Starting Aug. 7, all Carnival Cruise Line passengers, including those who have been vaccinated, will be required to wear masks indoors.The passengers will also need to prove that they have passed a negative Covid-19 test within 3 days of embarkation. This starts Aug. 14.The Return to Cruising Travel Weekly tracks which ships are back in service and when they will return.According to the cruise line, the temporary rules were made in response to "evolving public healthcare situation".Carnival stated that it applied the mask policy with "an abundance of caution" and in accordance with similar sectors and venues, including Nevada casinos, Disney parks, and Broadway theatres.All guests aged 2 years and over must wear face masks in elevators, designated indoor entertainment zones, retail shops, and the casino before being seated in main dining rooms, lido buffet area, or other areas where larger numbers of guests might congregate. Signs will be posted. Masks are not required for guests who are eating or drinking. Guests who have been vaccinated are not required to keep a distance from the ship's interior.Christine Duffy, Carnival's president, stated that the new requirements were put in place to ensure the safety of our crew and guests onboard. She also added that they wanted to show confidence to their homeports and destinations that Carnival is supporting their efforts to safeguard public health and safety. We expect that these new requirements will be temporary, and we appreciate your cooperation. We have received a lot of positive feedback from our guests and a tremendous amount of enthusiasm in our first month of guest operations. We are determined to continue our restart with safety and fun in mind.After a few positive Covid cases on Carnival Vista, the policy was put into effect on Aug. 4."Our protocols for vaccinating guests and crew, testing and enhanced medical capabilities, contact tracing, and guest vaccinations anticipated the possibility of positive cases. They can be adapted to different situations. The line stated that they have tested close contacts, and any person who tests positive is isolated."We made the decision to apply the mask policy with a lot of care, keeping in mind the safety and health of our crew and guests." We are committed to providing safe and enjoyable vacations for our guests.Rules for guests who have not been vaccinated continueUnvaccinated guests on all ships must follow the previously communicated requirements. This includes testing before boarding, precruise PCR testing and testing within 24hrs of debarkation for cruises lasting five days or more. For testing and screening costs, guests who are not vaccinated are subject to $150. Guests traveling from Florida or Texas are also required to provide proof of insurance.The policy shift by Carnival comes as Florida, Texas and Texas account for approximately one-third of all new Covid cases in America over the past week. These two states are home to the busiest cruise ports of the U.S.Carnival operates its cruises with 95% vaccine rates as per CDC guidelines and a fully vaccinated crew.Royal Caribbean International changed its testing policy last Wednesday. All passengers who travel from the U.S. for 5 days or more must be negative before embarkation, starting July 31 regardless of their vaccination status.
