With a successful restart underway, plans are in place to have 15 Carnival ships sailing in 2021. As a result of this next step in the phased restart, some Carnival cruises have been canceled through October 31, 2021. The question on everyone’s mind is what the vaccination requirements, exemptions, and testing protocols be when it’s time to get onboard?
Carnival Cruise Line announced today that three more ships will resume guest operations in September, and another four in October – bringing the total number of ships to 15 – as the line’s successful restart of operations continues to ramp up. Based on the success of its initial resumption of service and the guest response to the onboard experience and health and safety protocols that have been implemented, Carnival will continue to operate all of its ships as vaccinated cruises through at least October.
Carnival Corp
What are the Carnival ships sailing in 2021? As of today (7/20/21), Carnival Breeze and Vista are sailing out of Galveston (TX); Horizon and Sunrise are sailing from Miami (FL); Mardi Gras and Magic from Port Canaveral (FL); and Panorama from Long Beach (CA). Beginning in September will be Carnival Glory from New Orleans (9/5/21); Pride from Baltimore (9/12/21); Dream from Galveston (9/19/21); and Miracle from Long Beach (9/27/21). In October Carnival Elation from Port Canaveral (10/1); Conquest from Miami (10/8/21); Freedom from Miami (10/9/21); and Sensation from Mobile (9/21/21).
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If you’re thinking of booking a cruise on or you’re scheduled to be on one of the Carnival ships sailing in 2021, you need to be aware of the current health and safety policies and procedures. Being aware of Carnival’s vaccination requirements and testing protocols is important so you can manage your expectations.
Vaccinated Guests
- Vaccinated cruises are available for guests who have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to embarkation day and have proof of vaccination. Guests will be asked to confirm their status as fully vaccinated and it is critical that you respond in a timely fashion when the vaccine attestation is sent to you for completion.
- You will also need to provide proof of vaccination at the terminal in advance of boarding. Acceptable proof includes the original vaccination document issued by the proper health authority or healthcare provider, with the name and date of birth for each guest that matches their travel documents. Photocopies and pictures of the documents are not acceptable.
- For the details on what is required, please see the FAQ section on Carnival.com.
- Vaccinated guests do not have to wear face masks (except in the medical center) or maintain physical distancing while on board, and when at a destination, they may enjoy a Carnival-operated tour or independent sightseeing.
Fully vaccinated guests must:
- Update their profile on Carnival.com with current contact information as Carnival will be communicating through a series of emails. Please read all correspondence and complete all requests for pre-boarding information.
- In order to manage sailings, it is very important to be on the look-out for a one question pre-cruise vaccine attestation email which needs to be completed for every person on each reservation as soon as it is received.
- Failure to comply with pre-cruise information requests on a timely basis will result in cancellation.
Unvaccinated guests wishing to be on one of the Carnival ships sailing in 2021 will continue to welcome, including children under 12 years not eligible for a vaccine, who request an exemption. The exemption application process has its own set of procedures that must be carefully followed. These exemptions are not guaranteed and are capacity-controlled based on the total number of vaccinated guests on board.
Exemption Request Process:
- Anyone who is already booked, paid in full and departing by end of October 2021 have until July 21, 2021, to submit a request for a vaccine exemption.
- Those who make a new booking have 48 hours to submit an exemption request. New requests will be processed after the booking is paid in full, in sailing date order, and once Carnival has finalized the estimated vaccinated guest count. Approvals will take place 14 days prior to sailing.
- If you are an unvaccinated guest, your reservation is not considered confirmed unless you receive an approved exemption, which will be issued within 14 days of sailing. Any unvaccinated guests whose exemptions are approved will be required to review and agree to all the restrictions and protocols listed above prior to boarding the ship.
- If Carnival is unable to approve your request, you will have the option to cancel the unvaccinated guest(s) from a reservation, move to a future sailing date or cancel with a full refund to the original form of payment.
- Unfortunately, Carnival cannot assist with expenses related to a denied exemption request, and guests assume all risks related to non-refundable travel costs (i.e., air fare, hotel).
Unvaccinated Guests sailing on Carnival ships sailing in 2021 must:
- Update their profile on Carnival.com with current contact information as Carnival will be communicating through a series of emails. Please read all correspondence and complete all requests for pre-boarding information.
- In order to manage your sailing, it is very important to be on the look-out for a one question pre-cruise vaccine attestation email which needs to be completed for every person on the reservation as soon as you receive it.
- Failure to comply with pre-cruise information requests on a timely basis will result in cancellation.
- Guests who want to change their plans, who are unable to wait to see if they receive an exemption, or who cannot meet the vaccination standards may change their reservation without penalty or request a full refund.
Unvaccinated Requirements and Protocols for Approved Guests:
- Presenting a negative PCR COVID-19 test at check-in, taken within 72 hours prior to the sailing date, taking an antigen test at embarkation, and testing again within 24 hours of debarkation on all cruises longer than 4 days. A US$150, per person, charge will be assessed to the guest’s onboard Sail and Sign account to cover the cost of testing, reporting and health and safety screenings. Children under two years are exempt from testing and mask wearing requirements.
- Effective with sailings departing July 31, 2021 from Florida, and August 2, 2021 from Texas, guests must also show proof of travel insurance coverage during check-in. This requirement is currently being waived for children under 12 years who are ineligible for a vaccine. However, parents are advised that purchasing travel insurance for their children is strongly recommended. More information on this requirement is available on Carnival’s Have Fun. Be Safe. page.
- There is no independent sightseeing in ports of call for unvaccinated guests, who may only debark if booked on a Carnival-sponsored bubble tour. Guests must follow all local protocols and Carnival cannot guarantee that additional restrictions will not be imposed by local authorities in the destinations.
- Unvaccinated youth and teenagers will not be permitted to participate in supervised Circle “C” and CLUB O2 youth programs.
- Supervised children’s programs for children under the age of 12 in Camp Ocean will not be offered at this time.
- Carnival recommends that all unvaccinated guests two years of age and older wear masks when indoors or not in their staterooms. Masks will be required for unvaccinated guests in enclosed areas of the ship such as the piano bar, arcade, spa, salon, casino and Fun Shops.
- In the event unvaccinated guests are in close contact with or exposed to any guest or crew members that test positive for COVID-19 during the cruise, additional testing will be required and it’s possible quarantine will be required until the medical team determines it is safe to resume your cruise activities.
- If you traveled by air to join your cruise and test positive at embarkation and are not able to cruise – or test positive during the debark testing for unvaccinated guests – you may be required to quarantine before traveling home.
- While Carnival will help make quarantine arrangements, all guests are responsible for expenses associated with quarantine.
July 21, 2021 is listed as the last date to request an exemption, however it is important to note that unvaccinated guests may still book a new cruise between now and October 31st, 2021 and request an exemption, which must happen within 48 hours of booking.
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With the announcement of these 15 Carnival ships sailing in 2021, there were some corresponding cancellations, some through October 31, 2021.
We are making good progress returning our fleet to guest operations, with four ships starting in July and a total of eight ships back to operations by the end of August. But we must continue to take a phased approach as we staff ships, train our crew on new operating protocols, and work with home ports and destinations on issues related to the resumption of service. Regrettably, additional sailings must be cancelled for the month of September and October, and we apologize for the disappointment if you are booked on one of the following:
Carnival Corp
- Pride canceled 9/5/21 (Baltimore)
- Dream canceled 9/5/21 through 9/11/21 (Galveston)
- Miracle canceled through 9/24/21 (Long Beach)
- Conquest 9/3/21 through 10/4/21 (Miami)
- Sensation 9/4/21 through 10/16/21 (Mobile)
- Sunshine 9/1/21 through 10/31/21 (Charleston)
- Ecstasy 9/1/21 through 10/31/21 (Jacksonville)
- Liberty 9/1/21 through 10/31/21 (Port Canaveral)