Carnival Corp Brands Has Big Announcements

We are making a modification to our policies with regard to pre-cruise testing and mask requirements onboard. Given the increasing number of cases of COVID-19 due to the Delta variant.  This new policy goes into effect starting August 8 for Majestic Princess (with just the mask requirement onboard) whereas the August 15 voyage on Majestic will have both the pre-cruise testing and mask requirements in place (as will all subsequent sailings). In support of this, we will be sending a notification to every guest and their travel advisor later today advising them of these new requirements.  

This is not a permanent policy and we are therefore only advising those guests and their Travel Advisor for voyages through October 31, 2021. We will of course let everyone know if any changes are made between now and then.

Today, Holland America Line will announce a modification to our policies for pre-cruise testing as well as the requirements for onboard face masks due the rising instances of COVID-19, and in particular, the Delta variant. The onboard mask policy goes into effect with the August 7th departure of Nieuw Amsterdam from Seattle to Alaska followed by the addition of a new, pre-cruise testing requirement on the Nieuw Amsterdam’s August 14th voyage. In order to quickly communicate these revisions, we will be sending a notification later today to every guest and their travel advisor advising of the new requirements.

 

Carnival’s restart of cruising from the U.S. last month has been successful, our guests and crew are excited to be sailing again, and more ships are returning to service over the coming weeks. As always, our primary commitment is to the health, safety and well-being of our guests, crew and the communities we bring our ships.

Please carefully review the information below regarding new, temporary testing requirements for sailings up to and including 10/31/21:

 

• Effective with cruises departing on Saturday, August 14, we will require ALL fully vaccinated guests to produce a negative viral COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen) taken within 3 days of their embarkation on all Carnival Cruise Line sailings.
• Fully vaccinated guests will be required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test along with proof of full vaccination upon arrival in the terminal and can then proceed on board. Please note that testing in the terminal will not be available for vaccinated guests. We will not be able to accommodate guests without proof of a negative test.
• Guests who are not fully vaccinated and have received an approved exemption request from Carnival, will continue to follow all requirements and guidelines as mentioned in prior guest communications and outlines.
• Carnival Pride 14 day Journeys Cruise (10/31): Vaccinated guests on this cruise are required to take a PCR test between 72 and 24 hours of the sailing date and present their negative results at embarkation in addition to proof of vaccination.

 

In addition to testing requirements, we are also making adjustments to our onboard mask policy effective with cruises beginning this Saturday, August 7 through and including 10/31/21, as follows:

 

• First, 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. 
• As a reminder, masks are required during embark and debark in the terminal, and masks should also be worn during the debarkation process on board.
• Carnival Pride 14 day Journeys (10/31) Cruise will receive a separate communication to update guests on the mask wearing policy.