Royal Caribbean Lifts all Vaccination Requirments for European Sailings. 

Independence of the Seas in Southampton, photo credit Spacejunkie2 (Flickr)

Royal Caribbean International will not require guests to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 on certain sailings from next month.

From 5 September, passengers sailing on all European cruises and select US ports – Los Angeles, Galveston, New Orleans – will only be asked to disclose their vaccination status during check-in. Still, it will not be mandatory in order to board.

The line’s pre-cruise testing protocols will remain the same. 

Royal said it recommends all eligible guests are fully vaccinated and advised passengers to bring proof of vaccination with them should local authorities or businesses in specific destinations ask to see it.

In some destinations, guests will be required to prove their vaccination status in order to go ashore. In contrast, unvaccinated passengers and those not up to date with their vaccinations may need to undergo additional testing at their own expense to go ashore and disembark at the end of their cruise.

Carnival ship’s transformation put on hold

The Carnival Victory will become the Carnival Radiance, but not in late April as previously planned.
The Carnival Victory will become the Carnival Radiance, but not in late April as previously planned.

Carnival Cruise Line is suspending work on the Carnival Victory’s refurbishment in Spain. After a $200 million overhaul, the ship is to be renamed Carnival Radiance.

The ship is drydocked in the city of Cadiz. Carnival said that travel restrictions have made it difficult to secure workers.

The Carnival Radiance’s four European sailings and transatlantic crossings have been cancelled and guests are being notified. The Radiance had been scheduled to make its debut on April 29 with a 10-day Mediterranean sailing from Barcelona.

Carnival said affected guests will receive a refund or can rebook and receive a $600 onboard credit.

Carnival has not cancelled a naming ceremony currently scheduled to take place on June 24 in New York City, followed by a four-day cruise to Bermuda.

The Destiny-class vessel is to get 115 additional cabins and new bars, restaurant and kids clubs. The ship will accommodate 2,998 passengers at double occupancy when the work is done.
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