In an abundance of caution and in response to the increasing number of cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. caused by the Delta variant, we are updating our protocols and requirements regarding pre-cruise testing for fully vaccinated guests and our onboard mask policy, the company said online. They also require that all guests, regardless of vaccination status, present the required negative tests. Be Safe. protocols and procedures have been developed in consultation with medical experts and are designed to be effective and adaptable as the current public health situation evolves. from 8 AM - 9 PM ET. On Friday, the operator updated the Return to Service FAQ on its website saying, We are also working to expand our testing capabilities at the terminal for vaccinated guests, specifically for our short itineraries (3- and 4-day voyages)., It went on to say, Vaccinated guests will be able to meet the pre-cruise testing requirement as part of the embarkation process for a cost of US$10 per test.. "Our reporting is fully integrated with SeaCare the cruise industry's leading emergency medical records system to ensure a seamless experience.". We realize some of our guests are having a challenge getting a pre-cruise COVID-19 test, especially with the new two-day window established by the CDC that goes into effect on September 13, 2021. She said Carnivals on-site testing is only for vaccinated guests who have tried unsuccessfully to get their results before they arrived at the port. Together with DocGo's integrated Ambulnz medical transport services, DocGo is bridging the gap between physical and virtual care. To help passengers meet the current testing requirements in place, Carnival Cruise Line is now allowing guests to use two at-home COVID-19 testing kits. If your cruise line does not have a specific testing requirement. Unvaccinated passengers, however, must still show a negative test result to be permitted to sail, even on shorter sailings. UFO? The U.S. now welcomes international travelers, but they must be vaccinated with a few exceptions. RRT has administered over 1.2 million COVID-19 tests in markets across the U.S. and it is testing tens of thousands of people per week at municipal and corporate testing sites across the. Sandy and Robert Silver from Davie were the first in line to board their cruise on Saturday June 26, 2021. Before working at News 6 he worked for stations in Miami and Fort Myers. Guests sailing from Baltimore, Galveston, Long Beach, and New. The letter has also been sent to booked Carnival guests and shared with travel partners. Visit: www.costacruise.com, Cunard is the epitome of British refinement for travelers who relish the lines impeccable White Star Service, gourmet dining, world-class entertainment, and the legacy of historic voyages and transatlantic travel. (Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel). I was exposed to a person with COVID-19 in the past 10 days. About Carnival Corporation & plcCarnival Corporation & plc is one of the world's largest leisure travel companies with a portfolio of nine of the world's leading cruise lines. NEW YORK, June 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Rapid Reliable Testing (RRT), a business line of Ambulnz, Inc. d/b/aDocGo, a leading provider of last-mile telehealth and integrated medical mobility services that has entered into an agreement to merge with Motion Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: MOTN), today announced it is working with Carnival Corporation on COVID-19 testing and COVID-19 vaccines for crew members as it prepares for the restart of cruising in the U.S., with plans to also test guests once cruises resume. "Working together, we have developed a comprehensive plan for testing, an essential part of our enhanced health and safety protocols developed to enable the resumption of cruising in the best interest of public health.". MORE: MSC Divina Receives Approval to Sail From New U.S. Homeport. Carnivals Brand Ambassador John Heald used a Facebook posting to explain the home-testing process and link to two home-testing brands of which the line will now accept the results. Proof of vaccination, as follows, will be required at the terminal in advance of boarding: For sailings departing through September 12, 2021, fully vaccinated guests must also present the negative results of a COVID-19 test taken within three days prior to embarkation. Bruce Parkinson has written about cruising and the broader international travel industry for more than 25 years. (Amy Davis). Check whether your cruise line requires a rapid MAAT or PCR test or will accept a rapid antigen test, which usually comes back quicker but with a lower rate of reliability. MSC also accepts home testing done under telehealth supervision, along with RT-PCR and NAAT options.. Unvaccinated guests must still present a negative test at the cruise terminal plus, theyre tested before they step on board. (While the agencys recommendations are non-binding in Florida, cruise lines have been following the guidance voluntarily.). Here are the rules about testing for COVID-19: If youre vaccinated: You have to show a negative test result taken within three days of boarding your return flight to the United States. MIAMI, Sept. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL;NYSE: CUK), the world's largest cruise company, today announced a new initiative making pre-board testing more convenient and accessible for its guests. Free expert cruise tips and news from Cruise Hive! I am sick with COVID-19 or tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days. [RELATED: Families scramble for at-home COVID tests], Sandy and Robert Silver from Davie were the first in line to board their cruise on Saturday June 26, 2021. Starting September 12, 2021, the cruise line will require pre-cruise COVID-19 testing for vaccinated guests to be taken within two days prior to the sailing date. This clarification is a welcome notice for guests booked on upcoming short sailings to The Bahamas. The company says its health and safety protocols are designed to adapt as needed to the evolving public health environment. If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page. For Carnival Corporation media inquiries and editorial photo requests, please contact: Jody Venturoni, Chief Communications Officer, Carnival Corporation & plc. These 3 major cruise lines are set to lift mask mandates as COVID cases drop Bailey Schulz USA TODAY 0:00 2:21 Two major cruise lines, Royal Caribbean International and Carnival Cruise. I dont want to leave it to chance.. ORLANDO, Fla. Carnival Cruise Lines has released new testing requirements Thursday for fully vaccinated guests. Certain destinations do not accept unsupervised pre-cruise self-testing, including Bermuda, Canada, Greece, and Spain. While cruising poses some risk of COVID-19 transmission, CDC will continue to publish guidance to help cruise ships continue to provide a safer and healthier environment for crew, passengers, and communities going forward. All the crew wore their masks all the time, inside or out. Its such a huge task. As a result of the roadblocks, he added that he didnt want you to think that this is going to be your rescue.. Copyright 2023 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. While the test is the same Abbotts BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen test there are two companies that Carnival will accept, eMed and Optum. The department has placed many countries in the "Do Not Travel" or "Reconsider Travel" categories due to COVID-19, including Hungary, Canada, Croatia, Israel and Jamaica. This is the first Carnival Pride cruise to leave the Port of Baltimore's South Locust Point Cruise Terminal since the pandemic began. Holy Cross Urgent Care, which has sites throughout the region, says there is no cost for the test if you have insurance; however, the centers require an appointment with a doctor, which can cost up to $262. The effort will facilitate access to pre-cruise COVID-19 viral testing for guests of Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn at more than 1,500 convenient Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) patient service centers and retail pharmacy testing locations throughout the U.S. Im getting skittish, said Pearce, whose New Years cruise includes stops in Aruba and Curacao. (Lynne Sladky/AP). These changes are consistent with what local destinations have advised will be acceptable for arriving cruise guests, and Carnival will continue to work closely with local destinations to protect the health of its guests, crew and the communities the cruise line visits. Private islands were never exempt from The Bahamas protocols, but as of June 19, there has been no testing mandate to visit these tropical destinations. Copyright 2021 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved. You're in luck as Carnival has now officially expanded the pre-cruise testing option for vaccinated guests through December 31, 2021. Several cruise lines also have leased Bahamian islands for their own private resorts, including Royal Caribbean Internationals Perfect Day at CocoCay, Disney Cruise Lines Castaway Cay, and Norwegian Cruise Lines Great Stirrup Cay. Guests sailing from Baltimore, Galveston, Long Beach, and New Orleans can reserve the testing spot from this website. You order the test from one of the providers. Should the island nation choose to reinstate testing requirements for visitors, cruise lines will also have to modify their protocols to be able to continue visiting Bahamian ports of call. The previous color-coding system under CDCs COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships depended upon each cruise line having the same COVID-19 screening testing standards, which may now vary among cruise lines. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. P&O Cruises (UK) is Britains favorite cruise line with a fleet of ships combining genuine service and a sense of occasion and attention to detail, ensuring passengers have the holiday of a lifetime, every time. This is the link: Yesterday, Carnival Cruise Line announced that it, Cruise News Today September 10, 2021 [VIDEO], This 132-Day Cruise Should Top your Bucket List, Next Carnival Cruise Ship Receives New Paint Job, Caribbean Cruise Destination Inches Closer to Fully Enacting One Ship Per Day Policy, Carnival Cruise Ship Resumes Service Following Dry Dock, Another Cruise Line Adds Starlink Satellite Internet to Its Global Fleet, https://cruiseradio.net/carnival-corporation-cruise-covid-testing-locations/. LEARN MORE ; 2-5 DAY CRUISES Get big savings! LIMITED-TIME OFFER Earn a $200 statement credit after first purchase, plus enjoy 5,000 FunPoints after spending $500 with the Carnival Mastercard .Terms Apply. After a negative result is verified by the eMed guide, you will receive a digital certificate on the NAVICA app within 15 minutes. You will need to know the entry and exit requirements, vaccine requirements and safety protocols for every country or state you are visiting, said Michelle Fee, CEO of Cruise Planners in Coral Springs. More information is available, Travel requirements to enter the United States are changing, starting November 8, 2021. If a guest tests positive for COVID-19 within 5 days or less from the scheduled date of embarkation, guest may elect to cancel their cruise booking by immediately (within 24 hours of receiving the test result) contacting Carnival at 1-800-CARNIVAL to notify Carnival of their . With TeleHealth Plus, DocGo empowers the full promise and potential of telehealth by facilitating healthcare treatment, in tandem with a remote physician, in the comfort of a patient's home or workplace. If used for visiting these destinations, self-testing must be supervised by a medical professional. As this situation remains ever fluid, cruise passengers should stay in close contact with their cruise line about all updated protocols and requirements for upcoming sailings. We'll send you a weekly newsletter to your inbox. AnyLabTestNow! Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People, tested positive for COVID-19 less than 10 days ago, recommendations for wearing masks in travel and public transportation settings, recommendations for protecting yourself and others, state, territorial, local or tribal health department, State & Territorial Health Department Websites, Guidance for Maritime Vessels on the Mitigation and Management of COVID-19, Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for Travelers, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), International Travel to and from the United States, Requirement for Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Air Passengers, Requirement for Proof of Negative COVID-19 Test or Documentation of Recovery from COVID-19 for Air Passengers Traveling to the United States from China, Hong Kong, or Macau, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. Details about enhanced protocols, including the latest information and requirements for each Carnival Corporation cruise line brand, are available at their websites. Many are thrilled to finally travel but worried that test results wont come back in time. All guests will be required to complete a health questionnaire beginning 72 hours prior to the date of embarkation to identify any symptoms consistent with COVID-19 (or other infectious diseases . Unvaccinated guests are also not allowed to go ashore in the ports of call on their own and must have travel insurance coverage during check-in. He said the site he picked submitted his bill to his health insurance company. Carnival Cruise Line is exploring the option of adding $10 COVID-19 pier-side testing for shorter three- and four-day cruises. Carl and Joyce Reininger, of York, PA, wait with other passengers to get their boarding passes scanned before boarding a Carnival Pride cruise to the Bahamas. MORE: Next Carnival Cruise Ship Receives New Paint Job, These testing protocols are part of our layered approach to safeguarding the health and safety of our guests, crew and the communities we visit.. The details are available on Carnivals Have Fun. Although you can buy these tests over-the-counter, if you plan to use them for an upcoming cruise, you must purchase them through a Carnival recommended company to ensure its verified by a virtual eMed guide and you receive a certificate. The pre-board molecular or antigen test mandatory regardless of a guests vaccination status is an added measure recently implemented by Carnival Corporation brands. This site is best viewed in the latest version of Internet Explorer or Google Chrome, Health, Environment, Safety, Security & Sustainability Policy & Governance, Waste Management, Reduction, Reuse & Recycling, Greenhouse Gas Emission Investory Certification, Third Party Privacy, Security & Risk Management Portal. Carnival Corporation has announced another new initiative to make pre-cruise COVID-19 testing more convenient and accessible to guests. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. Beginning Tuesday, September 6, 2022, Carnival Cruise Line will be implementing new COVID-19 guidelines for both vaccinated and unvaccinated passengers. The NAAT includes PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests, considered the gold standard for accuracy. Guests ages 2 and older must present a negative PCR COVID-19 test, taken within 72 and 24 hours prior to the sailing date at check-in. Passengers have to make an advance reservation for this service. 88th annual Strawberry Festival underway in Plant City, Florida Strawberry Festival 2023: Tickets, concert lineup, and new sweet treats to try, Kissimmee pastor accused of drugging, raping member of his church during 'spiritual revival': Deputies.