RCI-Royal Caribbean removes pre-embarkation COVID testing

   July 29, 2022 ,   Cruise Industry

Royal Caribbean announced on Thursday, July 28, that it is no longer requiring vaccinated passengers to take a COVID test before embarking on cruises 6 nights or less.

The protocol goes into place starting August 8, 2022.

Cruise officials said any passengers departing before then have to adhere to the current protocols in place, which differ depending on where travelers are leaving from.

The cruise company will still require unvaccinated cruisers and vaccinated passengers embarking on voyages 6 nights or longer, to take a COVID test within 3 days of the departure date.

Royal Caribbean also announced it will continue to maintain a high percentage of fully vaccinated passengers, and crew will continue to be fully vaccinated/boosted as well as tested regularly when eligible.

The news comes more than a week after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) removed its voluntary COVID reporting program for cruise ships.