Carnival Cruise Line Removes Pre-Cruise Testing for Vaccinated Guests and Welcomes All Unvaccinated To Sail

[jimbo5544]

On 8/26/2022 at 10:18 PM, pohlerbear said:

I completely agree with you- but I think we are in the minority. Most people I've noticed (on this board and in my cruise FB group) seem to think all precautions should've been done away with. 

I do feel like i was baited and switched- I booked a cruise with protocols in place that made me feel fairly (not completely) safe.  Right after my final payment, they pulled the testing. Now the vaccinations.  No way I would have booked without both of those things. Luckily our ship was already sold out, so there should mainly be vaccinated guests.  But I won't be booking another cruise anytime soon. 

Of course conditions change and of course the cruise lines adapt.  If someone  ONLY wants to cruise in a pure environment with absolutely no changes, (and that os totally up to you), then wait for it all t0 go away.  To assume that the cruise lines will not adapt (to what they think is the right thing and the majority of their clients think is the right thing), certainly in not a bait and switch.  It has been a long 19 months, Since opening I have been 5 cruises and have 7 booked.  I think they need to continue to relax the rules.  They are sailing at near capacity without a major blip, pretty darn good in my book.

Edited August 29, 2022 by jimbo5544

[Buckeyefrank100]

1 hour ago, jimbo5544 said:

Of course conditions change and of course the cruise lines adapt.  If someone  ONLY wants to cruise in a pure environment with absolutely no changes, (and that os totally up to you), then wait for it all t0 go away.  To assume that the cruise lines will not adapt (to what they think is the right thing and the majority of their clients think is the right thing), certainly in not a bait and switch.  It has been a long 19 months, Since opening I have been 5 cruises and have 7 booked.  I think they need to continue to relax the rules.  They are sailing at near capacity without a major blip, pretty darn good in my book.

All this angst over a virus that is literally now a cold.  I don't get it.

[JT1962]

MSC is dropping testing as of Sep 1 for vaccinated US cruisers oncruises of any length unless a destination requires it. Hopefully Carnival and others will follow and drop the non-proctored self-test nonsense.

 

https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/28136-msc-cruises-relaxes-covid-19-protocols-on-u-s-sailings.html

Edited August 29, 2022 by JT1962

[JT1962]

Effective Dec 1, 2022, Covid tests or proof of Covid vaccine will no longer be required for all passengers on most Azamara cruises. Hopefully Carnival and others will follow.

 

https://cruiseradio.net/azamara-cruises-drops-testing-vaccine-mandate-all-guests/

[ryanpatricksmom]

I have been vaccinated and double boosted. During the pandemic I visited Disneyworld multiple times, sometimes for 14 days at a stretch.  I live in a golf community that wouldn't understand social distancing no matter how many times it was explained.  I have flown at least a half dozen times to various locations staying in many hotels. I live in a state that hasn't abided by masking requirement for the entire pandemic. I sailed in August of 2021 and January and March of 2023.  I evaded COVID for all of that time, through all of that traveling.  Since the more virulent strains have become predominant I have cruised twice. Both times (July and August) I have returned from the cruises with COVID.  The first instance could have been considered like a "cold", but I promise you this last time was not.  It was very much like a bad flu with a temperature of 102.9.  I am about to sail again for 3 weeks,  so I will be getting the 3rd booster and hope that my immunity is in overdrive since I had a more severe case this last time.  I fully support relaxing the rules on testing since it really only captures a moment in time rendering it a useless tool.  What everyone should know, however, is that for me, and for many others that I know who have had similar experiences, you should be prepared to get COVID (likely towards the end of your cruise).  While the likelihood that the vaccinated will not require medical attention, it will not be a pleasant experience either.  Take medications with you such as Mucinex, Tylenol, Throat Lozenges, and Cough Suppressant.  Have a plan in place in the event that you are too sick to make it home, and

bring masks so that you don't spread it to anyone else.

[DAVLIB007]

48 minutes ago, ryanpatricksmom said:

I have been vaccinated and double boosted. During the pandemic I visited Disneyworld multiple times, sometimes for 14 days at a stretch.  I live in a golf community that wouldn't understand social distancing no matter how many times it was explained.  I have flown at least a half dozen times to various locations staying in many hotels. I live in a state that hasn't abided by masking requirement for the entire pandemic. I sailed in August of 2021 and January and March of 2023.  I evaded COVID for all of that time, through all of that traveling.  Since the more virulent strains have become predominant I have cruised twice. Both times (July and August) I have returned from the cruises with COVID.  The first instance could have been considered like a "cold", but I promise you this last time was not.  It was very much like a bad flu with a temperature of 102.9.  I am about to sail again for 3 weeks,  so I will be getting the 3rd booster and hope that my immunity is in overdrive since I had a more severe case this last time.  I fully support relaxing the rules on testing since it really only captures a moment in time rendering it a useless tool.  What everyone should know, however, is that for me, and for many others that I know who have had similar experiences, you should be prepared to get COVID (likely towards the end of your cruise).  While the likelihood that the vaccinated will not require medical attention, it will not be a pleasant experience either.  Take medications with you such as Mucinex, Tylenol, Throat Lozenges, and Cough Suppressant.  Have a plan in place in the event that you are too sick to make it home, and

bring masks so that you don't spread it to anyone else.

same here have your experience is almost identical to min . have travel a lot and have done 6 cruises since startup. my first cruise when mask were not required sure enough got covid now thats on me since i didn't wear mine. I had a rough bout of Covid. think i will wear my mask indoors. think elevators and casino and clubs 

[LHARTWICK]

18 hours ago, ryanpatricksmom said:

 Take medications with you such as Mucinex, Tylenol, Throat Lozenges, and Cough Suppressant.  Have a plan in place in the event that you are too sick to make it home, and

bring masks so that you don't spread it to anyone else.

Thanks for this tip re: the meds.  I always pack a bag of meds, but I need to add the cough related stuff for our OCT/DEC cruises.  

[fair-winds39]

On 9/1/2022 at 4:25 PM, ryanpatricksmom said:

I have been vaccinated and double boosted. During the pandemic I visited Disneyworld multiple times, sometimes for 14 days at a stretch.  I live in a golf community that wouldn't understand social distancing no matter how many times it was explained.  I have flown at least a half dozen times to various locations staying in many hotels. I live in a state that hasn't abided by masking requirement for the entire pandemic. I sailed in August of 2021 and January and March of 2023.  I evaded COVID for all of that time, through all of that traveling.  Since the more virulent strains have become predominant I have cruised twice. Both times (July and August) I have returned from the cruises with COVID.  The first instance could have been considered like a "cold", but I promise you this last time was not.  It was very much like a bad flu with a temperature of 102.9.  I am about to sail again for 3 weeks,  so I will be getting the 3rd booster and hope that my immunity is in overdrive since I had a more severe case this last time.  I fully support relaxing the rules on testing since it really only captures a moment in time rendering it a useless tool.  What everyone should know, however, is that for me, and for many others that I know who have had similar experiences, you should be prepared to get COVID (likely towards the end of your cruise).  While the likelihood that the vaccinated will not require medical attention, it will not be a pleasant experience either.  Take medications with you such as Mucinex, Tylenol, Throat Lozenges, and Cough Suppressant.  Have a plan in place in the event that you are too sick to make it home, and

bring masks so that you don't spread it to anyone else.

We’ll, that’s encouraging. So looking forward to our cruise in a few weeks.  I’m surely stressed out more now than ever. This cruise was rebooked twice and we have another scheduled in Dec. 2022. The Mucinex and Tylenol are good to go. Our toiletry bag looks like a portable pharmacy. I’m hopeful that by spending most time on balcony and other times masked indoors, along with being vaxxed, and boosted twice, will help a little……fingers crossed.

[ryanpatricksmom]

2 hours ago, fair-winds39 said:

We’ll, that’s encouraging. So looking forward to our cruise in a few weeks.  I’m surely stressed out more now than ever. This cruise was rebooked twice and we have another scheduled in Dec. 2022. The Mucinex and Tylenol are good to go. Our toiletry bag looks like a portable pharmacy. I’m hopeful that by spending most time on balcony and other times masked indoors, along with being vaxxed, and boosted twice, will help a little……fingers crossed.

The odds are very good that even if exposed you will make it home before you have an issue.  My July cruise was a 10 day and I got the sore throat and a rash on the last day.  I was still negative all the way home which took 2 days. Other than the nasty sore throat and fatigue it was never a big deal.  The second cruise was 8 days and I developed the rash (again) with a milder sore throat on debarkation day.  I again was able to fly home before testing positive.  This time I was very sick on day 3, fine by day five.  I still haven't gotten a negative test (and I sail next Saturday), so I'm in stressed out mode too!  I think being double boosted you start to get symptoms before the viral load gets high enough to test positive so you get some time to get your ducks in a row.   Hopefully this variant will start losing steam soon.  Good luck!

[fair-winds39]

5 minutes ago, ryanpatricksmom said:

The odds are very good that even if exposed you will make it home before you have an issue.  My July cruise was a 10 day and I got the sore throat and a rash on the last day.  I was still negative all the way home which took 2 days. Other than the nasty sore throat and fatigue it was never a big deal.  The second cruise was 8 days and I developed the rash (again) with a milder sore throat on debarkation day.  I again was able to fly home before testing positive.  This time I was very sick on day 3, fine by day five.  I still haven't gotten a negative test (and I sail next Saturday), so I'm in stressed out mode too!  I think being double boosted you start to get symptoms before the viral load gets high enough to test positive so you get some time to get your ducks in a row.   Hopefully this variant will start losing steam soon.  Good luck!

I sure hope so. 

Enjoy your cruise.