Carnival Cruise Line's Have Fun. Be Safe. protocols & procedures

Carnival indicated that they have developed their protocols in consultation with medical experts, and they are designed to be effective and adaptable as the current public health situation evolves.

The following was shared on their Press Release Statement :

We will continue to operate vaccinated cruises as defined by the CDC, including having our crew fully vaccinated. By doing so, Carnival is able to provide the optimal guest experience while at the same time protect the health and safety of our guests, crew and the communities we visit. Until further notice, all our operations will meet this standard. We realize that this may not work for all guests, especially for the many families we love to sail. But for the time being, this is the best way for us to successfully restart our operations and maintain the confidence of the destinations that we visit, so we can deliver on our itineraries and guest experience.In an abundance of caution and in response to the increasing number of cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. caused by the Delta variant, we are updating our protocols and requirements regarding pre-cruise testing for fully vaccinated guests and our onboard mask policy. We expect these measures will be temporary and will adjust our protocols based on the advice of our medical and public health advisors.

Fully 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. Additionally, effective August 14, 2021, fully vaccinated guests must present the negative results of a COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen) taken within three days of their embarkation.

For example, if the sailing is on Saturday, the test may be taken any time from Wednesday through Friday. Guests may also take the test on the morning of embarkation so long as they are guaranteed to receive their test results before their time of check-in.

Proof of vaccination, as follows, will be required at the terminal in advance of boarding:

• Guests must bring their original vaccination record issued by the country’s health authority that administered the vaccination (i.e., U.S. CDC's Vaccination Record Card). Copies or photos are not accepted.
• The name and birth date on the vaccination card must match the guest’s travel documents and show the guest is fully vaccinated. Vaccine type, dates administered, and lot numbers must be clearly visible. Vaccination dates must indicate the guest has completed the required doses no later than 14 days prior to the sailing date.
• Alternatively, guests may present a digital COVID-19 Certificate (QR code acceptable) and a record of COVID-19 vaccination from a healthcare provider (original digital email accepted), personal electronic health record or government Immunization Information System record.
• We recommend guests have the contact information (email and phone) immediately available of the healthcare provider or clinic site that issued the certificate, in order to validate the vaccination if needed. A vaccination registry site may also be used.Guests are strongly encouraged to review their vaccination records and ensure they meet our standards, as well as have proof of their negative COVID-19 test result, prior to traveling to the cruise terminal to prevent a situation where they may not be able to cruise or be eligible for a refund.If a vaccinated guest does have a positive pre-cruise test result, they should immediately contact us at 1-800-CARNIVAL, their PVP or travel advisor. They should not come to the terminal as planned. With proof of the positive test result, we will work with guests to rebook their cruise for a later date.For cruises departing the U.S., the CDC requires both vaccines in a 2-dose series to be of the same type. They also accept mixing mRNA vaccines only (Pfizer and Moderna). No other vaccine combination meets the criteria to be considered fully vaccinated. For example, Canadian or other international guests who received a combination of AstraZeneca and Pfizer are considered unvaccinated by the CDC. Guests who are not fully vaccinated, according to these criteria, will be considered unvaccinated and need to apply for a vaccination exemption.
• Unvaccinated Guests — Exemptions to Vaccination Standards
  Carnival will continue to welcome unvaccinated guests, including children under 12 who are not eligible for a vaccine. The application process has its own set of procedures that must be carefully followed. These exemptions for children and adults are not guaranteed and are capacity-controlled based on the total number of vaccinated guests projected to be on board. Unvaccinated guests granted an exemption must abide by certain requirements and protocols, which include: Testing
  • Unvaccinated guests approved for a vaccine exemption must present a negative PCR COVID-19 test at check-in, taken between 72 hours and 24 hour prior to the sailing date (for example, if the sailing is on Saturday, the test may be taken any time from Wednesday through Friday, but not on the morning of embarkation). They will also take an additional antigen test at embarkation, and test again within 24 hours of debarkation on all cruises longer than 4 days. We must also now provide testing information and reporting to the destinations we visit. A US$150, per person, charge will be assessed to the guest’s onboard Sail & Sign account to cover the cost of testing, reporting and health and safety screenings. Children under two are exempt from testing requirements.
  • 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, you will be required to undergo additional testing and may be required to quarantine in your stateroom until our medical team determines it is safe for you to resume your cruise activities.
  Travel Insurance Requirement — Florida and Texas Based Ships
  
  • Effective with sailings departing July 31, 2021 from Florida, and August 2, 2021 from Texas, unvaccinated guests must also show proof of travel insurance coverage during check-in. This requirement is currently being waived for children under 12 who are ineligible for a vaccine. However, parents are advised that purchasing travel insurance for their children is strongly recommended. (See section below for full details on travel insurance requirements.)
  Shore Visits and Excursions It will be necessary to follow the health protocols for every port we visit, which are under the control of local government and subject to change without prior notice.
  • 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 we cannot guarantee that additional restrictions will not be imposed by local authorities in the destinations we visit. For example, based on our port agreement with San Juan, unvaccinated guests will have to remain on board during that call.
  • Carnival-approved bubble tours are excursions that operate in a controlled environment. In the event you choose not to purchase a bubble tour, bubble tours are sold out, or cancelled due to weather, unvaccinated guests will have to remain on board for that call.
  • Guests will be escorted from and to the ship, upon return from the shore excursion. No unscheduled stops are permitted (i.e. gift shops, bars, restaurants, etc.).
  • Guests participating in a bubble tour, regardless of vaccination status, must follow all tour protocols and local guidance regarding testing/screening, mask wearing, physical distancing, etc.
  • Guests who do not comply with the controlled environment of a bubble tour will be removed from the tour.
  • In private ports of call, such as Half Moon Cay and Princess Cays, unvaccinated guests may participate in independent exploration or purchase any of our tours.
  Please refer to our Return to Service FAQs for a complete list of our protocols and requirements, which continue to evolve and may change without prior notice. A request for a capacity-managed exemption must be submitted within 48 hours of making a new reservation. Requests will be processed after the booking is paid in full, in sailing date order, and once we have finalized the estimated vaccinated guest count. 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 we are unable to approve the request, guests 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, we 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). We recognize that unvaccinated guests will face temporary restrictions during the initial phase of our restart, along with additional costs for testing and insurance and are optimistic these protocols will continue to evolve over time. PRE-BOARDING INFORMATION: In order to manage our vaccinated sailings, it is very important for all guests 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. Guests are asked to update their profile on Carnival.com with their current contact information as we will be communicating through a series of emails. Please read all our correspondence and complete all requests for pre-boarding information. Failure to comply with pre-cruise information requests on a timely basis will result in cancellation. NOTE: On Carnival Miracle from Seattle and the 14-day Carnival Pride October 31, 2021 sailing from Baltimore, vaccine exemptions will only be accommodated as required by law. TRAVEL INSURANCE REQUIREMENT FOR UNVACCINATED GUESTS – FLORIDA & TEXAS BASED SHIPS*
  • Effective with sailings departing July 31, 2021 from Florida, and August 2, 2021 from Texas, unvaccinated guests must also show proof of travel insurance coverage during check-in. This requirement is currently being waived for children under 12 who are ineligible for a vaccine. However, parents are advised that purchasing travel insurance for their children is strongly recommended.
  • Each unvaccinated guest must provide proof of a valid travel insurance policy at the time of check-in that has a minimum of US$10,000, per person, in medical expense coverage and US$30,000 coverage for emergency medical evacuation and without COVID-19 exclusions.
  • The insurance policy must name the unvaccinated guest as the policy holder or beneficiary and may be purchased from a travel insurance company of the guest’s choosing or through Carnival Vacation Protection, which includes the required coverage.
  • Please note Carnival Vacation Protection is available for purchase until 14 days prior to sailing for guests residing in the U.S. (excluding New York and Puerto Rico), Canada (excluding Quebec), U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix) and American Samoa. (Note: your booking must be paid in U.S. currency.) Should you wish to purchase Carnival Vacation Protection, please call 1-800-CARNIVAL, your Personal Vacation Planner or your travel advisor.
  • Unvaccinated guests without the required proof of insurance will not be permitted to sail and no refund will be provided.
  * Based on requirements of certain destinations. Some destination ports to which we sail are operated by Carnival affiliated entities under government concessions or licenses. ENHANCED HEALTH SCREENINGS All guests will be asked to complete an online health questionnaire 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. We will refer anyone with signs and symptoms of COVID-19, or who are identified at-risk, for additional medical screening before allowing them to board. Secondary screenings (and health checks throughout the cruise) will be performed when necessary. Contact tracing is planned for every cruise. Any guest who tests positive at embarkation, and their traveling companions in the same stateroom along with other close contacts, will not be able to cruise and will be provided a future cruise credit. (A close contact is any individual who has been within 6 feet of an infected/symptomatic person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period within 14 days prior to sailing.) 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 – you, and your close contacts, may be required to quarantine before traveling home. While Carnival will help make quarantine arrangements, all guests are responsible for expenses associated with quarantine. MASKS & PHYSICAL DISTANCING (EFFECTIVE WITH SAILINGS DEPARTING AUGUST 7, 2021) We strongly encourage all guests to wear face masks when indoors, particularly guests who are unvaccinated, including children under the age of 12 who should wear masks in public areas, except when eating or drinking. All guests age 2 and older will be required to wear face masks in elevators and in designated indoor entertainment areas, all retail shops, and in the casino, except when eating or drinking. Guests will be required to wear face masks prior to being seated in our main dining rooms and in the Lido Buffet area and occasionally in other designated areas where larger number of guests may congregate (signs will be posted). Additionally, masks are required at any indoor activity with children under 12 years, (i.e., Build-A-Bear®, Family Harbor, Sky Zone®). Vaccinated guests are not required to maintain physical distance on board the ship. All guests must wear masks during the entire embarkation and debarkation process (at the home port and ports of call, including the onboard pre-debarkation process), during water shuttle operations, any Carnival-approved shore excursions and while on any transportation vehicles. Additionally, when going ashore, guests must be prepared to follow all local guidance regarding masks and physical distancing. The status of local guidelines will be shared with guests prior to debarkation at the destination. NOTE: Alaska health officials monitoring the situation ashore have strongly recommended that all guests, including those fully vaccinated, wear a face mask at all times while indoors and also outside when physical distancing cannot be maintained. U.S. regulations require all persons to wear a face mask on public transportation including buses, trains, vans, airports, aircraft and dayboats. It is recommended that unvaccinated guests maintain physical distancing as follows:
  • Indoors – Remain at least 5 feet from others not in your cruise companion group. As such, we encourage you to take the stairs whenever possible, if you are able to do so.
  • Outdoors – Remain at least 3 feet from others when not wearing a mask and not in your cruise companion group.
  YOUTH PROGRAMS Camp Ocean™: Supervised children’s programs for children under the age of 12 in Camp Ocean will not be offered at this time. Circle “C”® & CLUB O2®: Unvaccinated youth and teenagers will not be permitted to participate in supervised Circle “C” and CLUB O2 youth programs. SAFE SHORESIDE EXPERIENCES Vaccinated guests may participate in Carnival operated tours and independent sightseeing. It will be necessary to follow the health protocols for every port we visit, which are under the control of local authorities and subject to change without prior notice. Guests must come prepared to follow local guidance pertaining to mask wearing, physical distancing, testing/health screenings, etc. NOTE: Our destination requirements continue to evolve and based on our port agreement with San Juan, unvaccinated guests will have to remain on board during that call. HEALTHY ONBOARD ENVIRONMENT Please help us maintain a healthy onboard environment by using the hand-washing sinks and hand sanitizer dispensers at venue entrances and in high-traffic areas throughout the ship. We will also need guests to follow our guidance about the ways to stay healthy on board and when ashore, through daily programming, entertainment systems, announcements, in-stateroom literature, and the Carnival HUB App. ONLINE CHECK-IN Due to new embarkation processes, all guests will need to complete Online Check-In and select an Arrival Appointment. Online Check-In is available for Suite, Platinum and Diamond guests at 16 days prior to sailing; general access begins at 14 days prior to sailing. It is important that guests arrive on a timely basis as early arrivals cannot be accommodated and will be asked to return at their assigned time. With everyone’s cooperation, we can work together to guarantee an on-time departure and the start of your vacation! CARNIVAL PLANS TO OPERATE THE FOLLOWING SAILINGS UNDER THE VACCINATED CRUISE STANDARDS:
• Carnival indicated that they will be providing more details directly to guests on guidelines and protocols.
  • Carnival Vista® from Galveston; Sailings starting July 3, 2021
  • Carnival Horizon® from Miami; Sailings starting July 4, 2021
  • Carnival Breeze® from Galveston; Sailings starting July 15, 2021
  • Carnival Miracle® from Seattle; Sailings July 27 through September 14, 2021
  • Mardi Gras™️ from Port Canaveral; Sailings starting July 31, 2021
  • Carnival Magic® from Port Canaveral; Sailings starting August 7, 2021
  • Carnival Sunrise® from Miami; Sailings starting August 14, 2021
  • Carnival Panorama® from Long Beach; Sailings starting August 21, 2021
  • Carnival Glory® from New Orleans; Sailings starting September 5, 2021
  • Carnival Pride® from Baltimore; Sailings starting September 12, 2021
  • Carnival Dream® from Galveston; Sailings starting September 19, 2021
  • Carnival Miracle® from Long Beach; Sailings starting September 27, 2021
  • Carnival Conquest® from Miami; Sailings starting October 8, 2021
  • Carnival Freedom® from Miami; Sailings starting October 9, 2021
  • Carnival Elation® from Port Canaveral; Sailings starting October 11, 2021
  • Carnival Sensation® from Mobile; Sailings starting October 21, 20221

For more Information Contact Martin Ycaza at Martin@uniquewaytravel.com

www.uniquewaytravel.com 239-273-3848