Celebrity Cruises has come up with an interesting solution how to meet the CDC threshold of 95% of passengers and 98% of crew to be vaccinated on cruises sailing from U.S. ports, and at the same time comply with Florida law that prohibits companies asking guests to provide proof of vaccination. Celebrity plans to sail with at least 95% vaccinated passages, but in order to comply with the Florida law the company decided the proof of vaccination to be optional.
For the upcoming cruises on Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Equinox, sailing this June from Fort Lauderdale, Florida Celebrity will not require guests to show proof of vaccination, however, those who wish to provide proof will have more relaxing set of protocols.
The new set of rules was announced yesterday during a webinar with travel agents and Dondra Ritzenthaler, Celebrity Cruises Senior Vice President of Sales and Trade Support & Service, reports Royal Caribbean Blog.
Guests deciding not to show proof of vaccination will need to follow these set of protocols:
- Guests who do not provide proof of full vaccination before boarding, will be considered unvaccinated and will require to undergo SARS_COV-2 test at the terminal at their own expense.
- Guests that don’t meet company’s requirements will be denied boarding.
- Keeping in mind the safety of the local communities visited by Celebrity ships, unvaccinated guests may also be restricted from going ashore depending on local government restrictions.
- Face masks will be required for unvaccinated adult guests at all times during the length of the voyage, except while eating or drinking or in their stateroom.
Vaccinated guests and children 15 and younger. Are not required to wear masks onboard Celebrity ships.
