Carnival cruises to Alaska 2021

[LadyMac72]

I received the below email today in case anyone is thinking of booking a Carnival cruise to Alaska this summer.

 

View Online NOTICE OF OPERATIONS UPDATE – SUMMER ALASKA 2021 SAILINGS     Dear Carnival Miracle Guest, We are very excited about our upcoming restart and having you join us for your Alaska cruise.  As we get ready to welcome you on board, our Have Fun. Be Safe.TM protocols and procedures have been designed to maximize the health and safety of our guests and crew while delivering a fun and memorable vacation experience.  Our Alaska cruise operations will reflect recent guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and close collaboration with Alaskan officials.  As we are still unable to call on Canada, we are cancelling our stop in Victoria and extending our time in Ketchikan by two hours, so you have more time to enjoy this beautiful port.  Alaska cruises are available only for guests who have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the cruise and have proof of vaccination.  Accordingly, the following applies only to these specific Alaska itineraries: All guests, including children who are age-eligible for vaccines, will need to show proof of vaccination.   This means, that regrettably, guests who are not vaccinated, including children who are not yet eligible for a vaccine, will not be permitted to sail.  Our Have Fun. Be Safe. guidelines for Alaska voyages incorporate guidance from the CDC and Alaska officials: All guests will be asked to confirm their status as fully vaccinated for COVID-19 during check-in and provide proof of vaccination in advance of boarding.  (As a reminder, “fully vaccinated” means the final dose of the vaccine was administered 14 days prior to embarkation.)   It’s important for you to come prepared, as guests who arrive at the embarkation terminal without the proper proof of vaccination will not be able to cruise, and no refund will be issued. Facemasks for all forms of transportation are still required by the CDC; however, protocols are evolving and as changes are announced, we will share more information as soon as possible. While guests will be vaccinated, we will follow protocols and requirements for each destination while ashore in Alaska.  Remember, these restrictions are under the control of local government and are subject to change without advance notice, so we encourage you to come prepared for potential mask requirements ashore.   Please note that these guidelines are subject to change and we encourage guests to visit our guest information page at Carnival.com for the most up to date information. Following the above protocols and precautions greatly reduce the likelihood that a COVID-19 case will be diagnosed during the cruise.  However, we want you to know that we are prepared to take steps to protect the health and safety of our guests and crew with the following procedures: Should there be a suspected case of COVID-19 identified on board, certain guests may need to be tested during and after the voyage.   If a guest is diagnosed with COVID-19 during the cruise, they will need to be placed into isolation until recovered.  Additionally, once the ship returns to Seattle, guests with airline reservations who have tested positive for COVID-19 will be unable to return home using commercial air and may have to quarantine locally or drive home to complete their quarantine period.  Carnival has made arrangements with local hotels in the event a quarantine is required.   If the ship meets a certain threshold for COVID-19 illness, the cruise could be cancelled at any point in the voyage and the ship will return to Seattle.  Separately, we are making vaccines available to all crew members and they will have gone through a quarantine period when joining the ship.  As an extra layer of protection, crew members will wear masks while on duty and be tested regularly.  In addition, we have equipped all our ships with enhanced medical facilities, equipment and COVID-19 testing capabilities and have made enhancements to our air ventilation systems.  There will be ample availability and reminders about handwashing/cleaning, as well as even more vigorous cleaning and sanitation procedures throughout the ship. With everyone’s cooperation and support, we are ready to deliver a fun and healthy cruise vacation to our guests.  However, if you determine that given these guidelines, the time is not right for you to personally sail, please call 1-800-CARNIVAL, your Personal Vacation Planner, or your travel advisor, so we can help you rebook for a later date.  Many of our ship itineraries are open through 2024, with more coming online soon.  We have extended your ability to rebook or request a full refund until Thursday, June 3, or by your final payment date, whichever date comes later.  After that date, our regular fare rules will apply. We look forward to our great team welcoming you on board soon. Sincerely,  Christine Duffy President, Carnival Cruise Line

[Ferry_Watcher]

Thank you for posting Carnival's expectations & requirements for passenger and crew health safety during the 2021 season.  I appreciate that Carnival made it quite clear.  I hope passengers read it carefully and understand it (i.e., importance of final vaccine date & having vaccine documentation; realization that local mask requirements must be obeyed; that passengers must be respectful of the crew wearing mask; etc).  Thanks again for posting!