Calls to boycott cruise companies as vaccinations required

Royal Caribbean is relaunching its services in June and like P&O says that passengers can only travel if they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

The company says travellers can trade in virtual travel experiences for cruises in The Bahamas and Mexico. The global cruise line announced a summer lineup of 7-night cruises on board Adventure of the Seas, setting sail this June from new homeport Nassau, The Bahamas.

Bookings are being taken from tomorrow (24Mar21). But, the new itineraries departing through August, which will sail with vaccinated crew, will only be available to adult guests who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and those under the age of 18 with negative test results.

“We are excited to get back to delivering memorable vacations in the Caribbean, gradually and safely,” says Michael Bayley, CEO, Royal Caribbean International.

“The vaccines are clearly a game changer for all of us, and with the number of vaccinations and their impact growing rapidly, we believe starting with cruises for vaccinated adult guests and crew is the right choice. As we move forward, we expect this requirement and other measures will inevitably evolve over time.”

According to the Daily Mail, which often covers howls of outrage, the decision has sparked calls to boycott the company. Some say the cruise line is ‘eroding freedoms’. The paper reports comments about ‘an experimental vaccine’ and not allowing access to medical records.

According to Newsweek, one Twitter user wrote: “MAGAs [Make America Great Again, Donald Trump’s campaign slogan] are starting to boycott Royal Caribbean because they are requiring vaccinations for adult passengers and crew members when they start sailing again in June. #CancelCulture.” The post has had over 7,200 likes since it was first shared. Another says “I will not do business with anyone requiring a vaccine.”

This probably comes as welcome news to the rest of the cruise-taking, and wider population, who are confident in the vaccines and the opportunities they offer to regain a semblance of normality and who don’t want to spend their cruises travelling with ‘howlers’.

Details on additional health and safety measures to be implemented by Royal Caribbean will be announced at a later date, says the company, and its ‘comprehensive, multilayered health and safety measures to come leverage expert guidance from the Healthy Sail Panel, Royal Caribbean group’s head of public health and chief medical officer, and local government and health authorities.’