Royal changes their stance on denying boarding

[BeachChik]

Initially they were denying boarding to those holding passports from the places listed regardless of whether they had been. Now they have changed it to mandatory screenings for those people. I assume they got flack or realized how stupid that was. 
 

 

To help protect your health and safety, we will continue to maintain the following protocols for boarding. These measures apply to all guests and crewmembers, regardless of nationality. We will deny boarding to any guest or crewmember, regardless of nationality, if they’ve:

1. Traveled from, to, or through mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau less than 15 days prior to their sailing. 
2. Been in contact (which the CDC defines as 6 feet or 2 meters) with someone that has traveled from, to, or through mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau less than 15 days prior to their sailing. 

Additionally, there will be mandatory specialized health screenings performed on all guests: 

1. Holding a Chinese, Hong Kong, or Macau passport, regardless of residency or when they were there last; 
2. That are unsure if they have been in contact with individuals who have traveled from, to or through mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau in the past 15 days;
3. Who report feeling unwell or demonstrate any flu-like symptoms;
4. Presenting with fever or low blood oximetry in the specialized health screening will be denied boarding.

[mishapsandmissy]

What a mess! I feel for the folks who had to cancel and can now sail though I’m sure the number that hold a passport but haven’t been there in two weeks in minimal. 

[CoolNickname]

I think just checking their temp and blood oximetry is very reasonable as far as precautions go. Seems like a very reasonable move by Royal.

[pink845]

Further information from the RCCL Press Release site:

 

Current Port Restrictions for China Passport Holders

Monday, February 10, 2020

Many countries are refusing entry to persons who have traveled from, to or through China in the past 14 days, and often require Chinese guests to submit to additional health screenings and document review. In addition, there are more stringent restrictions for China passport holders in:

• BAHAMAS: No entry for anyone with prior 20-day mainland China travel, regardless of nationality
• INDIA: No arrival visas for China passports   INDONESIA: No entry permitted to China passport holders  
• JAPAN: No entry permitted for China passports issued in Hubei province
• MALAYSIA: No entry permitted for China passports issued in Hubei, Zhejiang or Jiangsu provinces
• SINGAPORE: No entry permitted for China passport holders. Ship will be denied entry
• SRI LANKA: No arrival visas for China passport holders
• VIETNAM: No entry permitted for China passport Holders. Ship will be denied entry

[pink845]

More information below to keep us all up to date.

 

Novel Coronavirus Travel Alerts
 

UPDATED ON FEBRUARY 10, 2020

 

 

 

TRAVEL RESTRICTION UPDATE

Royal Caribbean has ended its temporary general restriction on holders of passports from China, Hong Kong and Macau.  The general restriction was adopted last week in response to numerous ports and governments around the world restricting travel for Chinese passport holders, often with little advance notice. 

Now that these governmental restrictions have been clarified, we are able to clarify our own policies.  Our 15-day restriction on all individuals who have traveled from, to or through mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau remains in effect, and so do 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. 

We maintain a list of our current boarding policies for all travelers, together with a list of current local travel restrictions at https://presscenter.rclcorporate.com/press-release/53/current-port-restrictions-for-china-passport-holders.  We encourage holders of China, Hong Kong and Macau passports to be aware of the potential for a disrupted vacation, and to contact us with any questions.

 

CORONAVIRUS HEALTH SCREENING PROTOCOLS

We are closely monitoring global developments regarding the coronavirus, and we are fully focused on protecting the health and safety of our guests and crew.

To comply with guidance from CDC, WHO and other public health authorities around the world, we are implementing several global measures to protect guests and crew. These measures are intentionally conservative and apply to anyone boarding our ships, guests and crew alike. We apologize for the inconvenience created by these precautionary measures.

Until further notice, all ships in the Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. fleet will adopt the following health screening protocols:

1. Regardless of nationality, we will deny boarding to

a. Any guest who has travelled from, to or through mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau in the past 15 days.

b. 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:

a. 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.

b. Guests who report feeling unwell or demonstrate any flu-like symptoms.

c. 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.

We have rigorous medical protocols in place to help passengers and crew members who feel unwell while sailing. Our protocols include professional medical treatment; quarantine of unwell individuals from the general ship population; and intensified ship cleaning, air filtration, and sanitization procedures.

We are assessing developments constantly and will update these measures as needed. Guests with questions may contact the customer care department of our individual cruise lines.

[lbjen]

There was a CC member who is a US resident Chinese passport holder who was affected by this, they were not allowing his in-laws to cancel their booking. Hopefully they will now be able to sail.