Carnival Cruise Line drops COVID-19 vaccine requirement for most sailings — here's where you'll still need one

Carnival Cruise Line is joining Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line in dropping its COVID-19 vaccine requirement.

But like the latter lines, it'll still make you show proof of one for some sailings.

The world's second-largest cruise line late Friday said that effective Sept. 6 it no longer would require passengers to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccine for all voyages except those departing from Australia and cruises that are 16 nights in length or longer.

Unvaccinated travelers who want to sail out of Australia or on a 16-night-plus voyage will be able to apply for a vaccine exemption.

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Carnival also announced that vaccinated passengers no longer will have to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test to board its ships in most places. The line said testing will still be required for vaccinated passengers in advance of cruises to Canada, Bermuda, Greece and Australia, per local regulations in those countries, and on voyages of 16 nights or longer.

In addition, all unvaccinated passengers will still have to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test before sailing. The test must be taken within three days of embarkation.

A few caveats to the new rules that Carnival spelled out in its announcement:

• All of the new policies are subject to local destination regulations.
• Passengers under the age of five will be exempt from all vaccination and testing requirements on sailings from the United States.
• Passengers under the age of 12 will be exempt from all vaccination and testing requirements on sailings from Australia.
• Voyages of 16 nights and longer will continue to have vaccination and testing requirements that are specific to the itinerary.

“These guidelines will make it a simpler process, and make cruising accessible for those who were not able to meet the protocols we were required to follow for much of the past 14 months,” Carnival President Christine Duffy said in a statement.

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Duffy added that Carnival is in the process of updating its website, communications and internal processes, and sharing more details with passengers and travel agents to reflect the new policies.

“We appreciate the patience of our guests and travel advisor partners as we update all materials, but the end result is a very positive one for all who are looking forward to cruising with us,” she said.

Carnival's announcement came just two days after the world's largest cruise line Royal Caribbean and sister line Celebrity Cruises announced they were dropping their COVID-19 vaccine requirement for many but not all sailings, effective Sept. 5. Norwegian Cruise Line and sister lines Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises on Monday dropped their vaccine requirements for many sailings, effective Sept. 3.

Carnival sister brand Princess Cruises on Friday also announced that it would remove its vaccine requirement for most voyages of fewer than 16 days, effective Sept. 6.

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