Carnival Cruise Line today announced protocol updates for COVID-19.
\With these changes, Carnival said is making it easier for more guests to sail with simplified vaccination and testing guidelines, including no testing for vaccinated guests on sailings less than 16 nights, and eliminating the exemption request process for unvaccinated guests, who will only need to show a negative test result at embarkation.
All new guidelines are effective for cruises departing on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, or later, and include:
• Vaccinated guests must continue to provide evidence of their vaccination status prior to embarkation. Pre-cruise testing is no longer required, except for cruises to Canada, Bermuda, Greece and Australia (per local guidelines), and on voyages 16 nights or longer. • Unvaccinated guests are welcome to sail and are no longer required to apply for a vaccine exemption, except for cruises in Australia or on voyages 16 nights and longer. • Unvaccinated guests or those who do not provide proof of vaccination must present the results of a negative PCR or antigen test was taken within three days of embarkation. • All policies are subject to local destination regulations.
Guests under the age of five years are exempt from vaccination and testing requirements from the United States and under the age of 12 from Australia, the company said.
Voyages 16 nights and longer will continue to have vaccination and testing requirements that are specific to the itinerary. Requirements for long voyages and destination-specific protocols are available on Carnival’s Have Fun. Be Safe. page on Carnival.com
For guests who have a pending vaccine exemption application and are awaiting confirmation for cruises departing Sept. 6 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.
“Our ships have been sailing very full all summer, but there is still room for more of our loyal guests, and these guidelines will make it a simpler process, and make cruising accessible for those who were not able to meet the protocols we were required to follow for much of the past 14 months,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.
“We’ve got lots happening, with Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Celebration joining our fleet this November and more to come in 2023. Whatever the ship, homeport or itinerary that works for you, our great onboard team is ready to deliver a fun vacation – something we all look forward to even more nowadays!”
Duffy added that Carnival is in the process of updating its website, communications, and processes, and sharing more details with guests and travel advisor partners to reflect these new, simplified policies. “We appreciate the patience of our guests and travel advisor partners as we update all materials, but the end result is a very positive one for all who are looking forward to cruising with us,” she said.
While secondhand sales dominated the cruise industry headlines over the past few months, the shipbuilding business has also been busy during the pandemic.
In addition to the vessels that were already set to be built in 2020, a total of 13 extra ships were also ordered in March 2020.
Here’s the complete list:
SH Diana Cruise Line: Swen Hellenic Order Date: October 2020 Shipyard: Helsinki Shipyard (Finland) Capacity: 192 guests Tonnage: 12,500 Expected Delivery: Q1 2023
Swan Hellenic was among the first cruise lines to order a cruise ship after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to its operator, the LNG-powered ship will feature private residences, in addition to features that include a microbrewery, a hydroponic garden and an art studio.
Emerald Cruises ordered a second cruise ship for its fleet in September 2021. The new Emerald Sakara is set to be delivered in 2023 and will have the capacity of 100 guests.
A sister to the 2021-built Emerald Azzurra, the super yacht is being built by the Halong shipyard in Vietnam.
The 152-guest vessel is set to enter service in 2025 and did not have its buyer revealed at the time of the order.
American Eagle and American Glory Cruise Line: American Cruise Lines Order Date: January 2022 Shipyard: Chesapeake (United States) Capacity: 109 guests each Tonnage: 3,000 each Expected Delivery: 2023
Named Project Blue, the class will include a total of 12 vessels – of which the first two are already in construction at the Chesapeake shipyard.
Ilma and Luminara Cruise Line: Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Order Date: March 2022 Shipyard: Chantiers de l’Atlantique (France) Capacity: 456 guests each Tonnage: 37,000 each Expected Delivery: 2024 and 2025
Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection ordered two additional cruise ships in March 2022, the Ilma and the Luminara. Following the Evrima, which is set to enter service soon, the vessels will be built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France.
Designed as mega yachts, the 37,000-ton ships are set to be delivered in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Explora V and Explora IV Cruise Line: Explora Journeys Order Date: July 2022 Shipyard: Fincantieri (Italy) Capacity: 922 guests each Tonnage: 70,000 each Expected Delivery: 2027 and 2028
Several cruise ships were specifically built to serve the booming Chinese market in the last decade.
Too much capacity followed by COVID-19, in addition to other factors, changing the course of the local business, all of the vessels are now sailing elsewhere.
Here’s what happened to all of the former China-bound newbuilds:
Ovation of the Seas Company: Royal Caribbean International Built: 2016 Capacity: 4,100 guests Tonnage: 158,000 Current Sailing Region: North America
The Ovation of the Seas became the first Royal Caribbean International new build to debut in China when it arrived in Tianjin in 2016.
With several custom-designed features, the Quantum-class ship continued to serve the local market until 2018.
Beginning in 2019, the ship started to alternate summer seasons in North America – where it is currently sailing – and winter seasons in Australia.
Genting Dream Company: Dream Cruises (Genting Cruise Lines) Built: 2016 Capacity: 3,400 guests Tonnage: 150,000 Current Sailing Region: Southeast Asia
With several features to cater to Chinese guests, the Genting-owned cruise ship had already been repositioned out of China when the pandemic broke in 2020.
The vessel, which later became the Norwegian Encore, would add capacity to the local market, which was already being serviced by the 2017-built Norwegian Joy.
The plans, however, were scrapped while the ship was still being built at the Meyer Werft shipyard. Instead of China, the Norwegian Encore debuted in the North American market, where it’s still sailing to this day.
The spectrum of the Seas Company: Royal Caribbean International Built: 2019 Capacity: 4,200 guests Tonnage: 168,666 Current Sailing Region: Southeast Asia
Royal Caribbean International sent a second new build to China in 2019 with the Spectrum of the Seas.
Built-in Italy, the 135,500-ton vessel offers custom-designed features, including a karaoke entertainment complex and larger casino and shopping areas.
Costa Firenze Company: Costa Cruises Built: 2020 Capacity: 4,232 guests Tonnage: 135,500 Current Sailing Region: Mediterranean
A sister to the Costa Venezia, the Costa Firenze was set to debut in China in late 2020. Also, custom-designed to serve the local market, the 4,232-guest cruise ship was equipped with several unique features.
The pandemic, however, forced Costa Cruises to change plans for the vessel. Unable to sail to Asia, the Firenze debuted in Europe in 2021 and has been serving Western markets ever since.
The wonder of the Seas Company: Royal Caribbean International Built: 2022 Capacity: 5,448 guests Tonnage: 227,625 Current Sailing Region: Mediterranean
Currently, the world’s biggest cruise ship, the Wonder of the Seas was originally bound for year-round service in China.
Featuring interior designs and concepts to appeal to the local public, the Royal Caribbean International ship was set to debut in the Chinese market in mid-2021, offering a series of cruises departing from Shanghai.
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