Medical Vaccine Exemptions?

[yoboy08753]

Has any adults been granted a medical exemption? We have 2 friends on their own booking sailing on our cruise but 1 of them had an anaphylactic shock after 1st dose and was informed by her doctor she cannot get 2nd dose. She has a doctors note and sent it to RC weeks ago, they keep calling  RC to see what her status is and she gets no straight answer other than they are working their way through vaccine status by sailing. We sail at the end of December and everything I read the only peeps they are allowing onboard unvaccinated are kids under 12.  Thoughts?

[firefly333]

It would also depends on your ports. Some ports require everyone 12 and over to be vaccinated. Even if someone else got one going to cozumel and you go to bahamas .. you would be a no. Ports have say so if the ship can dock with some not vaccinated.  

[RFerrington]

6 minutes ago, yoboy08753 said:

Has any adults been granted a medical exemption? We have 2 friends on their own booking sailing on our cruise but 1 of them had an anaphylactic shock after 1st dose and was informed by her doctor she cannot get 2nd dose. She has a doctors note and sent it to RC weeks ago, they keep calling  RC to see what her status is and she gets no straight answer other than they are working their way through vaccine status by sailing. We sail at the end of December and everything I read the only peeps they are allowing onboard unvaccinated are kids under 12.  Thoughts?

They say they are allowing medical exemptions.  I have read a few accounts of cruises that had adults who were unvaccinated.  I have no idea how difficult it is to get the exemption validated but it seems that your friend has a completely valid medical contradiction to the vaccine.

[binro01]

I would just politely stay on the phone until you get an answer that you are happy with. You are following the rules to get the exemption. You need to make plans, and you need answers, if you don't get them, I would just cancel and choose a different vacation plan without the overhead and aggravation.

Edited November 16, 2021 by binro01

[rbschultz]

23 minutes ago, binro01 said:

I would just politely stay on the phone until you get an answer that you are happy with.

 

This is called entitlement. 

 

OP - Likely you will not end up getting an exemption just based on the sheer number of different answers you'll get from Royal Caribbean. Even if one support agent says "yes" you may arrive at the port and they say "no." Personally I'd be making contingency plans in the event the vaccine mandate does not go away by your cruising date (which it won't). 

[binro01]

44 minutes ago, rbschultz said:

This is called entitlement. 

Happy with, as in something concrete that can be acted on. Either a yes or no.

Not happy with because of a yes and only a yes.

[Starry Eyes]

Has she talked to her doctor about the J&J shot?  If doc approves, one shot of J&J might solve the December cruise problem.

 

“A CDC scientist said…that people who have an allergic reaction to the first dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine could get the J&J vaccine instead at least 28 days later.”

[billslowsky]

1 hour ago, binro01 said:

I would just politely stay on the phone until you get an answer that you are happy with.

Great idea, just tell the person at check-in that the person on the phone told you it was ok.  I'd go with that.

[atgood]

2 hours ago, yoboy08753 said:

Has any adults been granted a medical exemption? We have 2 friends on their own booking sailing on our cruise but 1 of them had an anaphylactic shock after 1st dose and was informed by her doctor she cannot get 2nd dose. She has a doctors note and sent it to RC weeks ago, they keep calling  RC to see what her status is and she gets no straight answer other than they are working their way through vaccine status by sailing. We sail at the end of December and everything I read the only peeps they are allowing onboard unvaccinated are kids under 12.  Thoughts?

 

@yoboy08753 Do you know the RCI email address they sent the doctor’s note to and which RCI phone number are they calling?  If you know, please post as it will help in how to provide guidance.  If the proper contacts aren’t made, they will just go in circles. 
 

Generally speaking, a late December cruise is currently a low priority (at this time) for the department that handles such requests. 

[atgood]

@yoboy08753 As a follow up to my previous post, if your friend gets approved to cruise, she will not have access to the same venues as you.  It potentially will be very limited compared to what you will have access to.  See link for the list of vaccinated only and everyone venues: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/are-there-any-experiences-that-are-closed

 

Just a heads up.  

[BND]

It is so incredibly rare to have an allergic reaction to the vaccine.  If the reaction was to the MRNA, can she get the J&J as they have different ingredients.

[Boo's Mom]

23 hours ago, yoboy08753 said:

Has any adults been granted a medical exemption? We have 2 friends on their own booking sailing on our cruise but 1 of them had an anaphylactic shock after 1st dose and was informed by her doctor she cannot get 2nd dose. She has a doctors note and sent it to RC weeks ago, they keep calling  RC to see what her status is and she gets no straight answer other than they are working their way through vaccine status by sailing. We sail at the end of December and everything I read the only peeps they are allowing onboard unvaccinated are kids under 12.  Thoughts?

I sailed with an exemption earlier this month. 

I had to send a detailed email to Royal Caribbean, which was my "application" for the exemption. They followed up with an auto reply.  About 1 - 2 days later they followed up with an email letting me know that they had received it and were working on it.  About a day later I received the approval email. 

This all seemed to move quickly, but I was only about 2 weeks from sailing at the time I did my application. 

 

I did work closely with my TA.  I copied her on the emails.  And she made phone calls. 

The official communication came through emails. - not through what any RCI agent said on a phone call.

 

Earlier this summer, it seems like they were stating that only a certain percentage of the passengers on any sailing (a low percentage) could be unvaccinated.  I feel like this is still the case. I know that I have read on these boards about children being denied the exemption and that is likely because on sailings where there are a lot of children, the percentage is being reached quickly. 

 

We had 1132 passengers on my sailing. 

There were 12 kids and myself that were unvaccinated.  (barely over 1%) 

 

 

[RFerrington]

51 minutes ago, Boo's Mom said:

I sailed with an exemption earlier this month. 

I had to send a detailed email to Royal Caribbean, which was my "application" for the exemption. They followed up with an auto reply.  About 1 - 2 days later they followed up with an email letting me know that they had received it and were working on it.  About a day later I received the approval email. 

This all seemed to move quickly, but I was only about 2 weeks from sailing at the time I did my application. 

 

I did work closely with my TA.  I copied her on the emails.  And she made phone calls. 

The official communication came through emails. - not through what any RCI agent said on a phone call.

 

Earlier this summer, it seems like they were stating that only a certain percentage of the passengers on any sailing (a low percentage) could be unvaccinated.  I feel like this is still the case. I know that I have read on these boards about children being denied the exemption and that is likely because on sailings where there are a lot of children, the percentage is being reached quickly. 

 

We had 1132 passengers on my sailing. 

There were 12 kids and myself that were unvaccinated.  (barely over 1%) 

 

 

Thank you for posting your experience.  Were you required to provide a signed letter (on letterhead) from your physician ?  This is what they told me.  Just wondering if they are sticking to that requirement.  My husband and I both have signed (by our physician) ICVP’s but was never sure that this would be enough.

[atgood]

1 hour ago, Boo's Mom said:

I sailed with an exemption earlier this month. 

I had to send a detailed email to Royal Caribbean, which was my "application" for the exemption. They followed up with an auto reply.  About 1 - 2 days later they followed up with an email letting me know that they had received it and were working on it.  About a day later I received the approval email. 

This all seemed to move quickly, but I was only about 2 weeks from sailing at the time I did my application. 

 

I did work closely with my TA.  I copied her on the emails.  And she made phone calls. 

The official communication came through emails. - not through what any RCI agent said on a phone call.

 

Earlier this summer, it seems like they were stating that only a certain percentage of the passengers on any sailing (a low percentage) could be unvaccinated.  I feel like this is still the case. I know that I have read on these boards about children being denied the exemption and that is likely because on sailings where there are a lot of children, the percentage is being reached quickly. 

 

We had 1132 passengers on my sailing. 

There were 12 kids and myself that were unvaccinated.  (barely over 1%) 

 

 

Thanks @boo’s mom.
 

Were you able to find out details (where to go and whether there was a cost) in advance about the embarkation day test?  No one that I spoke with seemed to know how to handle an adult with a RCI SN approved exception.  I tried the SN dept, C&A dept, and the number listed for unvaccinated kids.  

Edited November 17, 2021 by atgood

[atgood]

14 minutes ago, RFerrington said:

Thank you for posting your experience.  Were you required to provide a signed letter (on letterhead) from your physician ?  This is what they told me.  Just wondering if they are sticking to that requirement.  My husband and I both have signed (by our physician) ICVP’s but was never sure that this would be enough.

The way it works, if they approve, RCI makes a designation/change on your cruise invoice with the special approval and email it to you if booked direct or to your TA if booked through a TA. 

[Merion_Mom]

56 minutes ago, atgood said:

Thanks @boo’s mom.
 

Were you able to find out details (where to go and whether there was a cost) in advance about the embarkation day test?  No one that I spoke with seemed to know how to handle an adult with a RCI SN approved exception.  I tried the SN dept, C&A dept, and the number listed for unvaccinated kids.  

 

[Boo's Mom]

1 hour ago, atgood said:

Thanks @boo’s mom.
 

Were you able to find out details (where to go and whether there was a cost) in advance about the embarkation day test?  No one that I spoke with seemed to know how to handle an adult with a RCI SN approved exception.  I tried the SN dept, C&A dept, and the number listed for unvaccinated kids.  

There was no cost to me for the embarkation day test. 

I did test also on Sunday for my Monday cruise at my expense. 

 

They had a whole testing section (and waiting area) set up at the pier. 

 

I tested 3 times for my 5 day cruise that disembarked on a Monday. 

Sunday (my expense) (home kit in my hotel room)

Monday (no cost) (@ pier)

Friday (no cost) (onboard the ship)

 

 

[Seville2Cabo]

2 hours ago, RFerrington said:

Thank you for posting your experience.  Were you required to provide a signed letter (on letterhead) from your physician ?  This is what they told me.  Just wondering if they are sticking to that requirement.  My husband and I both have signed (by our physician) ICVP’s but was never sure that this would be enough.

Did not work for Aaron Rodgers

[mayleeman]

3 hours ago, Seville2Cabo said:

Did not work for Aaron Rodgers

 

The suggestion to get J&J if allergic to P amd M also was not acceptable to Aaron either because of the risk of blood clots...in young women. Apparently he feels their pain.

[RFerrington]

19 hours ago, atgood said:

The way it works, if they approve, RCI makes a designation/change on your cruise invoice with the special approval and email it to you if booked direct or to your TA if booked through a TA. 

Thanks again.  My question is....what form does the request for medical contradiction have to take ?  When you first request the exemption what documentation is required to be submitted for the cruise line to make their decision ?

[RFerrington]

I finally found the email that I received from the accommodations people re: my request for vaccine contradiction.

 

Hello,

 

Thank you for contacting the Access Department.

 

Vaccine accommodation requests are only being considered for active reservations. Please send us your reservation number and a doctor's letter on the office letterhead with the following information:

 

•    Name and DOB of the guests who are requesting an accommodation

•    Medical reason that the guests are unable to be vaccinated

•    Confirmation that they are medically fit to travel

 

Best Regards,

 

Patrick Burden

Access Advocate

[ReneeFLL]

On 11/16/2021 at 6:21 PM, billslowsky said:

Great idea, just tell the person at check-in that the person on the phone told you it was ok.  I'd go with that.

They are waving as the ship sails away without them.

 

20 hours ago, RFerrington said:

Thank you for posting your experience.  Were you required to provide a signed letter (on letterhead) from your physician ?  This is what they told me.  Just wondering if they are sticking to that requirement.  My husband and I both have signed (by our physician) ICVP’s but was never sure that this would be enough.

You won’t be able to go into the casino which I thought was a deal breaker for you.

[RFerrington]

22 minutes ago, ReneeFLL said:

They are waving as the ship sails away without them.

 

You won’t be able to go into the casino which I thought was a deal breaker for you.

It is.  That's why we haven't sailed yet.

[atgood]

1 hour ago, RFerrington said:

Thanks again.  My question is....what form does the request for medical contradiction have to take ?  When you first request the exemption what documentation is required to be submitted for the cruise line to make their decision ?

It looks like you found your answer according to your next post.  Just follow RCI’s instructions.  Provide them with what they requested via email (include the medical documentation as an attachment) and include any additional details you feel are pertinent to help them make a decision. 

[ReneeFLL]

1 hour ago, RFerrington said:

It is.  That's why we haven't sailed yet.

Ok I was just a little confused since you were trying to be exempt.