carnival pre cruise requirements

Carnival to Require Pre-Cruise Covid Tests for Vaccinated, Masking Indoors on Ships

Carnival's first u.s. cruise since the industry was shut down in march of 2020 amid the pandemic set sail last month, by nbc 6 • published august 5, 2021 • updated on august 5, 2021 at 6:43 pm.

Carnival Cruise Line is updating its travel rules with a new pre-cruise requirement that all vaccinated guests be tested for COVID-19 and that all guests wear masks in certain indoor areas on ships.

The South Florida-based cruise line said the new temporary facial covering change will go into effect on all cruises that depart starting Saturday and will last through Oct. 31.

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"Carnival will continue to operate with vaccinated cruises as defined by the CDC, including having its crew fully vaccinated," the company said in a statement Thursday. "However, in an abundance of caution, and following the lead of similar sectors and venues – including Nevada casinos, Disney theme parks, and Broadway theaters – all guests will be asked to wear masks in certain indoor areas of Carnival’s ships."

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Starting with all cruises leaving on Aug. 14, all fully vaccinated Carnival guests must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen) taken within three days of their embarkation, the company said.

Testing will not be available in the terminal and all guests must come with their negative test results and proof of vaccination before boarding. The testing rule will also be in place through Oct. 31.

"These new requirements are being implemented to protect our guests and crew while on board, and to continue to provide confidence to our homeports and destinations that we are doing our part to support their efforts to protect public health and safety,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “We expect these requirements will be temporary and appreciate the cooperation of our guests. Our first month of guest operations has been met with tremendous enthusiasm and very positive guest feedback, and we are committed to continue our restart with both fun and safety in mind.”

Under its existing rules, Carnival guests who are unvaccinated have to go through pre-cruise PCR testing, testing prior to boarding, and testing within 24 hours of debarkation on cruises of five days or longer. Unvaccinated guests approved for an exemption are charged $150 for testing and health screening costs. For cruises departing from Florida and Texas, unvaccinated guests are also required to show proof of insurance.

Carnival's first U.S. cruise since the industry was shut down in March of 2020 amid the pandemic set sail last month.

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• Cruise News

Carnival Cruise Line Ends Pre-Cruise Testing & Vaccines

Doug Parker

• August 12, 2022

In a day full of cruise line protocol changes, Carnival Cruise Line is the latest to announce that it has adjusted its own requirements as it continues to recognize the evolving nature of guidelines surrounding COVID-19.

With these changes, Carnival is making it easier for more guests to sail with simplified vaccination and testing guidelines, including no testing for vaccinated guests on sailings less than 16 nights, and eliminating the exemption request process for unvaccinated guests, who will only need to show a negative test result at embarkation. 

Carnival Cruise Line’s Vaccine and Testing Policy

All new guidelines are effective for cruises departing on Tuesday, September 6, 2022 or later, and include:

• Vaccinated guests must continue to provide proof of their vaccination status prior to embarkation. Pre-cruise testing is no longer required, except for cruises to Canada, Bermuda, Greece, and Australia, and on sailings 16 nights or longer.
• Unvaccinated guests are welcome to sail and are no longer required to apply for a vaccine exemption, except for cruises in Australia or on voyages 16 nights and longer.
• Unvaccinated guests, or those who do not provide proof of vaccination, must present the results of a negative PCR or antigen test taken within three days of embarkation.

All of the above policies are subject to local destination regulations.

Travelers who have a pending vaccine exemption application and are awaiting confirmation for cruises departing September 6 or later, the booking is now confirmed unless the sailing calls on Canada, Bermuda, or Australia, or if the voyage is 16 nights or longer. 

Please consult with Carnival Cruise Line for the most up-to-date protocols and information.

Earlier today, sister line Princess Cruises made an announcement along the same lines, and two more sister lines — Cunard and P&O Cruises — dropped their testing requirements for vaccinated guests on most voyages.

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Carnival, Royal Caribbean and more to drop vaccination requirements for select sailings

Four major cruise lines are dropping their vaccination requirements for some sailings next month, the cruise lines said.

Carnival Cruise Line will no longer require unvaccinated guests to apply for an exemption in order to sail as of Sep. 6, according to a news release. That does not include voyages in Australia or trips that are 16 or more nights, and the changes are subject to local restrictions.

Princess Cruises will also remove vaccination requirements on "most voyages of less than 16 days so that anyone can cruise" starting Sept. 6, according to a news release Friday. Princess currently requires unvaccinated guests to have a vaccine exemption before they can sail, according to its website .

Similarly, Royal Caribbean will welcome all travelers, regardless of vaccination status, as well on sailings from Los Angeles, New Orleans, Galveston, Texas, and Europe beginning Sept. 5 "as long as testing requirements are met," a spokesperson told USA TODAY via email Thursday.

"We are collaborating with local governments throughout the Caribbean to align on vaccination requirements for additional itineraries," the spokesperson added.

Royal Caribbean currently requires guests 12 and older to show proof of vaccination before they can sail from North America, according to its website .

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And starting on the same date, Celebrity Cruises will welcome all passengers who follow testing rules on sailings from Los Angeles, the United Kingdom and Europe – excluding Iceland – according to its website .

The changes come after Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. announced plans to adjust its COVID-19 rules as well, allowing all passengers to embark.

Many cruise lines have rolled back testing rules

Royal Caribbean Group, parent company of Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity, also  rolled back its testing requirements this month, following the end of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships. The company requires vaccinated passengers to take a test only on sailings six nights or longer, but testing is still required for unvaccinated passengers on all sailings.

Many other cruise line operators and brands made similar protocol changes, including Carnival Cruise Line and MSC Cruises.

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When do cruise lines still require COVID-19 testing?

► Carnival Cruise Line will require testing for vaccinated passengers only on trips 16 nights or longer or where local rules mandate it, such as on sailings to Canada and Bermuda, starting on Sept. 6, according to a press release.

Passengers who are unvaccinated or do not show proof of vaccination will still need to "present the results of a negative PCR or antigen test taken within three days of embarkation." Those under 5 years old are exempt from vaccine and testing requirements in the U.S.

► Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. will drop all pre-cruise requirements for vaccinated passengers ages 12 and over as of Sept. 3, according to a news release.

Guests ages 12 and older who are unvaccinated or do not show proof of vaccination will still need to test within 72 hours before boarding. The company said it "continues to strongly recommend all guests be up to date on vaccination protocols and test at their convenience prior to travel." Changes are subject to local requirements.

► On sailings from the U.S., MSC Cruises requires tests for fully vaccinated passengers sailing on trips six nights or longer and for all unvaccinated passengers age 2 or older, regardless of trip length, according to a press release. Tests must be taken within three days of embarkation. The cruise line recommends guests test within one day of the trip when possible.

► Princess Cruises will require passengers sailing on trips 16 nights or longer to "take a supervised test within three days of embarkation (guests 5 and older)," starting Sept. 6, as well as those on full Panama Canal transits and certain other voyages.

Unvaccinated passengers must show a negative result from a self-test taken within three days of their trip on sailings 15 nights or less, though unvaccinated children under 5 are exempt.

► Holland America Line requires all guests age 2 and older to test before their trip. All guests 12 and up must be vaccinated, according to the cruise line's website. Passengers ages 5 and 11 can also be unvaccinated but will need an exemption.

Guests who are up to date on their vaccines and have received a booster when eligible can test within three days before sailing. If they are vaccinated but not up to date, they will need to test within two days.