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Excursions with Unvaccinated Children


chodnett

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From Royal Caribbean site

 

Can I get off the ship at port? 

According to the CDC's Conditional Sailing Order cruise ship operators, at their discretion, may advise passengers and crew that — if they are fully vaccinated — they may engage in self-guided or independent exploration during port stops, if they wear a mask while indoors. The cruise ship operator is additionally advised that foreign jurisdictions may have their own requirements. 

Things to know:

  • Parties that wish to go ashore and include any unvaccinated guests, including parents traveling with unvaccinated children, must book a shore excursion through Royal Caribbean that is provided by an independent local tour operator that has agreed to comply with recommended health protocols. These shore excursions may be purchased in advance or once onboard.
  • Fully vaccinated parties have the choice of booking a shore excursion or safely visiting the port freely. All guests are also subject to restrictions and requirements as defined by local authorities in the ports we visit.
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1 hour ago, chodnett said:

Context: We're all vaccinated adults traveling with two unvaccinated children (under 12) to Eastern Caribbean in Sept. 2021.

Question: Will we be restricted only to Royal Caribbean Excursions, or can we book our own?

The best advice is to determine what restrictions are in place as your cruise date approaches and keep checking for updates from the cruise line. We are on Celebrity Equinox on a 7n W. Caribbean cruise now (day 3) and are B2B on the E. Caribbean itinerary next week. Itinerary and port call changes, including debarkation and tour restrictions, are on going. We experienced them in the time leading up to the cruise and while on board. Just found out today that in Costa Maya next week, we no longer have to book a ship's tour to debark. You still do in Cozumel???. That might change.

Iv'e found the Celebrity has been very good in keeping us informed as far in advance as possible. If you book a tour in advance, not out of the question given current circumstances, you can cancel or if the ship cancle's you'll get a refund.

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13 hours ago, chodnett said:

Question: Will we be restricted only to Royal Caribbean Excursions, or can we book our own?

If you are going off the ship with the unvaccinated kiddos, restricted to only Royal Caribbean excursions.  If you leave them onboard at Adventure Ocean or with other adults in the party, the vaccinated adults are free to go on their own at the ports.

CocoCay doesn't require an excursion regardless of vaccination status. 

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 7/15/2021 at 1:06 AM, DanielB said:
On 8/3/2021 at 5:01 PM, luvstodans said:

From Royal Caribbean site

 

Can I get off the ship at port? 

According to the CDC's Conditional Sailing Order cruise ship operators, at their discretion, may advise passengers and crew that — if they are fully vaccinated — they may engage in self-guided or independent exploration during port stops, if they wear a mask while indoors. The cruise ship operator is additionally advised that foreign jurisdictions may have their own requirements. 

Things to know:

  • Parties that wish to go ashore and include any unvaccinated guests, including parents traveling with unvaccinated children, must book a shore excursion through Royal Caribbean that is provided by an independent local tour operator that has agreed to comply with recommended health protocols. These shore excursions may be purchased in advance or once onboard.
  • Fully vaccinated parties have the choice of booking a shore excursion or safely visiting the port freely. All guests are also subject to restrictions and requirements as defined by local authorities in the ports we visit.

Does this apply to babies as well?

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This applies to "ALL" unvaccinated children according to Royal Caribbean policy. I am assuming babies are not vaccinated as all under 12 are not eligible to receive a vaccine. ? Call RCCL guest relations is this is not clear to you. They will be able to clarify.

Edited by luvstodans
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  • 2 months later...
On 10/20/2021 at 8:38 AM, BNuckols said:

Does just getting off the boat and going to the beach count as an excursion? Or is that allowed? (With 2 unvaced younger kids)

I’m wondering the same thing. The other question I have is: if I’m already off the ship with my kids for a royal excursion, can I remain off the ship and head to the beach? Or can I get off the ship early to explore then go to the excursion?

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  • 2 weeks later...

Unvaxxed kids under 12 may only leave the ship on a RCCL excursion.   

Vaxxed parents/siblings can leave the ship without the unvaxxed kiddo (kids club or stay on board with someone)

When  you go on the excursion they're pretty strict about people wandering off "out" of the excursion... so you may have to bring your child back on board to stay with an adult, and then head back out.

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Thanks for the response. I also contacted the shore excursions department and they said you are escorted on and off the ship for your RC excursion if you have unvaccinated kids in your party so you cannot stay off the ship after it. My sailing is next month so it’s unlikely the rules will change so I’m bummed not to be able to take my kiddos to the beach since my sailing has no beach excursions. The number of excursions is extremely limited, one port only has three options and the others only 5-7. But I’m just happy to be cruising with my kids and will enjoy it regardless. 

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On 11/14/2021 at 8:04 AM, Theresestrid said:
Is it possible to book an excursion via royal to only be at the port in Costa Maya? We go 3/12 with oasis of the seas.
We have children under 12 and are wondering
 is it possible to book an excursion via royal to only be at the port of Costa maya? We go 3/12 with oasis of the seas.
 
image.png.ca3b25a50f3d44be8e5daa48fba54427.png
 

There is one for $10 to go walk around the Port. I believe it's called a bird atrium excursion. 

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I am fully aware of the rules, but two of my tours have "Free Time" at the end of the tour.  One allows you to do one of 3 things and there is multiple buses to take you back when you are ready.  I thought that was interesting with the rules that it should be a "bubble tour"

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5 hours ago, IzzyB said:

I am fully aware of the rules, but two of my tours have "Free Time" at the end of the tour.  One allows you to do one of 3 things and there is multiple buses to take you back when you are ready.  I thought that was interesting with the rules that it should be a "bubble tour"

Which tour/port is this?

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1 hour ago, KJones said:

@IzzyBWe did a tour at Gumbalimba. The pool/beach/park are private on the same property so you will still be a bubble, though that bubble will be larger than your specific tour since there are multiple tour options there (ex: we did the zipine/park combo).

I also assumed it was a park non-tour people could go on.  Which is why the being able to explore the park, beach, pool, etc seemed so odd to me.

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Wondering if anyone has first-hand experience since the updated protocols were released 11/10.

Previously the protocols were worded such that "parties with unvaccinated children" were required to book through royal.  Thus the collective experience seemed to be that if you had unvaccinated children in your cabin you could (if you chose) let them hang out in Adventure Ocean if you wanted to go ashore on your own, though if they wanted to leave the ship it needed to be with a Royal Excursion.

The wording has now shifted slightly to "families" with unvaccinated children being required to book through royal.  Perhaps a distinction without a difference as the protocol does continue by indicating that vaccinated parties can go ashore as they desire (with certain limitations through December). Regardless we are coming up on 2 months out and it looks increasingly less likely that we'll be able to vaccinate our infant and/or 3yo

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