Booster shot timing

[Ocean Cat]

I wanted to get a booster shot tomorrow but after a call to RCL they said even the booster needs to be no sooner than 14 days from sailing( Nov 8 embarkation). Not sure why since a booster isn’t even required. I would have liked the extra protection of the booster. 

Edited October 24, 2021 by Ocean Cat

[pasodancer]

we got the booster shot exactly 14 days prior to boarding.  But, the agents were only concerned with the 2nd Shot date, not the booster shot date.  (10/2/21 sailing).

[poocher]

As far as I can tell, RC has no rules in place for requirements or timing of a booster shot so I believe the call center answer is wrong.  I would give it a little time in case you have a reaction.  I got mine Thursday and am a little tired & achy.  Nothing that would stop me from getting on a cruise but also not up for anything strenuous.

[mafig]

That's ridiculous.  I think the person you spoke to misunderstood.  

 

For example, my cruise isn't until January.  Am I supposed to wait until then for the booster shot.?

 

 

[poocher]

I think OP meant to convey that they said no closer than 14 days prior not that they had to wait UNTIL 14 days prior.  Either way, it’s not correct.

[Tee & Chilli]

18 minutes ago, Ocean Cat said:

I wanted to get a booster shot tomorrow but after a call to RCL they said even the booster needs to be no sooner than 14 days from sailing( Nov 8 embarkation). Not sure why since a booster isn’t even required. I would have liked the extra protection of the booster. 

Sadly you’ve  been misinformed. Enjoy your cruise.

[Ocean Cat]

It doesn’t make sense and tbe woman at RCL put me on hold three times to be sure. I’m not taking any chances, I’ll just get the booster when I get back. 

[ZoeyVictoria]

7 minutes ago, poocher said:

As far as I can tell, RC has no rules in place for requirements or timing of a booster shot so I believe the call center answer is wrong.  I would give it a little time in case you have a reaction.  I got mine Thursday and am a little tired & achy.  Nothing that would stop me from getting on a cruise but also not up for anything strenuous.

We got ours yesterday, 18 days before we cruise, because I am afraid of the protocols being misinterpreted at checkin and being refused as a result.  I had the same reaction to the Moderna booster as I had to the first shot - woke up during the night with pain in all joints and in my ears, muscle aches, headache, and fatigue.  But happy that we have it and the timing couldn’t be a problem for cruising.

[Tee & Chilli]

What vaccines are accepted?

A

 

 

Royal Caribbean accepts vaccines that are fully approved or authorized for emergency use by the U.S. FDA or the World Health Organization. A guest is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the required number of doses in their vaccine series have been fully administered (e.g. 2 shots of Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, etc., or 1 shot of Johnson & Johnson).

[jtappend]

I'm really nervous about this as I just got my booster, and it is 12 days before my cruise. I have been fully vaccinated since March, and Royal's own website says you are fully vaccinated after your one shot J&J, so it shouldn't be an issue at all.  But I worried about this very issue - somebody misunderstanding what the rules mean. On the other hand, wouldnt it make more sense for them to have cruisers get the booster anyway - it can only help if their cruisers are more protected. I really hope this isn't an issue but I'll know in a week and a half. 

[coldflame]

50 minutes ago, Ocean Cat said:

I wanted to get a booster shot tomorrow but after a call to RCL they said even the booster needs to be no sooner than 14 days from sailing( Nov 8 embarkation). Not sure why since a booster isn’t even required. I would have liked the extra protection of the booster. 

 

Boosters beyond 2nd shot aren't required by any destination country/island at this point, so RCL doesn't care.

[coldflame]

Just now, jtappend said:

I'm really nervous about this as I just got my booster, and it is 12 days before my cruise. I have been fully vaccinated since March, and Royal's own website says you are fully vaccinated after your one shot J&J, so it shouldn't be an issue at all.  But I worried about this very issue - somebody misunderstanding what the rules mean. On the other hand, wouldnt it make more sense for them to have cruisers get the booster anyway - it can only help if their cruisers are more protected. I really hope this isn't an issue but I'll know in a week and a half. 

 

The only reason RCL is requiring the vaccine at all, in spite of state mandates against it, is because most destination islands, including the Bahamas, require it. I don't see any of the islands requiring boosters any time soon.

[cruising sister]

Get your boosters. Don’t worry about the wrong information that it can’t be within 14 days of cruising. You want the most protection when on the ship. You may feel a bit under the weather for a few days so take that into your timing. 

[ngrund]

For the most protection-

 

I believe you want the 3rd (or 2nd if J & J) to be more than 14 days before the cruise-

 

It is between the day of the shot and 14 days that the shot begins its work

 

[not-enough-cruising]

14 minutes ago, Heymarco said:

Booster is not even technically available to those under 65 unless they have underlying health considerations per CDC guidelines. WHO actually made a recommendation against the boosters. Don’t think Royal could require otherwise.

 

 

Or to those in a “high risk” environment, which is the “open to interpretation catch all” category. 

[Hockeydad1972]

OMG with the insanity here… There is no rules about boosters and 14 days.. I have to assume the agent mixed up booster and vaccine and conflated them into the same thing.. You must have your vaccine not any booster and if you got the booster it has no impact as to getting on the ship.. Calm down people… 😜😜

[cruising sister]

No insanity just clarifying that the agent was wrong and it is fine to get a booster if eligible anytime you want. Not everyone is as clear as you on the process and as a physician I am happy to help answer their questions. People are anxious and looking for support. 

[broberts]

If one qualifies for a booster it seems to me that getting it asap is much more important than a cruise. Besides, why even inform RCL of the event, it is not a requirement to cruise?

[mek]

7 hours ago, mafig said:

That's ridiculous.  I think the person you spoke to misunderstood.  

 

For example, my cruise isn't until January.  Am I supposed to wait until then for the booster shot.?

 

 

Same here - we cruise the end of January and I got my Pfizer booster 3 weeks ago and my husband is getting his Moderna booster next week.  I don't think it's going to matter, but guess I'll find out in January.

Edited October 25, 2021 by mek

[smwg]

If it's a 3rd shot booster, why even tell RCCL?  All they are interested in is the first series (1 J&J or 2 Moderna or Pfizer. . etc).  I just wouldn't even bring up I got the booster.

[smwg]

8 hours ago, Heymarco said:

Royal will see it when you present your vaccine card for boarding. 

Not necessarily, if you get it new card for the 3rd one.

[satxdiver]

We boarded the Liberty OTS yesterday.  We received both Moderna vax back in the January/February time frame.  We had our mandatory COVID test Friday morning and later that day received the third Moderna jab.  When we checked in yesterday they only paid attention to when we received the second jab and ignored the third jab.  They did not appear to be concerned with the issue.  My advice is to get it as soon as possible which for our case the Moderna was just authorized for our group.  

[DCPIV]

3 hours ago, smwg said:

Not necessarily, if you get it new card for the 3rd one.

 

You must present your card to get a booster. Otherwise, it's treated and logged as a first dose. 

[DCPIV]

20 hours ago, Heymarco said:

Booster is not even technically available to those under 65 unless they have underlying health considerations per CDC guidelines. WHO actually made a recommendation against the boosters. Don’t think Royal could require otherwise.

 

 

 

Anyone who received J&J can receive a booster two months after receiving their first (only) shot. 

[Knights on the Beach]

28 minutes ago, DCPIV said:

 

You must present your card to get a booster. Otherwise, it's treated and logged as a first dose. 

Yes, but you still may get a second card for the booster - we did last week.