Carnival Cruise Line | Travel Requirements & Safety Protocols

Have Fun. Be Safe. COVID-19 Guest Protocols

Vaccinated Guests

What testing information do I need to know for my upcoming cruise?

• For cruises less than 16 nights
  • Pre-cruise testing is no longer required when proof of vaccination is shown at embarkation except for cruises to Canada, Bermuda, Greece and Australia (per local guidelines.)
• For cruises 16 nights or longer or sailings to Canada, Bermuda, Greece, and Australia
  • A PCR or antigen test within 3 days prior to sailing is required

Unvaccinated Guests

Can I sail without a COVID-19 vaccine?

• Unvaccinated guests are welcome to sail without a vaccine exemption, except for cruises in Australia or on voyages 16 nights and longer.
  • For guests who have a pending vaccine exemption application and are awaiting confirmation for cruises departing September 6, 2022 or later, the booking is confirmed unless booked on a sailing that calls on Canada, Bermuda, Australia or if the voyage is 16 nights or longer.

What testing information do I need to know for my upcoming cruise?

• Guests age 5 years and older will have to present the negative results of a PCR or antigen test taken no earlier than 3 days before sailing or when required by a destination.
• Guests under the age of 5 years are exempt from vaccination and testing requirements from the United States and under the age of 12 from Australia.
• Bermuda: Vaccinated guests age 2 years and older, and unvaccinated children ages 2-11 travelling with fully vaccinated parents/guardians, have to present a PCR test taken 4 days before sailing or an antigen test within 2 days. Unvaccinated guests 12 and older may take a PCR or antigen test within 2 days before sailing. Guests may be subject to additional testing on board which will be provided on a complimentary basis.
• Canada: All guests age 5 years and older have to present a PCR test taken within 3 days before sailing or an antigen test within 2 days before sailing. Additionally, unvaccinated guests will be given a complimentary test on board, within 24 hours of arrival to port, to comply with destination requirements.
• Greece: All guests 5 years and older have to present a PCR test taken within 3 days before sailing or an antigen test within 2 days before sailing. Vaccinated guests who are eligible for a booster and not boosted are considered unvaccinated and will be subject to additional testing on board which will be provided on a complimentary basis.
• Spain: Unvaccinated guests 12 years and older have to present a PCR test taken within 3 days before sailing or an antigen test within 2 days. Unvaccinated children 5-11 years must present a PCR/antigen test taken within 3 days.
• Cruises of 16 nights or more: All guests age 5 years and older have to present a PCR or antigen test taken within 3 days before sailing.

Health and Safety FAQs for All Guests

What kind of pre-cruise COVID-19 tests are acceptable?

• Guests must be tested with a COVID-19 viral test that is either an antigen test or a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT)
• Fully vaccinated guests may use a medically observed self-test (sometimes referred to as home test) that meets the following criteria:
  • The test must be a COVID-19 viral test (NAAT or antigen test) with Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • The testing procedure must include a telehealth service affiliated with the manufacturer of the test that provides real-time supervision remotely through an audio and video connection.
• All unvaccinated guests will be assessed a US$150 per person charge on the guest’s onboard Sail & Sign account to cover the cost of testing, reporting and health and safety screenings.

Does Carnival accept a Documentation of Recovery?

Guests who have recovered from COVID-19 within 3 months of their sailing date do not need the required pre-cruise test if they are at least 10 days past their positive test result date, have no symptoms and produce document of recovery from COVID-19. A Document of Recovery is accepted from both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated guests (with a Carnival-approved exemption) and consists of a paper or electronic copy of the positive viral test result from a certified laboratory (dated no more than 90 days prior to the sailing date).

Which COVID-19 vaccines will be accepted?

Acceptable vaccines are those that are approved, or have an emergency use authorization or listing from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the World Health Organization (WHO). 

• Pfizer: 2 Doses
• Moderna: 2 Doses
• Johnson & Johnson: 1 Dose
• AstraZeneca: 2 Doses
• Sinopharm: 2 doses
• Sinovac: 2 Doses
• US ONLY: Novavax clinical trial participants who can confirm that they received the full 2-dose series of the active COVID-19 vaccine.
• EUROPE ONLY: COVID-19 immunity may be considered equivalent to "Fully Vaccinated" if guest received 1 dose of one these vaccines (Comirnaty (Pfizer), Spikevax (Moderna) or Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca)) 14 days or more ago after a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, with a Digital COVID Certificate of Vaccination.

Can I have mixed vaccines?

Guests will be considered fully vaccinated who have received their final dose of an authorized/approved COVID-19 vaccine, or any combination of two doses of an authorized/approved vaccine at least 14 days before the beginning of the cruise. Acceptable vaccines are those that have been approved/authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or have emergency-use listing by the World Health Organization (WHO).

• MIXED DOSES: Pfizer (1 Dose) + Moderna (1 Dose)
• MIXED DOSES: AstraZeneca (1 Dose) + Pfizer (1 Dose) OR Moderna (1 Dose)

What proof of Vaccine do I need to provide?

Vaccinated cruises are available for guests who have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to embarkation day and have proof of vaccination. You will also need to provide proof of vaccination at the terminal in advance of boarding, as follows:

• Guests must bring their original vaccination record issued by the country’s health authority that administered the vaccination (i.e., U.S. CDC's Vaccination Record Card). Copies or photos are not accepted.
• The name and birth date on the vaccination card must match the guest’s travel documents and show the guest is fully vaccinated. Vaccine type, dates administered, and lot numbers must be clearly visible.
• Vaccination dates must indicate the guest has completed the required doses no later than 14 days prior to the sailing date.
• Alternatively, guests may present a digital COVID-19 Certificate (QR code acceptable) and a record of COVID-19 vaccination from a healthcare provider (original digital email accepted), personal electronic health record or government Immunization Information System record.

Do I need a COVID-19 vaccine booster to be considered fully vaccinated?

COVID-19 vaccine boosters are strongly recommended for specific at risk groups by the FDA and US CDC. Carnival's protocols, the definition of “fully vaccinated” does not generally include reference to a booster except when explicitly stated.

• Boosters may be required for specific voyages based on duration or destination requirements.
  • The following voyages require fully vaccinated guests, ages 12 and older, who are more than 6 months past the last dose of their initial vaccine series to be boosted in order to sail.
    • Carnival Pride and Carnival Celebration Europe - All 2022 departures
    • Carnival Splendor 23-day Carnival Journey (Transpacific) – September 6, 2022
    • Carnival Spirit® 16-day Carnival Journey (Panama Canal) - September 20, 2022

What are the Travel Insurance Requirements for Unvaccinated Guests? (Florida, Texas, South Carolina, & Virginia Based Departures)

• Unvaccinated guests sailing on a ship departing from these states must show proof of travel insurance coverage during check-in. This requirement is currently being waived for children under 12. However, parents are advised that purchasing travel insurance for their children is strongly recommended
• Policy requirements: a minimum of US$10,000, per person, in medical expense coverage and US$30,000 coverage for emergency medical evacuation and without COVID-19 exclusions
• The insurance policy must name the unvaccinated guest as the policy holder or beneficiary and may be purchased from a travel insurance company of the guest’s choosing or through Carnival Vacation Protection™, which includes the required coverage
• Vacation Protection is available for purchase until 14 days prior to sailing for guests residing in the U.S. (excluding New York and Puerto Rico), Canada (excluding Quebec), U.S. Virgin Islands (excluding St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix) and American Samoa (note: your booking must be paid in U.S. currency.) Should you wish to purchase Vacation Protection, please call your travel advisor for all options available
• Guests without the required proof of insurance will not be permitted to sail and no refund will be provided

We do not collect vaccination cards or store proof of vaccination. Those cruise lines that have vaccine requirements to cruise will likely ask for proof at the time of boarding.

Please note that these guidelines are subject to change.

Are masks required onboard?

• Masks are recommended on board but not required.
• Masks may be required during the entire embarkation and debarkation process (at the home port and port of call), on any transportation, including water shuttles, and when indoors on any Carnival tour.

Can I take a Shore Excursion if I am Unvaccinated?

It will be necessary to follow the health protocols for every port we visit, which are under the control of local authorities and subject to change without prior notice. All guests, regardless of vaccination status, must come prepared to follow local guidance pertaining to mask wearing, physical distancing, testing/health screenings, etc. Since destination health protocols continue to evolve, the most up-to-date information will be provided in a stateroom advisory.

Travel Authorizations

The following destinations require the completion of a Travel Authorization in advance of boarding the ship. The QR coded provided at the end of the process must be presented at time of check-in. Guests may be denied boarding if the QR is not presented.

• Bermuda - register on Bermuda's health portal and apply for a Travel Authorization here. 
  • A US$40, per person, fee applies for guests age 2 years and older. 
  • To complete the process, guests must submit proof of citizenship, picture ID and proof of vaccination.
• Canada - access ArriveCAN application here.

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Check here for the most up to date information on each Cruise Destination, including vaccination requirements, mask mandates, shore excursions, and insurance requirements.