Royal Caribbean Cruises Requiring Travel Insurance for Unvaccinated Passengers

Royal Caribbean, which has restarted its cruises, said it is requiring that unvaccinated guests age 12 and older sailing from Florida homeports provide proof of travel insurance to cover any quarantine, evacuation and medical expenses related to COVID-19.

The insurance policy must have a minimum of $25,000 per person in medical expense coverage and $50,000 per person for quarantine and medical evacuation related to a positive COVID-19 test result.

The requirement applies to sailings from August 1 through December 31, 2021, and all bookings — except bookings made between March 19, 2021 and June 28, 2021.

To be considered fully vaccinated, guests must receive their final dose of the vaccine 14 days before sailing and provide documentation such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control COVID-19 vaccination card. Guests who do not or cannot provide proof of vaccination will be considered unvaccinated and subject to these terms, according to the company.

Vaccinated guests (and children not yet eligible to be vaccinated) will be given COVID-19 travel coverage at no extra charge. This coverage includes 100% cruise fare refund for anyone in the traveling party who tests positive for COVID-19 within 14 days prior to the cruise or at the boarding terminal as well as pro-rated cruise fare refund if the cruise is cut short for reasons related to COVID-19. It also provides coverage for onboard medical treatment, any required land-based quarantine, and travel home if a vaccinated guest tests positive for COVID-19 during the cruise.

Travel insurance comparison site InsureMyTrip reported last week that the number of policies sold for future cruises hit their highest levels since February 2020 — up 60 percent from four weeks ago. This came as the first trial cruise set sail from the United States in over a year.