Royal Caribbean and Princess follow Carnival with enhanced COVID rules

Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises have also tightened COVID rules, joining Carnival Cruise Line, which enhanced its mask policy following COVID-19 infections aboard Carnival Vista.

Princess Cruises has not updated its mask policy, but has announced that all guests will need to be tested prior to boarding (regardless of vaccination), while Royal Caribbean will require masks to be worn at all times indoors aboard Adventure of the Seas.

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Princess Cruises has required mask wearing in most indoors spaces aboard its ships since it resumed cruises. According to its health and safety protocols, “all guests [are] required to wear a face mask – with no exceptions – in elevators and in designated indoor entertainment areas, all retail shops, and in the casino except when eating or drinking.”

The new policy, however, is that COVID-19 tests will be needed for all passengers. The cruise line will require vaccinated guests to complete a coronavirus PCR or antigen test before sailing.

“Effective with cruises departing on Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021, we will require all fully vaccinated guests to present a negative viral COVID-19 test (medically supervised PCR or antigen test) taken within three days of their embarkation on all Princess Cruises sailings,” the cruise line wrote in its letter to passengers.

According to the letter, fully vaccinated guests will be required to provide proof of this negative COVID-19 test, along with proof of full vaccination at least 14 days prior to embarkation, upon arrival in the terminal and can then proceed onboard.

Testing facilities won’t be available at the terminal, so any passengers who have not done the test in advance will not be able to board their cruise ship, Princess said.

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Royal Caribbean’s policy is similar, with all passengers, regardless of vaccination status, required to provide a negative COVID-19 test, regardless of vaccine status, prior to boarding on sailings 5-night or longer. This policy went into effect on July 31st, 2021.

Now, however, the cruise line has announced that all guests sailing on Adventure of the Seas will have to wear a mask while indoors, including fully vaccinate passengers.

“In an abundance of caution due to the emerging Delta variant and to ensure that our guests, our crew and the communities we visit remain healthy, Royal Caribbean International has adjusted its measures for boarding,” the cruise line said.

“When indoors, all guests 2 and older are required to wear masks unless they are actively eating or drinking. Guests may remove their masks in venues and events dedicated to fully vaccinated parties,” it added.

Adventure of the Seas will also add vaccinated zones for fully vaccinated guests, where fact masks won’t be required.