given at least 28 days apart. Mixed vaccine regimens from brands other than Pfizer and Moderna are not permitted for this route.
How long is my vaccine valid for? Do I need to get a booster or booster shot before departure?
We strongly encourage fully vaccinated guests to get their booster vaccine as soon as they are able to do so, however it is not required at this time.
All of our fully vaccinated crew members will receive a booster vaccine as soon as they are able to do so (6 months after the last dose).
There is currently no guidance from vaccine manufacturers or US government agencies indicating an expiration date for fully vaccinated status.
We will continue to follow CDC guidance regarding full vaccination status and vaccine boosters and will communicate any changes to guests and post updated protocols as the situation evolves.
If I travel within Europe and are considered unvaccinated by EMA standards, which countries will I need to undergo additional testing in order to disembark? Which countries only accept EMA-approved vaccines?
Guests aged 12 years and older (or 6 years and older in some countries as specified below) with an out-of-date vaccination status will be required to undergo additional testing on board before disembarking at the ports listed below. For guests 12 years of age and older, the cost of the test is $55 per test, paid by each guest. Any required testing for children aged 6 to 11 years is free:
- Belgium
- Cyprus
- Denmark
- Estonia
- France
- Germany
- Greece (for guests over 6 years old)
- Ireland
- Italy (for guests over 6 years old)
- Latvia
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- Portugal
In addition, some countries will only recognize guests vaccinated with an EMA-approved vaccine. In these countries, guests who have been vaccinated with a non-EMA approved product will be required to undergo additional testing on board before disembarking at the ports listed below. For guests 12 years of age and older, the cost of the test is $55 per test, paid by each guest. Any required testing for children aged 6 to 11 years is free:
- Malta
- Italy (also accepts Covishield)
- France
- Portugal
- Gibraltar
- Belgium (also accepts Covishield)
- Germany
List of approved vaccines:
