"FULLY" Vaccinated AND 5 days or less - No Testing Needed

[sec1jrs]

So I just received an email from Carnival, stating starting August 4, if you are fully vaccinated and cruising 5 days or less, testing is no longer required.   BUT "FULLY Vaccinated means up to date with your booster shots.  

 

My question - which/who is Carnival following to conform with "eligible for a booster"?  Who will dictate if someone is eligible for a booster?  CDC?

 

If a guest is fully vaccinated but not up to date with their vaccines, they must take a PCR or an antigen pre-cruise COVID-19 test within three days prior to sailing.

• If you are eligible for a booster and have not received one, you are not considered up to date.

Carnival Letter.pdf

[Lee Cruiser]

2 minutes ago, sec1jrs said:

BUT "FULLY Vaccinated means up to date with your booster shots.  

That is not correct.  You are reading that wrong.  John Heald has already addressed that.  Fully vaccinated still means having the the full series (one J+J and two of the others) of the original vaccines.

 

This is from John Healds FB:

 

Fully vaccinated ( with the exception of some of the specified longer cruises which can be found on our website) means that you have had both shots of your vaccine or the one shot Johnson and Johnson.

Boosters are not required unless specified for these longer Cruises again mentioned on our have fun be safe protocols.

[sec1jrs]

3 minutes ago, Lee Cruiser said:

That is not correct.  You are reading that wrong.  John Heald has already addressed that.  Fully vaccinated still means having the the full series (one J+J and two of the others) of the original vaccines.

 

This is from John Healds FB:

 

Fully vaccinated ( with the exception of some of the specified longer cruises which can be found on our website) means that you have had both shots of your vaccine or the one shot Johnson and Johnson.

Boosters are not required unless specified for these longer Cruises again mentioned on our have fun be safe protocols.

That excerpt I pasted was from the Carnival Cruise Website:  Have Fun. Be Safe. | COVID-19 Guest Protocols | Carnival Cruise Line

So is the website incorrect?

 

TESTING REQUIREMENTS (UPDATED 7/29/22)

Effective with sailings departing August 4, 2022, there will be no pre-cruise testing for fully vaccinated guests booked on cruises with itineraries 5 days or less. Pre-cruise testing for itineraries 6 days or longer can be conducted up to three (3) days before departure.

Except where destination requirements differ*, guests who are up to date with their vaccines may take their test within three days prior to sailing.

• Up to date means a guest has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccinations, including any booster dose, when eligible.

If a guest is fully vaccinated but not up to date with their vaccines, they must take a PCR or an antigen pre-cruise COVID-19 test within three days prior to sailing.

• If you are eligible for a booster and have not received one, you are not considered up to date.

 

[allinwonderland]

I agree it's confusing that they still have a two-section layout (from when there were different days allowed for "up to date" vs. just "fully vaxxed") but if you look closely, both are saying you can take the test within 3 days of sailing. So it's giving those of us who just got the initial 2 shots (or 1 J&J) another day to take the test.

[sec1jrs]

2 minutes ago, allinwonderland said:

I agree it's confusing that they still have a two-section layout (from when there were different days allowed for "up to date" vs. just "fully vaxxed") but if you look closely, both are saying you can take the test within 3 days of sailing. So it's giving those of us who just got the initial 2 shots (or 1 J&J) another day to take the test.

Yep, correct.   I'm not up to date.   I'm eligible for a second booster but have not taken it. So I fall in the category that I need to take a test within 3 days of sailing.  I have a less than 5 days cruise in Oct and was hoping to avoid testing without being up to date.

[allinwonderland]

1 minute ago, sec1jrs said:

I'm eligible for a second booster but have not taken it. So I fall in the category that I need to take a test within 3 days of sailing.  I have a less than 5 days cruise in Oct and was hoping to avoid testing without being up to date.

The section about testing is only for cruises of 6+ nights. So you don't have to test period.

[Lee Cruiser]

5 minutes ago, sec1jrs said:

That excerpt I pasted was from the Carnival Cruise Website:  Have Fun. Be Safe. | COVID-19 Guest Protocols | Carnival Cruise Line

So is the website incorrect?

 

TESTING REQUIREMENTS (UPDATED 7/29/22)

Effective with sailings departing August 4, 2022, there will be no pre-cruise testing for fully vaccinated guests booked on cruises with itineraries 5 days or less. Pre-cruise testing for itineraries 6 days or longer can be conducted up to three (3) days before departure.

Except where destination requirements differ*, guests who are up to date with their vaccines may take their test within three days prior to sailing.

• Up to date means a guest has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccinations, including any booster dose, when eligible.

If a guest is fully vaccinated but not up to date with their vaccines, they must take a PCR or an antigen pre-cruise COVID-19 test within three days prior to sailing.

• If you are eligible for a booster and have not received one, you are not considered up to date.

 

Yes, it  may be confusing.  Not sure why they left the distinction in there between "fully vaccinated" and "up to date", since there is no longer a difference in testing days. The distinction before was that "up to date" could take their test up to three days before and "fully vaccinated" but not boosted (up to date) had to take it two days prior.

 

If you read it close, it is saying that if you are fully vaccinated or up to date then you can test three days prior.  That is only for cruises six days and longer.

[Lee Cruiser]

9 minutes ago, sec1jrs said:

Effective with sailings departing August 4, 2022, there will be no pre-cruise testing for fully vaccinated guests booked on cruises with itineraries 5 days or less.

 

3 minutes ago, sec1jrs said:

Yep, correct.   I'm not up to date.   I'm eligible for a second booster but have not taken it. So I fall in the category that I need to take a test within 3 days of sailing.  I have a less than 5 days cruise in Oct and was hoping to avoid testing without being up to date.

 

You do not have to test for a cruise 5 days or less, because you are "fully vaccinated."

[vintagegarage]

That's the great news I have been waiting for.  I'll be booking a short cruise on Carnival tonight to show my support for their decision.

'

Edited July 29, 2022 by vintagegarage

[sec1jrs]

8 minutes ago, allinwonderland said:

The section about testing is only for cruises of 6+ nights. So you don't have to test period.

I went back and re-read.  I now see how it can be read with that section for 6+.  Thank you!

[sec1jrs]

6 minutes ago, Lee Cruiser said:

 

 

You do not have to test for a cruise 5 days or less, because you are "fully vaccinated."

Thank you for the confirmation!

[jsglow]

Fully vaxxed means the full initial series (2 shots for Moderna, for example) completed more than 14 days before the cruise.  Full stop.

[evandbob]

16 minutes ago, vintagegarage said:

That's the great news I have been waiting for.  I'll be booking a short cruise on Carnival tonight to show my support for their decision.

'

I'll guess that with the latest contagious variants, cruisers will begin to show symptoms 2 or 3 days after their 5 day or shorter cruise, making it much harder to blame lax conditions on board for the virus spread.

 

Sure, we're all COVID fatigued, but let's not lose sight of what the issue is - staying healthy, not cruising blissfully ignorant of the consequences.

 

We've sailed 5 or 6 times in the last year, and have an 18 night B2B in a few weeks, but we'll continue to stay masked indoors,  in theaters and the casino.  Even a "mild" case of COVID is something to be avoided.  Take care E1!

[ninjacat123]

12 minutes ago, evandbob said:

I'll guess that with the latest contagious variants, cruisers will begin to show symptoms 2 or 3 days after their 5 day or shorter cruise, making it much harder to blame lax conditions on board for the virus spread.

 

Sure, we're all COVID fatigued, but let's not lose sight of what the issue is - staying healthy, not cruising blissfully ignorant of the consequences.

 

We've sailed 5 or 6 times in the last year, and have an 18 night B2B in a few weeks, but we'll continue to stay masked indoors,  in theaters and the casino.  Even a "mild" case of COVID is something to be avoided.  Take care E1!

Another poster on another "end of the testing" threads said they thought the cut off at 5 days and under cruises not needing the pre cruise Covid test was that ports that are still requiring negative tests are in the 6 days and up cruises.  Hopefully these ports will modify their requirements.

[topaz123]

29 minutes ago, evandbob said:

I'll guess that with the latest contagious variants, cruisers will begin to show symptoms 2 or 3 days after their 5 day or shorter cruise, making it much harder to blame lax conditions on board for the virus spread.

 

Sure, we're all COVID fatigued, but let's not lose sight of what the issue is - staying healthy, not cruising blissfully ignorant of the consequences.

 

We've sailed 5 or 6 times in the last year, and have an 18 night B2B in a few weeks, but we'll continue to stay masked indoors,  in theaters and the casino.  Even a "mild" case of COVID is something to be avoided.  Take care E1!

IF staying healthy was the concern...there would be NO cruising.

[BlerkOne]

12 minutes ago, topaz123 said:

IF staying healthy was the concern...there would be NO cruising.

Actually I think cruising is healthier than staying on land. At least for a few days more.

[ladysail2]

12 minutes ago, topaz123 said:

IF staying healthy was the concern...there would be NO cruising.

Don’t agree. One has to takes the safety controls in one’s own hands. I know lots of friends and folks who have cruised in the last year and have stayed healthy.

[bafinegan]

9 hours ago, ladysail2 said:

Don’t agree. One has to takes the safety controls in one’s own hands. I know lots of friends and folks who have cruised in the last year and have stayed healthy.

Hubbs and I have taken 4 cruises in the last year ( Carnivalx2, Viking and MSC-so different protocols).  We have driven and flown to the ports.  We are up to date with vaccines.  We have NEVER had covid ( at least not that we know of).  So yes, it can be done safely.

Edited July 30, 2022 by bafinegan

[evandbob]

Sadly, when cruise lines drop safety precautions, they attract folk who don't tend to follow sane healthy procedures that keep some diligent cruisers safe from COVID (or whatever).

 

We saw plenty of crowded elevators filled with unmasked folk on our recent sailings, e'g'.

[bguppies]

Beauty of this is that the people that believe in Fauci and the vaccine can follow his protocols and be perfectly safe, if the vaccines are as effective as he and this administration have been claiming. (while changing the finishline repeatedly)

And those who think it has all been smoke and mirrors can do their thing and possibly contract covid, but it will be there personal  choice, without negatively affecting anyone who is vaxxed and boosted. (again for those who believe)

Kudos to Carnival for following RCI and their smart leadership.

[Joebucks]

12 hours ago, evandbob said:

Even a "mild" case of COVID is something to be avoided.  Take care E1!

 

This is when we know we've gone overboard on this. When we're just worried on the very thought of "COVID". Not even consequences anymore.

 

But fear not, if you are scared of it, there are multiple boosters you can take and N95 masks you can wear. The theater of "other people" needing vaccines and masks is a false sense of security in protecting yourself from a virus. 

 

I also don't know how so many people were confused by the policy. It explains it pretty clearly to me lol. 

[Lee Cruiser]

1 hour ago, Joebucks said:

Even a "mild" case of COVID is something to be avoided.  Take care E1!

 

1 hour ago, Joebucks said:

This is when we know we've gone overboard on this. When we're just worried on the very thought of "COVID". Not even consequences anymore.

Exactly.  My wife and I had Covid about six weeks ago.  I had it first.  I would not have even tested had I not been around my grandsons who had it, along with their mom and dad.  All we had was a runny nose.  We've had colds that were much worse. I spent the quarantine time mowing, painting and working on a flooring project.

 

Through church, I have heard of numerous people (50+) who have tested positive over the last 2-3 months.  Just about all of those were similar to us.  One person did say they had fever for a day or so and were weak, but that's about it.  It's much different now than it was in July 2020.

[ontheweb]

47 minutes ago, Lee Cruiser said:

 

Exactly.  My wife and I had Covid about six weeks ago.  I had it first.  I would not have even tested had I not been around my grandsons who had it, along with their mom and dad.  All we had was a runny nose.  We've had colds that were much worse. I spent the quarantine time mowing, painting and working on a flooring project.

 

Through church, I have heard of numerous people (50+) who have tested positive over the last 2-3 months.  Just about all of those were similar to us.  One person did say they had fever for a day or so and were weak, but that's about it.  It's much different now than it was in July 2020.

Yes, agree at least for those of us fully vaccinated and boosted. But the one factor that seems not to have changed for too many people is the fear associated with the term Covid.

[Lee Cruiser]

10 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

Yes, agree at least for those of us fully vaccinated and boosted.

Most of the ones I’m talking about, including my wife and me, have not been boosted and had the vaccine well over a year ago. In fact, many of these haven’t been vaccinated once, much less had the booster.

[jetsfan58]

I was hoping that Carnival would have taken the lead of the Big 2 in the Cruise Industry. They played the "Wait and See" game with the media. 

 

Hopefully they will step up and revise the 5 day or less restriction to a 6+ day alteration? Whatever the long term plan I will continue to mask up whenever and wherever necessary to do my part to help the Industry not have to return to another two year period of No Cruising!!

 

Think about that scenario! No a good look for any of us who love cruising Carnival!