Carnival: Vaccines now required for cruises from U.S. Atlantic, Gulf ports
By Christie Zizo Nationwide
PUBLISHED 1:01 PM ET Aug. 23, 2021

Carnival Cruise Lines says starting Aug. 28, cruise guests over the age of 12 will now need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, unless they have a medical condition that does not allow them to be vaccinated. Guests must provide proof of age or medical exemption at the time of check.

Carnival Cruise Line says the vaccine requirement is needed because more places are changing regulations for cruise ships sailing into ports outside the United States. Last week, The Bahamas announced that any ship wishing to enter a Bahamian port must confirm that all guests 12 and older are fully vaccinated, aside from anyone with a medical exemption.

"Given the number of itineraries that include multiple destinations throughout the Caribbean and, in particular, in The Bahamas, and the need for us from time to time to adjust itineraries due to medical, technical or weather emergencies, we will now operate all sailings under this requirement," said a statement on the Carnival website.

The decision will be an especially big change in Florida, which has some of the busiest cruise ports in the world.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis banned vaccine passports and refused to allow an exemption for the cruise industry. Norwegian Cruise Line sued the state over the ban. A federal judge temporarily blocked the vaccine passport ban, but the state is appealing the ruling.

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Carnival Cruise to require vaccination proof for all passengers 12 and over

The move comes after the Bahamas issued an order barring ships unless passengers were vaccinated

By Brittany Shammas
August 23, 2021 at 4:53 p.m. EDT

Carnival Cruise Line is tightening its vaccine mandate beginning this week, announcing that vaccination will be required for all passengers except children under 12 and adults with medical conditions that prohibit inoculation.

The move came Sunday, three days after the Bahamas issued an emergency order barring cruise ships from entering the country’s ports beginning Sept. 3 unless all passengers over 12 have gotten the shots. An exception is made for those with medical issues that preclude inoculation.

Carnival cited the order in announcing the updated vaccination rules, saying it was adapting to “evolving requirements of some of its destinations.”

The mandate applies to departures from all Atlantic and Gulf homeports, the company said. Previously, Carnival followed U.S. Centers for Disease Control guidelines requiring at least 95 percent of all guests and crew be fully vaccinated; the cruise line said all of its crew members have gotten the shots. The new rule is effective Aug. 28 through October.

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