As the cruise industry emerged from a 15-month hiatus in July 2021, it did so under the weight of numerous concessions and stringent rules, primarily set forth by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Initially, these regulations mandated a negative COVID test for all passengers before boarding and required mask-wearing in cruise terminals and indoor areas of ships, except when actively eating or drinking.
These protocols evolved regularly and sometimes abruptly. Both Carnival Cruise Line/CCL and its chief rival Royal Caribbean International/RCI limited their buffets to breakfast and lunch at various intervals. Furthermore, due to CDC and social distancing guidelines, ships sailed significantly below their capacity for an extended period.
However, these restrictions deterred some cruisers from returning. For various reasons, including mask discomfort, vaccination concerns, and a preference for a return to pre-pandemic norms, some passengers chose to stay away.
Now, with rising COVID numbers, rumors have circulated on social media suggesting that CCL may reintroduce some of its COVID-era rules. The persistence of these rumors prompted John Heald (Carnival's Brand Ambassador) to address the matter in a video on his popular Facebook page.
It's important to clarify that as of now, CCL ships have no special rules related to COVID-19.
In his video, Heald acknowledged the continued presence of COVID in our lives and addressed questions about whether the cruise line planned to reimpose COVID-era rules in the USA. He was unequivocal in his response, stating that mask-wearing and COVID protocols would not be reinstated.
Heald acknowledged a sense of general unease and noted that some passengers on CCL's vessels had reported testing positive for COVID after their cruises. He also shared a message from CCL's head of communications, Chris Chiames, which emphasized that specific COVID protocols for ex-USA cruise ships were lifted in 2022. Chiames pointed out that there were no special protocols for cruising in most parts of the world and that while vaccines were not mandatory, guests were encouraged to be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations.
Heald also mentioned that vaccines and boosters were available to all crew members on board and that the cruise line maintained enhanced COVID-era cleaning standards. He clarified that COVID testing was not required for vaccinated or unvaccinated guests but encouraged guests over five years old to take a pre-cruise COVID-19 test within three days of their voyage.
Ultimately, Heald emphasized that Carnival encouraged passengers to be cautious, but the choices they made regarding their own health were theirs to decide, not dictated by the cruise line.