Royal Caribbean International said the U.S. Virgin Islands is not allowing cruise ships to visit its ports unless all passengers ages 12 and up are vaccinated for Covid-19.<\/p>\n
The USVI government informed Royal Caribbean about its new policy, the line said in a statement on Aug. 2.<\/p>\n
Because of the new policy, Royal Caribbean said it is now requiring that all eligible passengers must be fully vaccinated for the virus if the cruise includes a USVI port call.<\/p>\n
“Guests unable to show proof of vaccination will not be allowed to sail,” Royal Caribbean said.<\/p>\n
Guests under the age of 12 are exempt since they are not eligible for a Covid vaccine. However, they must test negative for Covid at boarding and follow certain protocols while on the ship.<\/p>\n
Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas is scheduled to call in St. Thomas on a seven-day cruise departing Port Canaveral on Aug. 8. In a communication with booked passengers, Royal informed them of the USVI’s new policy and offered unvaccinated passengers a full refund or the opportunity to take a different cruise.<\/p>\n
The Allure cruise will be impacted by another change, showing the complexity of planning multi-port cruise itineraries during a pandemic. St. Kitts is restricting cruise visits to ships with 700 passengers or fewer, Royal said.<\/p>\n
“We’ll now visit Philipsburg, St. Maarten, instead,” Royal Caribbean said in the communication to passengers.<\/p>\n
Grenada is another Caribbean island that is allowing only adult vaccinated travelers at airports and cruise ports.<\/p>\n