Have Fun. Be Safe.

Cruising with Carnival is easy! Vaccines and testing are no longer required for most cruises. Read on for all the details as there are some exceptions.

Guests sailing from Australia, please visit the Australia Have Fun. Be Safe. page for protocols specific to those cruises.

VACCINATION GUIDELINES & TESTING REQUIREMENTS

Cruises of 15 nights or less:

  • Although vaccines are not required, we encourage all guests 5 years of age and older to be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines, when eligible, and carry proof of vaccination.* Guests are considered fully vaccinated if they have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine or the appropriate booster at least 14 days prior to the sailing day (not counting embarkation day).
  • Although not required for either vaccinated or unvaccinated guests, we encourage all guests 5 years and older to take a pre-cruise COVID-19 test within three days of their cruise.

Cruises of 16 nights or more (excluding Carnival Spirit’s voyages noted below):

  • All guests, 18 years of age and older, may be required to present proof of vaccination (including a booster if they are more than 6 months past the last dose of their initial vaccine series).
  • Guest may also be required to present the negative results of a COVID-19 test taken prior to embarkation day.

NOTE:

Carnival Spirit - April 16, 2023, & September 19, 2023: These sailings do not require proof of vaccination, vaccine exemption or testing. However, we encourage all guests to follow the vaccination and testing guidance outlined above.

Carnival Luminosa - 9/14/2023: Please check back for an update on vaccination and testing requirements for this voyage. Vaccine exemptions may be required for this sailing.

* Proof of vaccination is required for cruises that visit Grand Turk. Guests visiting Cartagena or Santa Marta, Colombia, may present either proof of vaccination or the negative result of a test (PCR taken within 72 hours or Antigen within 48 hours prior to embarkation).

DESTINATION REQUIREMENTS

In most cases, unvaccinated guests are free to disembark and enjoy their time ashore. However, certain destinations have imposed certain restrictions and we cannot guarantee that more will not be added.

  • Grand Turk – unvaccinated guests, aged 18 years and older, will have to remain on board.
  • Colombia – unvaccinated guests, aged 18 years and older, will have to remain on board, unless they can provide the negative result of a test (PCR taken within 72 hours or Antigen within 48 hours prior to embarkation).

We will continue to monitor the protocols and requirements of the destinations we visit and will update our guests directly and this page of any changes.

Have questions? Check out our Have Fun. Be Safe. FAQs.

Carnival Cruise Line Refund and Cancellation Policy for COVID-19

  • If a guest tests positive for COVID-19 within 5 days or less from the scheduled date of embarkation, guest may elect to cancel their cruise booking by immediately (within 24 hours of receiving the test result) contacting Carnival at 1-800-CARNIVAL to notify Carnival of their cancellation.

  • Guests, and their traveling companions assigned in the same stateroom, who cancel their booking due to testing positive for COVID-19 within 5 days of the date of embarkation are entitled to receive a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) or a refund* for the amount paid to Carnival. Travel-with cabins are not eligible for either an FCC or refund.

  • To qualify for the FCC or refund*, guest must immediately notify Carnival of the cancellation (within 24 hours of receiving a positive COVID-19 test result) and no later than noon on the date of embarkation. Guest must also present a verified positive test result in a form acceptable to Carnival, i.e., a laboratory test record, digital certificate, or healthcare record, which indicates full legal name, date of birth, type of test, date and time sample was taken, test result stating “POSITIVE” and laboratory, testing site, and/or healthcare provider details. Handwritten test results and photographs of at home test results are not acceptable. Such results must be submitted to Carnival at gconcerns@carnival.com no later than 24 hours from the scheduled date of embarkation to qualify for an FCC or refund*.

  • Any close contacts of a confirmed COVID-19 guest may travel if they are asymptomatic on embarkation day, test negative to an antigen test at embarkation and agree to additional testing up to 5 days from last exposure. Close contacts with a document of recovery are exempt from testing.

  • Guests who are denied embarkation or reboarding, or quarantined or disembarked during the voyage, due to a positive COVID-19 test result or who are suspected of having COVID-19, are entitled to an FCC or refund* for the amount paid to Carnival in the event of a denial at embarkation or for the unused portion of your cruise fare in all other cases.

  • No shows and guests who fail to comply with the COVID-19 cancellation procedures above or the Carnival COVID-19 Guest Protocols in effect at the time of the cruise, shall not be entitled to an FCC, refund or compensation of any kind. Please refer to the Ticket Contract issued for your cruise for complete details.

*All refund requests must be made within 5 days of the scheduled embarkation date or you will only be entitled to a Future Cruise Credit for the amount specified. Please call 1-800-CARNIVAL to request your refund. Guest who have purchased Carnival’s Vacation Protection must file a claim through Aon at Aon’s website or by calling 800-331-2796 or 516-342-7262.