Carnival Cruise Line | Health & Safety Requirements

Last updated: June 15, 2021  

​

Great news! Carnival Cruise ships will be back in the water starting in July! We are your resource for the most up to date information around vaccination & testing requirements, whether you will need a mask, taking shore excursions, and health & safety measurements taken by the cruise line.

 

Do I need a vaccine to travel on a Carnival Cruise?

Carnival has announced a vaccine requirement for its first few ships departing in July. These cruises will operate with at least 95% of guests who will have had their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the cruise.

Guests traveling on the following ships in the month of July will have to be vaccinated.

• Carnival Vista and Carnival Breeze from the Port of Galveston, Texas

• Carnival Horizon from Miami, Florida

• Carnival Miracle from Seattle to Alaska

All guests, including children who are age-eligible for vaccines, will need to show proof of vaccination. All guests will be asked to confirm their status as fully vaccinated for COVID-19 during check-in and provide proof of vaccination in advance of boarding.

Carnival has not announced a vaccine or testing policy for other ships that might return to service in the coming months.

 

Things to know:

• The CDC’s guidelines for operating a highly vaccinated cruise provide the ability to accommodate a small number of unvaccinated guests (children under 12 who cannot be vaccinated and exemptions as required by federal law) on restricted voyages, based on the total number of vaccinated guests on board and Carnival Cruises plans to accommodate a small number of exceptions

• For your reference, any vaccine approved by either the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the World Health Organization (WHO) meets this requirement

• All guests, including children who are age-eligible for vaccines, will need to show proof of vaccination. All guests will be asked to confirm their status as fully vaccinated for COVID-19 during check-in and provide proof of vaccination in advance of boarding

• It’s important for guests to come prepared, as those who arrive at the embarkation terminal without the proper proof of vaccination may not be able to cruise and may not receive a refund

Please note that these guidelines are subject to change.

​

Do I need to wear a mask?

Vaccinated guests will not be required to wear a facemask or maintain physical distancing while on board. Guests will have to follow all local guidance at the destinations we visit, including testing/health screening, mask wearing, physical distancing and organized/independent activities.

 

Things to know:

• All guests should carefully review pre-booking and pre-travel health advice on our website and the website of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

​

Can I get off the ship at port?

Vaccinated guests may participate in Carnival sponsored tours or independent activities. We are in the process of finalizing our Alaska tours and expect more availability to be added in the next few weeks.

All guests are required to follow the protocols and requirements for each destination while ashore. These restrictions are under the control of local government and are subject to change without advance notice. We encourage you to come prepared for potential requirements ashore which may apply to health screening/testing, masks, physical distancing, organized tours/independent activities, etc.

 

Things to know:

• Cruise lines are working with local authorities, destinations and tour operators so that the enhanced health and safety measures on board are maintained ashore

These restrictions are under the control of local government and are subject to change without advance notice, so we encourage guests to come prepared for potential mask requirements ashore.

​

Health & Safety on the Ship

Ships and terminals will undergo a thorough sanitization between sailings and guests will be encouraged to use the hand-washing sinks and hand sanitizer dispensers at venue entrances and in high-traffic areas throughout the ship. Guests will also be asked to follow health information about the ways to stay healthy on board and when ashore.

Carnival has not yet made an announcement about how buffets will operate.

 

Things to know:

• All guests and crew embarking a ship will likely undergo enhanced pre-embarkation health screening in accordance with prevailing health best practices, such as health questionnaires and touch-free temperature checks as appropriate

• Ships have introduced enhanced fresh air distribution into public spaces and staterooms and HEPA filtration systems to key areas such as Medical Centers and dedicated isolation rooms

• Rapid response and contact tracing plans exist in case of on-board illness

• Ships have a team of highly-trained medical staff including qualified doctors and nurses who have experience in caring for a broad range of medical conditions and medical centers with both outpatient and inpatient facilities including critical care capabilities

• There are enhanced Health & Safety Trainings and Continued Education for Crew Members focusing on COVID-19

​

This information is subject to change and will be updated periodically.