St. Thomas is experiencing a surge in Covid cases and as a result, the CDC has listed the US Virgin Islands as a very high risk destination to avoid. In turn, the US Virgin Islands is requiring vaccinated guests visiting the islands on a cruise ship.

The USVI was given the risk designation of “Level 4: COVID-19 Very High” by the CDC on Monday, along with 15 other destinations including St. Barthelemy, St. Martin, Martinique and Guadeloupe in the Caribbean. The British Virgin Islands, which has been battling a surge in cases since the end of June, was already on the list. (Read the full article)

For all Allure of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas sailings departing from Florida — the Government of the United States Virgin Islands has informed us of their plans to implement a new policy that requires all passengers ages 12 years and older traveling onboard a cruise ship to be fully vaccinated in order for the ship to be allowed entry into St. Thomas. This latest requirement will impact all cruise ships scheduled to call on St. Thomas in the near future. To comply with this requirement, guests ages 12 years and older must provide documentation of full vaccination at the terminal as a condition to boarding. Guests under the age of 12 years are not required to be vaccinated, but will be subject to our COVID-19 testing policy.

Royal Caribbean

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As of this writing the only cruise line to make an announcement is Royal Caribbean, although I expect all the others who have the Virgin Islands on their itineraries will follow. In the short term, Royal is making itinerary changes for guests sailing on Allure of the Seas on 8/22/21 (St. Maarten instead of St. Kitts and Nevis), and Symphony of the Seas on 8/21/21 (San Juan instead of St. Kitts and Nevis).

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