It was just last month that major cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruise Line announced they were significantly easing their COVID-19 policies, and now their fellow mariners are following suit. Carnival Cruise Line lifted most of its remaining COVID-19 restrictions this week. But the changes the cruise line made to its policies are a little more complicated than you might think.
Let’s start with the simple stuff. If you are traveling with Carnival on a cruise that takes place over the course of 15 nights or less, the cruise line no longer requires proof of vaccination or testing for COVID-19 prior to your departure.
Despite the policy change, a company spokesperson was careful to note the importance of testing in an email to USA Todaystating that “regardless of vaccination status, we encourage all guests five years of age and older to be tested three days prior to their cruise.”
Now here’s where it gets a little more complicated. Those 18 and over sailing on voyages lasting 16 nights or more will still be required to be fully vaccinated. In the same travel category, any passenger over the age of five will also need to have a PCR or antigen test taken within three days prior to sailing. Self-tests will not be accepted.
It might sound like a lot to digest, and this reference might be disturbing if you’ve seen it recently The triangle of sadness, but there is a bit more ground to cover. Those traveling on cruises of 16 nights or more will also need to have received their booster shots if they received their main shots more than six months ago.
If you are not vaccinated, you will need to apply for an exemption. In a statement on their website, Carnival announced that the apps will be available early next year.
One last warning, if you are traveling to Grand Turk or Colombia, proof of vaccination is required no matter how long or short your trip is. Those 18 and older will also need to stay on the ship once it docks.
See the Carnival Cruise website for more details on the company’s policy changes.
Other major cruise lines are also revising their COVID-19 policies recently. USA Today noted that Princess Cruises made similar changes to Carnival last week, and Norwegian Cruise Line also relaxed its vaccination requirements in August.
