With delta cases rising, Royal Caribbean to expand COVID-19 testing requirements
Adults soon will need to show a negative COVID-19 test in addition to proof of a COVID-19 vaccine to get on board some Royal Caribbean ships.
With Delta cases across the U.S. on a sharp upswing, the world's largest cruise line on Thursday said all passengers over the age of 2 on sailings of five nights or longer out of U.S. ports would need to provide such a negative COVID-19 test before boarding.
The new policy will be effective for departures on Saturday and beyond and remain in effect through at least Aug. 31.
Royal Caribbean said the test must be administered no more than three days prior to sailing and proof of negative results must be shown at check-in. The test can be an antigen test or a PCR test.
Royal Caribbean did not mention the rise in Delta cases specifically in its announcement but said in a statement to TPG that it was implementing the requirement "in an abundance of caution, and to ensure that our guests, crew and the communities we visit remain healthy."
Until now, Royal Caribbean only has been requiring unvaccinated passengers sailing out of U.S. ports to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test.
The requirement only has affected a small percentage of Royal Caribbean passengers as most Royal Caribbean passengers right now are vaccinated for COVID-19.
Royal Caribbean has been mandating that all passengers 16 years of age and older on sailings out of many U.S. ports show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination to sail, and the age cut-off will drop to 12 on Sunday. The only exception to this is for sailings out of Florida, where Royal Caribbean has responded to a state law outlawing vaccine mandates by loosening its vaccine requirement.
Still, even with the loosened rules in Florida, most cruisers sailing out of the state on Royal Caribbean ships are vaccinated for COVID-19 and thus have not needed to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test until now.
Royal Caribbean also has been requiring that passengers on ships sailing out of U.S. ports wear masks while in most interior areas of the vessels.
"All other testing requirements and policies are still in place," Royal Caribbean said in its statement. The new testing mandate is "an additional layer of precaution to ensure the safety of everyone onboard."
Royal Caribbean added that it would "continue to monitor public health circumstances as they evolve and make necessary adjustments to our protocols."
The added testing requirement at Royal Caribbean comes as other big vacation companies that operate in the U.S. begin adding more anti-COVID-19 measures, too. Resort giant Disney on Wednesday said it would again require visitors to wear masks while indoors and upon entering and throughout attractions at Walt Disney World in Florida, along with at Disneyland in California.
Royal Caribbean just resumed departures out of U.S. ports on July 2 with sailings out of Miami and soon is starting up sailings out of Fort Lauderdale and Port Canaveral, Florida, too. The line began sailings out of Seattle to Alaska on July 19 and soon will add sailings out of Galveston, Texas.
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
- The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
- The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
- 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
- 15 ways cruisers waste money
- 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
- What to pack for your first cruise
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.