Carnival’s CEO states that they will not require vaccinations

[Joebucks]

11 hours ago, jfunk138 said:

Surprised nobody posted this yet:

 

https://news.yahoo.com/cdc-guidance-says-cruise-ships-154352815.html

 

"CDC guidance says cruise ships won't need to mandate vaccines"

 

Apparently Arnold Donald and CDC are on the same page.

 

Thankfully, we can move past this topic now. Since the experts have given their guidance, that satisfies the safety crowd. Right?

[kdr69]

11 hours ago, jfunk138 said:

mandate something they won't yet even approve beyond emergency use? 

Would that not be the Food and Drug Administration that gave the emergency use and also approves regular usage?  Not sure if that is in CDC's mandate to give vaccine approvals?

[cruisingguy007]

12 hours ago, jfunk138 said:

April 5th is a microsecond ago in slow moving CDC time.  I don't think they would change their mind in 20 days given the time it has taken to get this far.

That said, in general, folks here seem to be far too confident in the CDC's ability to mandate the vaccine.  They aren't even willing to sign off on full approval, are they really going to put their bureaucratic rears on the line and mandate something they won't yet even approve beyond emergency use?  Going on a cruise is no "emergency" in their mind.

 

I suspect they will abandon the masks outdoors entirely as well since it will be announced today that masks outdoors don't reduce transmissions. I actually think this kicking the can thing is great for the lines. They want cruising back to how it was. The margins weren't meant for 60%-75% capacity cruises. The executives want those bonuses and those only come with full ships. Del Rio has said as much on the record. If they wait long enough, full ships with close to normal cruise experience may be a better deal than changing a bunch of rules and having to slowly walk them back. They want as little yoke as possible.     

[jfunk138]

29 minutes ago, kdr69 said:

Would that not be the Food and Drug Administration that gave the emergency use and also approves regular usage?  Not sure if that is in CDC's mandate to give vaccine approvals?

Sure.  Would that not be the CDC stepping on the FDA's toes to "mandate" a vaccine that the FDA has been unwilling to approve?  I'm just not sure how it would work for the CDC to override the FDA's authority by mandating something that had not even been approved.

[kdr69]

10 minutes ago, jfunk138 said:

Sure.  Would that not be the CDC stepping on the FDA's toes to "mandate" a vaccine that the FDA has been unwilling to approve?  I'm just not sure how it would work for the CDC to override the FDA's authority by mandating something that had not even been approved.

Yes but your statement was worded as if the CDC were the ones who approved for emergency use which is what i questioned.  The above bolded portion of your reply is much clearer.

[mondello]

1 hour ago, cruisingguy007 said:

 

 I actually think this kicking the can thing is great for the lines. They want cruising back to how it was. The margins weren't meant for 60%-75% capacity cruises...full ships with close to normal cruise experience may be a better deal than changing a bunch of rules and having to slowly walk them back. They want as little yoke as possible.     

This is pretty much exactly what I posted a week ago.

[Jamesatgsu]

16 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

Okay, how did it get from bats to people?

Diseases move frequently between humans and animals. In the case of bats, humans come in frequent contact with the feces and urine. Then there are also parasites such as ticks that spread the disease between hosts. And of course eating a bat is also possible. At the end, we'll never know with absolute certainty unless it was lab created and records are discovered proving it.

[SwordBlazer Cruising]

Has anyone pondered the reason as to why almost all cruiselines have not mandated vaccines to cruise from the US ports? It is because the CDC has not mandated this. No other form of travel is this required and if it would be for the cruise industry, it makes more sense for them to say " This is a CDC requirement " than to say its our policy. Good cop, bad cop. 
 

 

 

[Pizzasteve]

22 hours ago, cruisingguy007 said:

 

I suspect they will abandon the masks outdoors entirely as well since it will be announced today that masks outdoors don't reduce transmissions. I actually think this kicking the can thing is great for the lines. They want cruising back to how it was. The margins weren't meant for 60%-75% capacity cruises. The executives want those bonuses and those only come with full ships. Del Rio has said as much on the record. If they wait long enough, full ships with close to normal cruise experience may be a better deal than changing a bunch of rules and having to slowly walk them back. They want as little yoke as possible.     

Exactly.  Its pretty clear the majority of cruise lines will pursue strategies to mothball the majority of their fleets, leave most lower income crew staff hanging, wait it out, posture to blame 'big old nasty government' for the health issues on ships, try to hold onto as much cash as possible, try to preserve some customer goodwill with a few sailings to keep brand active, appoligise over cancelled cruises, restart when pandemic is considerd 'managed' so they can operate with same old same old model.  Its rational.

[kdr69]

2 hours ago, Pizzasteve said:

Its rational.

🤨

[bamaone]

5 hours ago, Pizzasteve said:

Exactly.  Its pretty clear the majority of cruise lines will pursue strategies to mothball the majority of their fleets, leave most lower income crew staff hanging, wait it out, posture to blame 'big old nasty government' for the health issues on ships, try to hold onto as much cash as possible, try to preserve some customer goodwill with a few sailings to keep brand active, appoligise over cancelled cruises, restart when pandemic is considerd 'managed' so they can operate with same old same old model.  Its rational.

I apologize up front if I misunderstood your post.  My sarcasm meter isn’t what it used to be. I can’t imagine any cruise line not doing everything they can to revive their product ASAP if they get the ok to go. 

[embarkation75]

On 4/26/2021 at 11:25 PM, BlerkOne said:

I believe it had been mentioned. I do like the masks will be required. 

 

It is possible I suppose that there could be different requirements for passengers with vaccines vs those without.  

As I mentioned way earlier in this thread, it looks likely Carnival will take the same approach as their river cruise friends in American Cruise Lines with different requirements for vaccinated vs unvaccinated...

 

"Fully vaccinated guests are not required to obtain a COVID-19 test prior to travelling to the ship and will be asked to present proof of the vaccine (i.e. vaccination card) at time of boarding. A guest is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the last recommended dose of vaccine.

 

Guests who are not fully vaccinated must take a COVID-19 test within 4 days of the start of their cruise package. Only molecular test results (such as a NAAT or PCR test) will be accepted. Guests are asked to submit their test results to American Cruise Lines at healthsafety@americancruiselines.com and present the result at the time of boarding"

[stellarose]

and many many more universities are asking students to submit vaccination records. now PSU wants students to upload their Covid shots- not required but HIGHLY HIGHLY suggested. 

 

so sure cruise lines will ask the same.  I have my vaccine  records with my primary care doc- so that is NOT faked as many think with the vaccine cards.  

 

but again, I don't sail till the winter and who knows where we will be then. 

 

I take things DAY by DAY for now.

[embarkation75]

Welp, as many suspected this entire debate has largely been decided by the CDC at least for initial cruises as noted in the USA today story from this morning...

 

"Ships can bypass the required simulated test voyages carrying volunteers and jump to sailings with paying passengers if 98% of crew and 95% of passengers are fully vaccinated." 

[Jasonsterling]

44 minutes ago, embarkation75 said:

Welp, as many suspected this entire debate has largely been decided by the CDC at least for initial cruises as noted in the USA today story from this morning...

 

"Ships can bypass the required simulated test voyages carrying volunteers and jump to sailings with paying passengers if 98% of crew and 95% of passengers are fully vaccinated." 

I wonder which route Carnival will take on this. That said I'm glad the CDC is acknowledging that getting the vaccine should be indictive of being able to get life back to normal. 

[embarkation75]

47 minutes ago, Jasonsterling said:

I wonder which route Carnival will take on this. That said I'm glad the CDC is acknowledging that getting the vaccine should be indictive of being able to get life back to normal. 

Carnival (like any other corporation) will go the route that gives them the quickest path to revenue. In other words, you better be vaccinated or you are likely not sailing on Carnival or any other cruiselines for possibly up to a year after return to cruising.

Edited April 29, 2021 by embarkation75

[Jasonsterling]

4 minutes ago, embarkation75 said:

Carnival (like any other corporation) will go the route that gives them the quickest path to revenue. In other words, you better be vaccinated or you are likely not sailing on Carnival or any other cruiselines for possibly up to a year after return to cruising.

Granted that's my first thought as well but Carnival has been so reluctant to make that decision and the CDC option is not a firm mandate so it leaves room for Carnival to decide if they can satisfy the other requirements in quick enough fashion or if they are going to chose vaccines. One thing in favor of Carnival deciding to not go the vaccine route is they really have become a "family" cruise line over the years with a large contingent of young children sailing, so they may not want to risk that loss, especially during the summer. Personally I am vaccinated and just glad that my future plans are at least a little bit more secure now- I wonder how long it'll be before an official statement from CLIA and the cruise lines themselves. 

[slavens_09]

Booked July 19th out of Galveston is looking more and more likely! Keep the good news coming!

[ProgRockCruiser]

8 minutes ago, Jasonsterling said:

Granted that's my first thought as well but Carnival has been so reluctant to make that decision and the CDC option is not a firm mandate so it leaves room for Carnival to decide if they can satisfy the other requirements in quick enough fashion or if they are going to chose vaccines.

If Carnival were to choose the "Test cruise" route, they won't be sailing for many months - the process hasn't started, and it seemed pretty clear it was at least a 90 day process.  And that is if it is approved.

 

So if they want to cruise, they'll comply with the vaccination requirement, IMHO.

[harkinmr]

16 minutes ago, Jasonsterling said:

I wonder how long it'll be before an official statement from CLIA and the cruise lines themselves. 

I wouldn't hold my breath.  They haven't even acknowledged the CDC sit-down with cruise line execs on April 12th or that the cruise line reps have been meeting with the CDC twice weekly since then.  I'm sure whatever statement they do make will be more gnashing of teeth about how unfair the whole process is and why can't the CSO just go away.

[IntrepidFromDC]

12 minutes ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

If Carnival were to choose the "Test cruise" route, they won't be sailing for many months - the process hasn't started, and it seemed pretty clear it was at least a 90 day process.  And that is if it is approved.  So if they want to cruise, they'll comply with the vaccination requirement, IMHO.

I agree it makes the most sense, both from a business standpoint and based on the Galveston and other port sightings and announcements.  Someone raised an interesting point about whether the 5% non-vaxxers would be reserved for kids only.  I wonder if Carnival's stance that they will not require vaccinations will result in fractured non-vaxxer cruisers once Carnival switches from "no vaccinations required" to "only 5% non-vaxxers allowed"...  Just anticipating the back and forth on cruisecritic about a new hot topic "5%" is popcorn-worthy, IMO.

Edited April 29, 2021 by IntrepidFromDC

[mondello]

Nobody seems to mandate 100% vaccinated required. I can just imagine who is gonna be trying to board through that 5% loophole.

[dallasdan]

I agree with another poster.  I doubt the 5% includes children.  I think the 5% would be for those that have medical reasons to not be vaccinated.  Also, on a large ship that is still over 200 non vaccinated.

 

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Without a secure digital passport (not happening), even if they required 100% of guests to be vaccinated, they won't be - pure and simple. There are plenty of people who would forge the necessary documents (CDC card, attesting to it on a form,  bring a note from a Dr written on the back of a napkin, etc..).

 

Back in the day, we used Rum Runners to smuggle booze - and so did a number of others. People all have different levels of adherence to "rules". Some will comply with everything, others will find justification to do, basically, whatever. 

 

Tom

[gooscar]

No Masks, Please.  No Requirement for the Experimental shot.