After announcing on Friday, August 12, that it was revising pre-cruise COVID vaccination and testing requirements that would allow more passengers to sail, CCL-Carnival Cruise Line revealed that its booking activity for Monday, August 15 had been nearly double the level for the equivalent day back in 2019.
Last Friday, the company announced simplified protocols that eliminated pre-cruise COVID testing requirements for vaccinated passengers and eliminated the exemption request process for unvaccinated travelers, who now will only need to show a negative COVID test result at embarkation (effective for voyages departing on September 6, 2022, or later on sailings less than 16 nights.
Christine Duffy (CCL's President) said they had previously disclosed strong occupancy projections for the summer, and their bookings through the end of 2022 had also been very solid.
“With the further alignment of protocols to other vacation choices, our guests are booking the remaining 2022 inventory, and getting a head start planning for 2023. Mid-August is typically not a busy month for cruise bookings, but it’s clear that pent-up demand for Carnival has not been satisfied and guests are responding very favorably to our updated protocols.”
Duffy reiterated that the company remains committed to the health and safety of passengers, crew members, and the communities Carnival ships visit, and will continue to work with public health officials and medical experts to refine its protocols responsibly.