CCL-Carnival Cruise Line announced it would be the largest cruise company to use the VeriFLY solution for its operations from homeports in the United States.
A pilot program is starting today, January 22, for passengers boarding Carnival Mardi Gras at Port Canaveral (Orlando, Florida), in addition to finalizing plans to expand in-terminal testing capabilities for vaccinated passengers before embarkation, specifically for short itineraries of 3- and 4-day cruises.
CCL also announced it would continue to operate under its current protocols, sailing vaccinated journeys, requiring pre-embarkation testing, as well as following onboard indoor mask requirements until further notice.
"VeriFLY by Daon" is currently widely used in the airline industry. It will allow CCL passengers to upload their proof of vaccination and testing information so it can be verified in advance of the voyage, resulting in streamlined embarkation at the cruise terminal. Once the pilot at Port Canaveral is complete, CCL intends to move to implement the solution across its fleet.
CCL is also working to expand testing capabilities at the terminal for vaccinated guests, specifically for short itineraries (3- and 4-day voyages). Once implemented, vaccinated guests will be able to meet the pre-cruise testing requirement as part of the embarkation process. Pre-registration will be required, and there will be capacity limits based on the resources of testing providers. Testing sites to support short itinerary cruises will be phased in and announced by the end of January.
CCL also revealed it intended to follow its Have Fun. Be Safe. operating protocols until further notice. Passengers and travel agents will receive more details on operations for February 2022 and beyond over the coming days.
On January 13, CCL restarted sailings from another homeport, with its Carnival Sunshine ship returning to her year-round schedule from Charleston (South Carolina). To date, the company has 19 of its 22 USA-based boats in passenger shipping operation, departing from 8 homeports on the USA's Atlantic, Gulf, and West coasts.