Carnival Cruise Line Will Keep Vaccinated Requirement Until Further Notice

Carnival Cruise Line on Friday announced that it will continue to follow its “Have Fun. Be Safe” operating protocols, which include a vaccinated requirement for most guests and mask-wearing indoors, for the near future.

The protocols, which have been in place since Carnival kicked off its post-pandemic restart, will soon require in-terminal testing for vaccinated guests prior to embarkation, specifically for Carnival’s shorter itineraries (3 or 4 days).

The protocols include exemptions to vaccination standards for “a small number of guests who are ineligible for vaccines.” That guest pool includes “a very small number of children under 12 and teens and adults with a medical condition who can provide written confirmation from their medical provider.”

Over the weekend, Carnival also kicked off its pilot program for VeriFLY, a technology that has already become widely used by the airline industry that will allow Carnival guests to upload vaccination and testing proof ahead of sailings, becoming the first cruise line to do so.

The most recent Mardi Gras sailing out of Port Canaveral this past weekend was the first sailing to use the technology, allowing guests to streamline their check-in and boarding process.

Carnival said that once the pilot program completes, the plan is to move quickly to implement the technology across its fleet.

Carnival’s newest ship, Carnival Celebration, was one of TMR’s 17 new cruise ships to look forward to this year and continues to drum up excitement among Carnival guests.