Royal Caribbean preboard COVID tests

This item appears on page 29 of the December 2021 issue.

For vaccinated travelers only, Royal Caribbean International (866/562-7625, www.royalcaribbean.com) is offering preboarding rapid COVID-19 antigen tests at select US ports: Miami, Canaveral and Tampa Bay in Florida as well as San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Royal Caribbean requires a negative antigen or PCR test taken within 48 hours in order to board.)

Tests can be scheduled no more than 24 hours in advance. If a slot is available, a test can be taken as late as 30 minutes before a traveler’s check-in time on the ship. Guests wait outside the terminal to get their results, which may take up to an hour. The cost of $105 per person will not be covered by the cruise line or any medical insurance. To schedule a test, visit covlc.gomeyra.me/tests.

Royal Caribbean recommends that travelers use the preboarding testing only as a last resort, if the results of their previously taken tests have not arrived in time for boarding. Also, travelers should note that not all countries accept the results of a rapid antigen test, so results from a PCR nasal test might be required for some landings.