Carnival's New Testing Protocols

Carnival has updated their Have Fun, Be Safe Protocols and they take effect on Thursday, August 4, 2022. They are still operating under what they call vaccinated cruises which means cruises are available for guests who have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to the sailing day (not counting embarkation day) and have proof of vaccination. Although it is strongly recommended that individuals obtain a COVID-19 booster vaccination it is not required at this time. 

Effective with sailings departing August 4, 2022, there will be no pre-cruise testing for fully vaccinated guests booked on cruises with itineraries 5 days or less. Pre-cruise testing for itineraries 6 days or longer can be conducted up to three (3) days before departure. There are a couple of exceptions to this rule and they are for cruises traveling to Bermuda and Canada. These guests including those who are up to date with their vaccines, can take either a PCR test within 72 hours prior to sailing, or an antigen test no earlier than two days prior to sailing, in order to comply with CDC and destination regulations. Prior to traveling to the cruise terminal, guests should review their test results to ensure they include their full legal name, date of birth, type of test, date and time sample was taken, test result stating “NEGATIVE” or “NOT DETECTED” and laboratory, testing site, and/or healthcare provider details. Handwritten test results are not acceptable. 

There are a few vaccine exemptions but they are limited to a small number of guests. Check Carnival's website for those details. 

Guests who have recovered from COVID-19 within 3 months of their sailing date do not need the required pre-cruise test if they are at least 10 days past their positive test result date, have no symptoms and produce document of recovery from COVID-19. A Document of Recovery is accepted from both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated guests (with a Carnival-approved exemption) and consists of a paper or electronic copy of the positive viral test result from a certified laboratory (dated no more than 90 days prior to the sailing date).

If you are sailing out of Florida, South Carolina and Virginia unvaccinated guests must show proof of travel insurance coverage during check-in. This requirement is currently being waived for children under 12.

You will have to complete an online health questionnaire within 72 hours prior to sailing and undergo enhanced pre-embarkation health screenings, which will include confirmation of their health screening responses, validation of their vaccination documents and any required COVID-19 testing.

Pre Cruise Covid Testing Dropped by Virgin Cruise Lines

Starting July 24 sailings on Virgin Cruise Line out of the EU will not require a pre cruise covid test. On July 27 the sailings from the US will no longer require the test. 

This is the kind of news cruisers have been waiting to hear ever since the CDC dropped it's Covid-19 program for cruise ships earlier this week. 

As of the time of this article no other cruise line has made any announcement as to changes of their Covid protocols. 

Virgin also announced that they in will increase the amount of unvaccinated guests that can sail to 10%.

Effective Immediately - COVID-19 Program For Cruise Ships is Discontinued

The CDC’s Cruise Ship Guidance Program is no longer in effect. This program was a set of requirements that cruise lines had to follow for their ships sailing in and from the United States. The program was voluntary but most cruise lines joined into the program. 

As of this post time there has not been any announcements from any cruise lines about changing their protocols. This how ever could change testing and the mandatory vaccine requirements for cruisers.