Pre-Cruise testing back on for ALL Carnival cruises calling on Bahamas & Grand Cayman

The GC was one of the last of the islands to even open to cruise ships. Guessing they're requiring continued vax.

Agreed - it can be difficult to keep up with CCL's changing protocols! I knew something could change when the very first "no test" announcement (7/29 I think) mentioned that they were still waiting to hear back from some of the ports of call. In retrospect, it would have been much better to wait until getting formal agreement from all ports before issuing the "no test" announcement.

Now that RCCL has announced the same pre-cruise testing requirements (no test for vaccinated on 5 day or less, excluding Canada and Bermuda) I think this latest iteration will stick. In CCL's defense, they say they notified via email all of the passengers booked on the 8/4 and 8/5 cruises that the previous announce was incorrect and in fact a test was required. It was a very last-minute notification, which is why CCL was providing in-terminal testing at $30 a pop instead of the previous $100 for those cruises.

This "process" is absurd...WE can have trouble keeping up with it, and "we" actually try to pay attention.

That will also apply to visits to Canada. Any visit to Canada by ship requires vaccinated, negative pre cruise test and you have to pre register through their ArriveCAN app. Regardless of cruise line or length of cruise.

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/entering-leaving-canada-cruise-ship-covid-19.html

And...... it's OFF again, effective August 8, no pre-cruise test required for vaccinated guests on a 5 day or shorter cruise (except for cruises calling on Bermuda).

7/29: No testing required effective 8/4.

8/1: Sorry, disregard the 7/29 announcement, testing will be required.

8/5: Oops: never mind, no testing required effective 8/8.

Just got this email from Carnival...

CRUISES 5 DAYS OR LESS

Except for sailings visiting Bermuda (see below), there will be no pre-cruise testing for fully vaccinated guests booked on cruises with itineraries 5 days or less.

Appreciate the information. Passed it on to friends that it impacts!

If I typed what I was thinking about CCL's stream of changes, well, it would probably be deleted. I've been at this long enough to know what they're trying to say, and how often they get the text or the notification process wrong. They could pay me to edit their "communiques", but I'd probably last about 10 minutes in the job, especially after I jumped all over their IT people. Clearly, you're a perfect example. You nailed the latest glitch right away.

Hopefully Carnival will notify those guests booked for Bahamas cruises on Thursday and Friday that they will now need a pre-cruise test taken either today, tomorrow, (or up to Thursday in the case of Friday departure). Carnival Paradise from Tampa and Carnival Elation from Jacksonville on Thursday, and Carnival Conquest on Friday.

I booked a cruise for 8/15 immediately after the no-test announcement was made last week, but haven't received any notification that a test is now required. I wonder how many people will show up at the terminal on 8/4 and 8/5 with no test results?

Thanks for putting it up again. Its been on here at least 3x, and thats a good thing...but my $$ says it won't matter...there'll still be about a gazillion peeps who won't read it, don't understand it, or flat out ignore it. a better question is what impact it will have on the incidence of COVID on board...we'll never know, nobody's reporting that anymore...

Here's the relevant information from the updated page:

CRUISES 5 DAYS OR LESS

Except where destination requirements differ, effective with sailings departing August 4, 2022, there will be no pre-cruise testing for fully vaccinated guests booked on certain cruises with itineraries 5 days or less. Due to destination requirements, ALL guests on itineraries that include Bahamas, Bermuda and Grand Cayman must complete a pre-cruise test, irrespective of the length of the cruise. For these itineraries, guests may take either a PCR or antigen test starting 3 days before departure and including embarkation day, provided test results are received in time for check-in (for example, if the sailing is on Saturday, the test may be taken any time from Wednesday). See below for specific testing requirements for Bermuda.*

* BAHAMAS, BERMUDA, CANADA, AND GRAND CAYMAN: Pre-cruise testing requirements remain in place for ALL guests on ALL itineraries which include Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, and Grand Cayman. Fully vaccinated guests traveling to Bermuda and Canada can take either a PCR test within 72 hours prior to sailing, or an antigen test no earlier than two days prior to sailing, in order to comply with destination regulations.