Royal Caribbean taking temperature of all cruise passengers before setting sail
Royal Caribbean announced Thursday it will start taking the temperatures of all passengers getting on board its cruise ships and then conduct secondary screenings, if necessary, to ensure no one
possibly sick from the coronavirus sets sail.
The new change, implemented Friday, impacts Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas ships, both of which make stops in Port Canaveral.
Royal Caribbean said the
temperatures of passengers will be taken with a digital, no-touch thermometer.
If a guest’s temperature is above 100.4°F (38° C), the passenger and their party will undergo a secondary health screening, according to the cruise line.
Royal Caribbean said here’s what will happen during the secondary screening:
- Your temperature will be checked again.
- You’ll undergo a pulse oximetry reading. This means a device will be placed on your finger to measure your oxygen level.
- If you happen to have a chronic lung illness, like asthma, please bring a letter from your medical practitioner that indicates your normal baseline oxygen saturation levels. This will help ensure you are not denied boarding if you are healthy otherwise.
- Then, a medical professional will check you for flu-like symptoms, respiratory illness, etc..., and would make a final assessment to understand if you’re fit to sail.
“If it is decided that we must unfortunately deny you boarding, you’ll receive a 100% future cruise credit for your cruise fare paid, and any precruise Royal Caribbean International purchases and taxes and fees will be refunded to your original form of payment,” the company said in a news release.