Royal Caribbean has released its Covid-19 health protocols for cruises sailing to Alaska, including ships that sail from Vancouver.
The Alaska cruise season is set to begin soon, and Royal Caribbean has released the pre-cruise & onboard Covid health requirements for passengers.
The protocols differ slightly if your ship embarks in Vancouver or Seattle.
The latest protocols are for guests cruising to Alaska from the U.S. and from Vancouver, British Columbia through May 31, 2022.
Vaccines
All guests 12 and older must be fully vaccinated.
Children aged 5 to 11 are not required to be vaccinated. However, kids who have been vaccinated may present proof and follow the fully vaccinated protocols.
All crew members onboard will be fully vaccinated.
Royal Caribbean will not accept a Certificate of Recovery in the place of a vaccination record.
Testing
Testing is required to enter Canada and to board the ship. These requirements vary depending on guests’ age and vaccination status.
- Pre-Cruise: All guests 2 years and older must present a negative COVID-19 test result to board the ship.
- Vaccinated guests: PCR or antigen test must be taken no more than 2 days prior to sailing.
- Unvaccinated children ages 2 to 11: PCR test must be taken no more than 3 days prior to sailing — but not on boarding day. Antigen tests are not accepted for unvaccinated guests.
- Pre-cruise testing costs and scheduling are the guest's responsibility.
- Certificate of Recovery: Instead of a negative pre-cruise test, a Certificate of Recovery and a positive PCR test taken between 11-90 days prior to our sail date can be provided to sail with us.
- Embarkation Day: Unvaccinated guests ages 2 to 11 will take a complimentary antigen test for COVID-19 during check-in. Registration details will be sent via email in advance.
- Prior to Entering Canada: Unvaccinated guests 5 to 11 years old will take a complimentary antigen test onboard prior to visiting or debarking in Canada.
For sailings debarking in Seattle, Washington or Seward, Alaska: Unvaccinated guests age 2 – 11 years will take a complimentary antigen test onboard no more than 1 day before arrival to the U.S.
Guests under 2 years of age will not be tested.
Testing for Cruisetour Guests
Passengers that booked an add-on tour before or after their cruise in Alaska (known as a cruisetour) have additional testing requirements.
- Royal Caribbean Cruisetour guests need to take a COVID-19 test on their own, at guest's expense, before the land-tour portion of your Cruisetour.
- Vaccinated guests must show a negative result for a PCR or antigen test taken no more than 2 days before the day the land tour starts. Kids age 5 to 11 who have been vaccinated may present proof of full vaccination and follow the testing protocols for vaccinated guests.
- Unvaccinated kids age 2 to 11 must show a negative test result for a PCR test (not antigen) taken no more than 3 days before the day the land tour starts.
- Guests under 2 years of age do not need to complete a pre-Cruisetour test.
Cruisetour guests will also need to complete the pre-cruise testing to board the ship in addition to the pre-tour testing. Vaccinated guests are advised to bring an eMed test kit with them on their Cruisetour to meet the pre-cruise testing requirement.
For vaccinated guests without a test kit or unvaccinated kids age 2-11 in need of a PCR test, a testing provider in Anchorage will be available to test guests at their own expense.
Details on how to register for testing in Anchorage will be provided by your Cruisetour guide.
Excursions
There are no restrictions on which tours passengers can book in Alaska, regardless of vaccination status.
Royal Caribbean is still "working closely with local government and health authorities to finalize protocols and requirements for going ashore in Canadian ports of call."
Masks
Masks are optional for fully vaccinated guests.
Royal Caribbean expects unvaccinated children to continue wearing masks indoors and in crowded settings.
Masks are required for all children age 2 years and older while at the Adventure Ocean youth program.
Guests under 2 years do not have to wear a mask at any time.
Documentation
In addition to bringing a passport, Covid-19 vaccination card, and a Covid-19 test result, there's one additional piece of documentation passengers should bring for all sailings from Seattle, Seward and Vancouver.
All travelers to Canada, or their legal guardians, must download the ArriveCAN app or complete the mandatory travel information via the ArriveCAN website prior to your entry into Canada.
This applies whether guests are departing on their cruise from Canada, ending the cruise in Canada, or visiting the country as a port of call.
Royal Caribbean says they are working with the Canadian government to make this process easier for guests arriving by cruise ship, and will ensure guests have guidance to complete this process smoothly onboard.
