Royal Caribbean will require all cruise ship passengers 12 and older to be fully vaccinated to comply with Bahamas policy

[Wiltony]

My concern is their new rule that states if you have anyone unvaccinated in your party (i.e. kids younger than 12), you are not allowed to get off the boat anywhere (except CocoCay) unless you purchase a shore excursion exclusively through RC. In addition, there are places designated on the boat where only vaccinated people may go (thus excluding my <12 kids).

Finally, they reduced the covid testing window from 3 days before departure, to 2 days before departure, and a rapid test is NOT valid for the unvaccinated kids, so we hope the testing center isn't backed up or we'll be SOL.

Lots of gotchas to run afoul of.

 

[yellowfish78]

My concern is their new rule that states if you have anyone unvaccinated in your party (i.e. kids younger than 12), you are not allowed to get off the boat anywhere (except CocoCay) unless you purchase a shore excursion exclusively through RC. In addition, there are places designated on the boat where only vaccinated people may go (thus excluding my <12 kids).

Finally, they reduced the covid testing window from 3 days before departure, to 2 days before departure, and a rapid test is NOT valid for the unvaccinated kids, so we hope the testing center isn't backed up or we'll be SOL.

Lots of gotchas to run afoul of.

Most of the places that Royal doesn't allow unvaccinated kids are places you don't normally see children...casino, chef's table, bars... well, except the sushi restaurant. If the shore excursion limits are frustrating, consider another cruise itinerary that still hits CocoCay but not the rest of the Bahamas.

It may have changed to 2 days for 12 and older but kids are still 3 days for age 2-11. And you can do either test for the kids now too (PCR or Antigen).