Carnival Cruise Line | Health & Safety Requirements

Have Fun. Be Safe. COVID-19 Guest Protocols

Vaccinated Guests

What testing information do I need to know for my upcoming cruise?

For sailings departing prior to September 6, 2022:

• Cruises 5 days or less
  • Except for sailings visiting Bermuda, there will be no pre-cruise testing for fully vaccinated guests booked on cruises with itineraries 5 days or less.
    • Due to destination requirements, ALL guests on itineraries that include Bermuda must complete a pre-cruise test, irrespective of the length of the cruise.
      • To comply with destination regulations, guests may take either a PCR test within 3 days or an antigen test no earlier than 2 days prior to sailing.
• Cruises 6 days or more
  • Testing requirements remain in place for guests age 2 and older. Except where destination requirements differ (see below), all guests may take their test (PCR or antigen) starting 3 days before departure.
    • For itineraries that include Bermuda and Canada, guests may take either a PCR test within 3 days or an antigen test no earlier than 2 days prior to sailing.
• Guests traveling on back-to-back cruises 16 days or more will be tested between voyages.

For sailings departing on September 6, 2022 or later:

• For cruises less than 16 nights
  • Pre-cruise testing is no longer required when proof of vaccination is shown at embarkation except for cruises to Canada, Bermuda, Greece and Australia (per local guidelines.)
• For cruises 16 nights or longer or sailings to Canada, Bermuda, Greece, and Australia
  • A PCR test within 3 days or an antigen test no earlier than 2 days prior to sailing is required

Unvaccinated Guests

Can I sail without a Covid-19 vaccine?

For sailings departing prior to September 6, 2022:

• Vaccine exemptions are limited to a small number of guests (age five and above) and are capacity-controlled based on the total number of vaccinated guests projected to be on board.
• Children under five are not required to apply for a vaccine exemption. However, they must still follow requirements for unvaccinated guests, including pre-cruise and onboard testing.

For sailings departing on September 6, 2022 or later:

• Unvaccinated guests are welcome to sail without a vaccine exemption, except for cruises in Australia or on voyages 16 nights and longer.
  • For guests who have a pending vaccine exemption application and are awaiting confirmation for cruises departing September 6, 2022 or later, the booking is confirmed unless booked on a sailing that calls on Canada, Bermuda, Australia or if the voyage is 16 nights or longer.

What testing information do I need to know for my upcoming cruise?

For sailings departing prior to September 6, 2022:

• Except where differences are specified, all unvaccinated guests age 2 and older must provide the negative result of a lab-administered or supervised self-administered PCR or antigen COVID test taken up to 3 days before embarkation.
  • Guests traveling to Bermuda and Canada can take either a PCR test within 3 days, or an antigen test no earlier than two days prior to sailing
    • For voyages visiting Canada, guests will be given a complimentary test on board, within 24 hours of arrival, to comply with destination requirements.
• Guests traveling on back-to-back cruises 16 days or more will be tested between voyages.

For sailings departing on September 6, 2022 or later:

• Unvaccinated guests or those who do not provide proof of vaccination must present the results of a negative PCR or antigen test taken within 3 days of embarkation.
  • Guests under the age of five years are exempt from vaccination and testing requirements from the United States and under the age of 12 from Australia.

Health and Safety FAQs for All Guests

What kind of pre-cruise COVID-19 tests are acceptable?

• Guests must be tested with a COVID-19 viral test that is either an antigen test or a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT)
• Fully vaccinated guests may use a medically observed self-test (sometimes referred to as home test) that meets the following criteria:
  • The test must be a COVID-19 viral test (NAAT or antigen test) with Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • The testing procedure must include a telehealth service affiliated with the manufacturer of the test that provides real-time supervision remotely through an audio and video connection.
• All unvaccinated guests will be assessed a US$150 per person charge on the guest’s onboard Sail & Sign account to cover the cost of testing, reporting and health and safety screenings.

What are the Travel Insurance Requirements for Unvaccinated Guests? (Florida, Texas, South Carolina, & Virginia Based Departures)

• Unvaccinated guests sailing on a ship departing from these states must show proof of travel insurance coverage during check-in. This requirement is currently being waived for children under 12. However, parents are advised that purchasing travel insurance for their children is strongly recommended
• Policy requirements: a minimum of US$10,000, per person, in medical expense coverage and US$30,000 coverage for emergency medical evacuation and without COVID-19 exclusions
• The insurance policy must name the unvaccinated guest as the policy holder or beneficiary and may be purchased from a travel insurance company of the guest’s choosing or through Carnival Vacation Protection™, which includes the required coverage
• Vacation Protection is available for purchase until 14 days prior to sailing for guests residing in the U.S. (excluding New York and Puerto Rico), Canada (excluding Quebec), U.S. Virgin Islands (excluding St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix) and American Samoa (note: your booking must be paid in U.S. currency.) Should you wish to purchase Vacation Protection, please call your travel advisor for all options available
• Guests without the required proof of insurance will not be permitted to sail and no refund will be provided

Vaccine exemption requirements for sailings though 9/6/22

Requirements to enter ports outside the U.S. continue to evolve and Carnival Cruise Line will approve exemptions in compliance with these regulations, as indicated below:

• Vaccine exemptions for cruises to the Caribbean will be limited to a very small number of children ages 5-11, and teens and adults with a medical condition preventing their vaccination. Sailings from Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Maryland, South Carolina, Alabama, New York and Virginia will operate under these criteria with the assumption that current restrictions imposed by destinations will remain in place.
• Vaccine exemptions for ships departing from California (not calling on Canada) will be accommodated for children ages 5-11 and as required by U.S. federal law (in accommodation of medical reasons and sincerely held religious beliefs).
• Vaccine exemptions for sailings to Canada will be accommodated for children 5-11 and for medical reasons, in accordance with destination requirements.
• Vaccine exemptions for cruises to Bermuda, Europe, Trans-Atlantic and Trans-Pacific will be accommodated for children ages 5-11 traveling with fully vaccinated parents/guardians, in accordance with destination government requirements.
• On Panama Canal cruises of 16 days or longer, vaccine exemptions will only be accommodated as required by U.S. law and destination requirements. (Unfortunately, vaccine exemptions are not granted for unvaccinated minors under 12.)
• Doctor’s Note — Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Maryland, South Carolina and Alabama Based Ships
  • If you received a vaccination exemption for medical reasons, a letter from a medical provider stating the guest cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons must be presented at check-in.
  • Doctor’s Note — Sailings Calling on Canada: If you received a vaccine exemption due to medical reasons, a form completed by you and your medical provider stating you cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons must be presented at check-in. You must keep the original with you during the cruise and submit a copy to Carnival at check-in. Unfortunately, due to Canadian requirements, you will be unable to sail if this form is not completely filled by your medical provider and presented at embarkation.
  • Cruises to Caribbean - No longer requires a Doctor's Note at embarkation to travel.

How do I apply for a vaccine exemption?

• To apply for vaccine exemptions you will need:
  • The guest’s birth certificate or passport (for children), or a letter from a medical provider stating that the individual cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, must be presented at check-in, along with the exemption approval letter from Carnival
• Unfortunately, all other vaccine exemptions previously granted for upcoming sailings cannot be fulfilled due to new limitations
• If you have already received an exemption approval for anyone in your party that does not meet the requirements of these two categories (under 12 or proven medical condition that prohibits vaccination), that exemption is no longer valid
• Once you have submitted your vaccine exemption, you will receive an email informing you of approval or denial. The amount of exemptions are capacity controlled.
• Children under 5 will be able to sail without a vaccine exemption. Protocols for unvaccinated guests, including testing, shore excursion and children’s camp requirements, still apply.
• The vaccine exemption process is currently open for sailings through December 31, 2022. We will notify you when this period is extended.

If you are an unvaccinated guest, your reservation is not considered confirmed unless you receive an approved exemption. Exemptions are typically approved starting 90 days prior to sailing, in the order in which they were received by Carnival . If Carnival Cruise Lines are unable to approve your request, you will have the option to cancel the unvaccinated guest(s) from a reservation, move to a future sailing date, or cancel with a full refund to the original form of payment. Unfortunately, Carnival cannot assist with expenses related to a denied exemption request, and guests assume all risks related to non-refundable travel costs, (i.e., air fare, hotel, etc.). Guests whose exemptions are approved will be required to review and agree to all the restrictions and protocols prior to boarding the ship.

The number of exemptions Carnival is able to grant is far fewer than the requests received. While the decision to vaccinate yourself or your children is obviously a personal one, if you want to guarantee your ability to sail together, it is encouraged that you consider your vaccination options.

Does Carnival accept a Documentation of Recovery?

Guests who have recovered from COVID-19 within 3 months of their sailing date do not need the required pre-cruise test if they are at least 10 days past their positive test result date, have no symptoms and produce document of recovery from COVID-19. A Document of Recovery is accepted from both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated guests (with a Carnival-approved exemption) and consists of a paper or electronic copy of the positive viral test result from a certified laboratory (dated no more than 90 days prior to the sailing date).

Which COVID-19 vaccines will be accepted?

Acceptable vaccines are those that are approved, or have an emergency use authorization or listing from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the World Health Organization (WHO). 

• Pfizer: 2 Doses
• Moderna: 2 Doses
• Johnson & Johnson: 1 Dose
• AstraZeneca: 2 Doses
• Sinopharm: 2 doses
• Sinovac: 2 Doses
• US ONLY: Novavax clinical trial participants who can confirm that they received the full 2-dose series of the active COVID-19 vaccine.
• EUROPE ONLY: COVID-19 immunity may be considered equivalent to "Fully Vaccinated" if guest received 1 dose of one these vaccines (Comirnaty (Pfizer), Spikevax (Moderna) or Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca)) 14 days or more ago after a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, with a Digital COVID Certificate of Vaccination.

Can I have mixed vaccines?

Guests will be considered fully vaccinated who have received their final dose of an authorized/approved COVID-19 vaccine, or any combination of two doses of an authorized/approved vaccine at least 14 days before the beginning of the cruise. Acceptable vaccines are those that have been approved/authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or have emergency-use listing by the World Health Organization (WHO).

• MIXED DOSES: Pfizer (1 Dose) + Moderna (1 Dose)
• MIXED DOSES: AstraZeneca (1 Dose) + Pfizer (1 Dose) OR Moderna (1 Dose)

What proof of Vaccine do I need to provide?

Vaccinated cruises are available for guests who have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to embarkation day and have proof of vaccination. You will also need to provide proof of vaccination at the terminal in advance of boarding, as follows:

• Guests must bring their original vaccination record issued by the country’s health authority that administered the vaccination (i.e., U.S. CDC's Vaccination Record Card). Copies or photos are not accepted.
• The name and birth date on the vaccination card must match the guest’s travel documents and show the guest is fully vaccinated. Vaccine type, dates administered, and lot numbers must be clearly visible.
• Vaccination dates must indicate the guest has completed the required doses no later than 14 days prior to the sailing date.
• Alternatively, guests may present a digital COVID-19 Certificate (QR code acceptable) and a record of COVID-19 vaccination from a healthcare provider (original digital email accepted), personal electronic health record or government Immunization Information System record.

Do I need a COVID-19 vaccine booster to be considered fully vaccinated?

COVID-19 vaccine boosters are strongly recommended for specific at risk groups by the FDA and US CDC. Carnival's protocols, the definition of “fully vaccinated” does not generally include reference to a booster except when explicitly stated.

• Boosters may be required for specific voyages based on duration or destination requirements.
  • The following voyages require fully vaccinated guests, ages 12 and older, who are more than 6 months past the last dose of their initial vaccine series to be boosted in order to sail.
    • Carnival Pride and Carnival Celebration Europe - All 2022 departures
    • Carnival Splendor 23-day Carnival Journey (Transpacific) – September 6, 2022
    • Carnival Spirit® 16-day Carnival Journey (Panama Canal) - September 20, 2022

We do not collect vaccination cards or store proof of vaccination. Those cruise lines that have vaccine requirements to cruise will likely ask for proof at the time of boarding.

Please note that these guidelines are subject to change.

Are masks required onboard?

• Masks are recommended on board but not required.
• Masks may be required during the entire embarkation and debarkation process (at the home port and port of call), on any transportation, including water shuttles, and when indoors on any Carnival tour.

Can I take a Shore Excursion if I am Unvaccinated?

It will be necessary to follow the health protocols for every port we visit, which are under the control of local authorities and subject to change without prior notice. All guests, regardless of vaccination status, must come prepared to follow local guidance pertaining to mask wearing, physical distancing, testing/health screenings, etc. Since destination health protocols continue to evolve, the most up-to-date information will be provided in a stateroom advisory.

Travel Authorizations

The following destinations require the completion of a Travel Authorization in advance of boarding the ship. The QR coded provided at the end of the process must be presented at time of check-in. Guests may be denied boarding if the QR is not presented.

• Bermuda - register on Bermuda's health portal and apply for a Travel Authorization here. 
  • A US$40, per person, fee applies for guests age 2 years and older. 
  • To complete the process, guests must submit proof of citizenship, picture ID and proof of vaccination.
• Canada - access ArriveCAN application here.

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