Royal Caribbean has updated its vaccination policy to allow all visitors, regardless of vaccination status, to board select itineraries starting next month.

Effective September 5, 2022, all visitors, even those who are unvaccinated against COVID-19, can cruise on the following itineraries, as long as they meet any testing requirements to board:

• Cruises from Los Angeles, California (click here for itineraries)
• Cruises from Galveston, Texas (click here for itineraries)
• Cruises from New Orleans, Louisiana (click here for itineraries)
• Cruises from a European homeport (click here for itineraries)

Up until now, unvaccinated guests only under the age of 12, have been allowed on Royal Caribbean ships.

Vaccination requirements remain in place until further notice for any homeport not mentioned above. Missing from the list are cruises that visit destinations in The Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean.

Testing requirements vary by port of departure and vaccination status. For a full list of testing requirements, click here. Last month, Royal Caribbean updated its testing requirement for vaccinated guests, allowing those departing the U.S. on sailings five nights or less to no longer have to test for COVID-19 prior to embarkation.

Vaccination and COVID-19 testing mandates have eased in recent weeks among cruise lines, following the CDC’s elimination of its COVID-19 program for cruise ships. Cruise lines that have updated either their vaccination or testing policies include NCLH, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, Virgin Voyages and Azamara.

Source: Travelweek