Health

Royal Caribbean announced it has ended the policy that banned guests who held a passport from China, Hong Kong and Macau due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The policy was implemented last week, "in response to numerous ports and governments around the world restricting travel for Chinese passport holders."

There is still a policy in effect that bans any guest who has traveled from, to or through mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, along with restrictions on individuals who have been in close contact with persons who have traveled from, through or to China, Hong Kong and Macau in the past 15 days. 

The cruise line has the following health screening protocols in place:

1. Regardless of nationality, we will deny boarding to
   1. Any guest who has traveled from, to or through mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau in the past 15 days.
   2. Any guest who has come in contact with anyone from mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau in the past 15 days. The CDC characterizes contact with an individual as coming within six feet (2M) of a person.
2. There will be mandatory specialized health screenings performed on:
   1. Guests who are uncertain about contact with individuals who have traveled from, to or through mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau in the past 15 days.
   2. Guests who report feeling unwell or demonstrate any flu-like symptoms.
   3. Guests presenting with fever or low blood oximetry in the specialized health screenings will be denied boarding.

All guests who are denied boarding due to these restrictions will receive full refunds.

Royal Caribbean has decided to prohibit any guest holding a Chinese, Hong Kong, or Macau passport from boarding any of its ships, regardless of residency throughout the month of February.

The cruise line announced the stricter rule, in addition to tighter screening policies that were revealed this week.

Additionally, Royal Caribbean has tightened the health screening requirements and the following guests will need to undergo extra screenings to ensure safety at the cruise terminal:

• Anyone that has been in contact with individuals that have traveled from, to, or through mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau in the last 15 days.
• Anyone that feels unwell or demonstrates flu-like symptoms.
• Any guest presenting with fever or low blood oximetry in the specialized health screening will be denied boarding.

Royal Caribbean feels obligated to institute such stringent rules in order to, "maintain a safe and healthy environment onboard our ships, as well as in the ports we visit."

Royal Caribbean has delayed the next sailing of Anthem of the Seas by one day due to widespread reporting of Chinese passengers on the previous sailing who were feared to be infected with the coronavirus.

Local media reported on the ship's return to Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey as cause for concern that a coronavirus outbreak could have been onboard.  In the hours since the ship returned to port, personnel from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) boarded the ship and conducted screenings, concluding no presence of coronavirus.

The hospital is following proper infection control protocols while evaluating these individuals. New Jersey currently has no confirmed cases of novel coronavirus and the risk to residents remains low.

For more information on novel coronavirus visit:https://t.co/XoWMvzv6Rv pic.twitter.com/ED30tFMx0r

— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) February 7, 2020

While the ship has been cleared by local authorities, Royal Caribbean has decided to delay Anthem of the Seas' departure until February 8, 2020 in order to "reassure concerned guests" that the ship is indeed cleared by the CDC.

Letters courtesy of Emily Hufnal

Royal Caribbean is offering guests a 1-day refund in the form of onboard credit for the missed day onboard, as well as credits for any pre-purchased internet, drink or dining packages.

Royal Caribbean reiterated it is working with medical experts, public health authorities, and local governments to ensure its screening and boarding protocols are working to protect guests and crew.

Royal Caribbean also has taken numerous proactive steps to maintain high health standards. This includes:

• Thoroughly sanitizing the cruise ship terminal before and after every sailing,
• Special sanitizing of high traffic areas onboard multiple times a day,
• Adding extra medical staff on each sailing,
• Providing complimentary consultations with medical experts for all guests & crew,
• Plus, the Captain will make two daily announcements during your cruise reminding everyone of how to stay healthy onboard.

Royal Caribbean has posted newly updated screening procedures to ensure guests on its ships avoid the coronavirus outbreak.

The new set of screening procedures add onto what was first posted last week.

The cruise line consulted with medical experts and public health authorities to come up with these rules.  As a result, regardless of nationality, any guest or crew member traveling from, to, or through mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau less than 15 days prior to their sailing will be unable to board any of Royal Caribbean ship.

Additionally, Royal Caribbean has tightened its health screening requirements and the following guests will need to undergo extra screenings to ensure safety at the cruise terminal:

• Anyone that has been in contact with individuals that have traveled from, to, or through mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau in the last 15 days.
• Anyone that holds a Chinese, Hong Kong, or Macau passport – regardless of when they were there last.
• Anyone that feels unwell or demonstrates flu-like symptoms.

In the past few days, guests with upcoming cruises reported receiving emails and text messages with similar screening procedures outlined.

Royal Caribbean believes these measures will help reduce the potential for the virus to further spread, and will ensure the health of guests and crew. 

Royal Caribbean posted a new set of worldwide screening procedures for its cruise ships to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The new policy has two checks that are conducted at check-in.

1. Regardless of nationality, we will deny boarding to any individual who has travelled from, to or through mainland China or Hong Kong in the past 15 days. These guests will receive full refunds.
2. There will be mandatory specialized health screenings performed on:
   1. Guests who have been in contact with individuals who have traveled from, to or through mainland China or Hong Kong in the past 15 days;
   2. All holders of China or Hong Kong passports – regardless of when they were last in China or Hong Kong;
   3. Guests who report feeling unwell or demonstrate any flu-like symptoms;
   4. Any guest presenting with fever or low blood oximetry in the specialized health screening will be denied boarding.
3. These standards also apply to all employees, crew members and contractors of RCL.
4. We have cancelled all China and Hong Kong sailings through mid-February. Guests on cancelled cruises will also receive full refunds.

In addition, Royal Caribbean has emphasized their rigorous medical protocols that in place to help passengers and crew members who feel unwell while sailing.

Protocols include professional medical treatment; quarantine of unwell individuals from the general ship population; and intensified ship cleaning, air filtration, and sanitization procedures.

Royal Caribbean will be assessing developments constantly and will update these measures, as needed.

The new screening procedure come on the heels of Royal Caribbean cancelling three cruises due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Going on a cruise vacation but worried that you might get seasick? Fear not friends, because we have some easy steps to follow to avoid getting the least bit motion sick.

A lot of first time cruisers are worried they might get seasick on a cruise. In reality, getting seasick does not occur all that often and more than likely you will be fine without doing anything.  But if you are worried about the possibility and want to be armed with the right ways to combat this form of nausea, we have some easy to follow tips in this new video.

And if you love this video, we have lots of other great cruise videos to watch on our Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel!

By the way, have you subscribed yet? Be sure to subscribe to our channel and never miss a single episode!

So check out the video and then let us know: What do you do to avoid getting seasick on a cruise?