Carnival Cruise Line is updating its COVID-19 protocols. The company is including booster shots in its vaccination requirements, but what that means for you depends on which cruise you are going on.
Rules For Sailing
Carnival is still requiring all passengers to be fully vaccinated, but starting April 7, 2022, the cruise line is updating its requirements for COVID-19 testing based on your vaccination status. Travelers who have the booster shot can now get a test within 3 days of sailing. Guests who do not have the booster shot will need to test within 2 days of departure. The exception to the testing rule is for anyone sailing who has recovered from COVID-19 in the past 3 months and has proof of recovery from a doctor.
Note, however, Carnival is now requiring all passengers on specific longer cruises to have their booster shot. Those cruises are:
- Carnival Spirit 16-day sailings
- Carnival Pride Transatlantic
- Carnival Pride departing from Barcelona
- Carnival Splendor 23-day Transpacific sailing
Carnival Cruise Line considers a guest fully vaccinated if it hass been at least 15 days since their last shot (including booster shots).
Rules For Excursions
Fully-vaccinated passengers are allowed to disembark in port and explore the area at their leisure. Travelers who are not fully vaccinated will not be allowed to leave the ship while in port, unless they book an excursion through Carnival. Once the excursion concludes, unvaccianted guests can only shop and eat inside the port facility, they are not allowed anywhere else. All travelers, regardless of vaccination status, are allowed to disembark at Carnival’s privately-owned islands.
Exceptions to the shore excursion rule are for children under 11 years old. They are allowed to go ashore as long as they are with a vaccinated adult.
Vaccine Exemptions
Right now, Carnival Cruise Line is not requiring children under 5 years old to be vaccinated before sailing, however, they must follow the company’s unvaccinated passenger protocols regarding testing and disembarkation at various ports of call. The cruise line is also offering a small number of vaccine exemptions, but they vary depending on the length of your cruise, which state you are sailing from, and where you are sailing to. Here is an up-to-date list of vaccine exemption rules.
Carnival’s change in COVID-19 testing and vaccination protocols comes after the Center for Disease Control and Prevention dropped its risk warning for cruising.
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