Royal Caribbean International’s cruise ship “Allure of the Seas” enters its new homeport in Fort Lauderdale, as seen from nearby Hollywood, Fla., Nov. 11, 2010. REUTERS / Joe Skipper

June 29 (Reuters) – Royal Caribbean International said Tuesday that unvaccinated guests over the age of 12 traveling from Florida are required to provide proof of insurance that covers medical expenses, quarantine and evacuation related to COVID-19.

The new policy comes after two unvaccinated teenagers tested positive on their Adventure of the Seas ship last week and two more infected on Celebrity Millennium earlier this month. Promi had announced that they would bear the costs for the two cases.

Cruises on the new ship Odyssey Of The Seas were also postponed after crew members tested positive.

In Florida, the government bans corporations from providing evidence of vaccines, making it difficult for cruise lines to demonstrate prior to departure that the majority of their passengers and crew are vaccinated, as required by U.S. health officials.

According to Royal Caribbean, the insurance policy must be at least $ 25,000 per person for medical expenses and $ 50,000 per person for travel expenses.

Proof of travel insurance is a condition for boarding and must be presented upon check-in, the company said. The changes apply to trips from August 1 to December 31.

The cruise company’s parent company, the Royal Caribbean Group (RCL.N) resumed voyage from US ports and has planned a number of voyages after more than a year of anchoring ships.

On Tuesday, Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas received a green signal from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This makes it the first ship of the cruise line to sail from the USA again.

All unvaccinated guests, mostly children, will undergo additional testing and specific health protocols, cruise line CEO Michael Bayley wrote on social media.

The ship, which completed a simulated voyage earlier this month, will set sail for the Bahamas on July 2 with a fully vaccinated crew.

Reporting from Nivedita Balu in Bengaluru; Adaptation by Maju Samuel

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