Carnival Revoking Exemptions for Unvaxed 12 and Up

[TNcruising02]

46 minutes ago, BoozinCroozin said:

I don't fully agree with this. If you have a medical reason not to get vaccinated, that same reason is why you should not be permitted to cruise as well. I am sorry. I am 100% against anyone unvaccinated being on a cruise ship. It was ok in July when the numbers were steadily declining. Now that they are skyrocketing, vaccines need to be mandatory to cruise.

I have to agree with this.  The raging delta variant put a new spin on this.  Although I think vaccinated people are just as likely to get covid and possibly spread it, it is clear that unvaccinated people who do not receive quick treatment are more likely to have a severe case requiring hospitalization.  That is the difference between being quarantined to a cabin or booted off of the ship to a random port hospital.  Plus, now that the ports are making stricter rules, Carnival has no choice.

I am not sure why anyone unvaccinated or who has children who are unvaccinated aren't choosing to wait until next year to travel anywhere.  I wouldn't take young unvaccinated children on any trips right now, not just cruising.  It just seems like a better option would be to wait until next year when the kids' clubs are open, no more bubble tours, and possibly no masks.  Extremely high risk people, even vaccinated, should probably wait to travel too.

Edited August 23, 2021 by TNcruising02

[tallnthensome]

5 minutes ago, jlynchtx said:

It honestly would not bother me a bit either way. I live my life like normal and I never think about who around me is vaccinated or not vaccinated. It’s just not something I dwell on. I know many unvaccinated people who have never caught COVID yet and I know vaccinated people who have had COVID even after they were vaccinated. I am vaccinated and have never had COVID, but I figure I will get it at some point in my life. Life is too short to be divided over these things. 

Well, you use the word “I” a lot. That may be your personal approach for yourself but that is not the right approach from Carnival for the safety of everyone. We all need to focus on the safety of all, not just ourselves . This is why Carnival is taking the steps  they are. 

Edited August 23, 2021 by tallnthensome

[kids-in-2-centuries]

This update to protocols does not change the number of exemptions Carnival is giving...just makes almost all of them children.  Children are paying customers and Carnival needs all of those they can get right now.  The incentive will be there to approve as many kids under 12 as possible.

Related, a family on my 9/4 cruise group had two children approved for exemptions...one is 10 and the other will turn 12 during the cruise.  That child's exemption was revoked...which really stinks to get such late notice of a cruise cancellation.

[Brew12]

8 minutes ago, BoozinCroozin said:

Having had covid does not prevent you from getting it again. There is ZERO scientific evidence that it will prevent you from contracting it again especially with variants. As far as testing goes, testing is questionable at best anyway. Testing AND being vaccinated only go so far and it is about as close as we will get to "safe" cruising for a good long while.

I never said having Covid prevents you from getting it again. Getting vaccinated also doesn't prevent you from getting Covid. I know someone whose doctor doesn't want them getting a vaccine who just recovered from Covid for a 3rd time.

Vaccines work by getting the body to create antibodies. Natural exposure causes the body to create antibodies. The reason vaccines provide more initial protection is that the typical person develops 4 times more antibodies than someone exposed naturally. But, these antibodies fade over time, and unfortunately quickly, which is why we are looking at booster shots. It is to be expected that someone who just recovered from Covid will have more antibodies than someone vaccinated over 6 months ago.

 

And I do agree, these tests aren't going to be available any time soon, but they will be much better than just testing and vaccinating (in my opinion) if they can be properly developed. 

[BoozinCroozin]

1 minute ago, kids-in-2-centuries said:

Children are paying customers and Carnival needs all of those they can get right now.

This is simply false. Cruise line shave no shortage at all of cruisers. They are solidly booked to the capacity they want to sail with. The issue is the constant changing and modifying rules to an ever changing dynamic of this pandemic. Sorry, they lost their exemption, but the ports are making the rules now. I am glad they are and glad Carnival is getting stuck with what they should have been doing all along. The need to get to 100% vaccinated and nothing else. No exemptions, no excuses. Get your shots and cruise or choose not to cruise.

[Brew12]

3 minutes ago, kids-in-2-centuries said:

This update to protocols does not change the number of exemptions Carnival is giving...just makes almost all of them children.  Children are paying customers and Carnival needs all of those they can get right now.  The incentive will be there to approve as many kids under 12 as possible.

Related, a family on my 9/4 cruise group had two children approved for exemptions...one is 10 and the other will turn 12 during the cruise.  That child's exemption was revoked...which really stinks to get such late notice of a cruise cancellation.

That really is tough. Unfortunately there isn't anything Carnival can do about it. The Bahama's only gave around 2 weeks notice that they were changing their port policies. 

[starri]

32 minutes ago, Brew12 said:

What we really need is an accurate, quantitative antibody test.

I'm a doctor, so was among the first wave of people receiving the vaccine.  I also have some issues with my immune system.  As part of a study for people with immune conditions, I had my antibody titer measured at one and three months following my second dose.  I had antibody counts that were off-the-scale high.

 

I had a positive test in July.  My symptoms were blessedly minimal, to which I clearly credit the vaccine.

 

Antibody levels are not a predictor of true immunity.

[kids-in-2-centuries]

12 minutes ago, BoozinCroozin said:

This is simply false. Cruise line shave no shortage at all of cruisers. They are solidly booked to the capacity they want to sail with. The issue is the constant changing and modifying rules to an ever changing dynamic of this pandemic. Sorry, they lost their exemption, but the ports are making the rules now. I am glad they are and glad Carnival is getting stuck with what they should have been doing all along. The need to get to 100% vaccinated and nothing else. No exemptions, no excuses. Get your shots and cruise or choose not to cruise.

It is not false...Children have a paid spot on the ship.  Cruise lines need paying customers, be that adult or children.  I never gave my opinion on whether or not they should cruise, only that, in my opinion, there will be more approved now than there would have been before this change.  My children are adults now, both fully vaccinated.  If anything, it is time for me to update my profile picture. 🙂

[Brew12]

3 minutes ago, starri said:

Antibody levels are not a predictor of true immunity.

True immunity is an impossible goal imo. Nothing in life is 100% guaranteed. What do you think is a better predictor of immunity than antibody levels?

[firefly333]

14 minutes ago, BoozinCroozin said:

This is simply false. Cruise line shave no shortage at all of cruisers. They are solidly booked to the capacity they want to sail with. 

The low low prices and casino give away fares say carnival does have a shortage of full fare cruisers.

 

I can book a 8 day for cruisefare under $500 right now... except I'm not booking more. I'm dying to grab some of those deals for solo on rcl .. just not booking anything else.

 

Number of pax on board vista gone from 2900 to 2400. Sorry I dont buy its carnival just lowering capacity. Cruiselines are just trying to get by. Solo fare on 5 days on breeze has gone from 309, to 289, and now several dates show 269 plus taxes. Prices and capacity are dropping each new restriction added.

 

I too hope they add more cheers included fares. I need more incentive.

[BoozinCroozin]

5 minutes ago, kids-in-2-centuries said:

It is not false...Children have a paid spot on the ship.  Cruise lines need paying customers, be that adult or children.  I never gave my opinion on whether or not they should cruise, only that, in my opinion, there will be more approved now than there would have been before this change.  My children are adults now, both fully vaccinated.  If anything, it is time for me to update my profile picture. 🙂

It is false. The cruise lines have more than enough paying adults to cover their sailing capacities. There is no shortage of cruisers. If they had a shortage, you would see them begging for people to book their cruises. They are no where near that. 

 

I will say it again as they have stated at shareholder meetings, financial guidance, and to the media...there is absolutely no shortage of cruisers or bookings on any of their cruise lines.

[kdr69]

10 hours ago, firefly333 said:

I havent seen this from any on my huge roll call. I'm thinking this is specific to where you are going out of and where the cruise is going.

 

My ports are the same ole Belize roatan and cozumel and it's not affecting my cruise so far.

 

John Heald talked about this this morning and said notices were only sent out to those affected but that it will be standard starting Aug 28th for all US Departure Cruises.

[starri]

42 minutes ago, Brew12 said:

And I do agree, these tests aren't going to be available any time soon, but they will be much better than just testing and vaccinating (in my opinion) if they can be properly developed. 

Even the studies that have been done which show a benefit to high antibody titers are couched in "may's" and "maybe's."  Considering the number of times we've been told "this is the COVID magic bullet" only to ultimately find there was no benefit to this, that, or the other, I'm going to maintain my skepticism for now.

[firefly333]

4 minutes ago, kdr69 said:

John Heald talked about this this morning and said notices were only sent out to those affected but that it will be standard starting Aug 28th for all US Departure Cruises.

Yes if you read further that was early last  night, then someone posted the notice it affect all gulf and Atlantic ports and I said thanks for the update. The post right after the one you quoted from last  night spelled it out. Of course everyone knows today lol, but thanks

 

But so far with 575 on my roll call I havdnt seen posts they are affected. 

[tallnthensome]

So interesting to see protocols tighten when just a few months ago all the anti-vaxxers insisted that the lines couldn’t mandate vaccines. It would be a HIPPA violation and they would be sued immediately . That sure as heck didn’t happen as most of us predicted . Boy, were they wrong. Going to be a long time ….. 

Edited August 23, 2021 by tallnthensome

[jsglow]

Once the Bahamas made the call, everyone knew this was coming.  I'd guess we're finally morphing into the 'standard'protocol that will be applicable to all lines for the foreseeable future.

[DTL321]

Right I'm so confused why people seem so "shocked" this was coming... Mostly all Carnival cruises hit the Bahamas. With the new update from the Bahamian government saying all vaxxed over the age of 12 from September 3... This was going to happen. I think some expected Carnival to change the ports... But like where else would they go?

 

This isn't a debate of effectiveness of the vaccine, it isn't a debate on children being on the ship, it isn't a debate on antibodies... It is just the Bahamas has decided no vax no port.

 

One item, however, that seems to be forgotten on these boards... When you go on a cruise that departs the US... Once you get into international waters the rules and laws of the US are not applicable. ALSO the ships you are on are not registered to the US. So once you're off in the middle of the ocean you're following the laws and regulations of other countries. It's like going to France and expecting the laws and regulations of the US to apply...

 

Anyway I just did what I said I wouldn't lol. If you choose to cruise... Enjoy. If not... I understand and I look forward to the day you get to cruise and feel comfortable.

 

It's just like anything in life, you're not comfortable then don't do it and I respect you for that. If you are, I respect you for that. 

 

Seems like we are forgetting some common decency. Just because you can type it, maybe you don't always need to say it?

[eclue]

Congrats to the Bahamas for taking this stand......all people on a cruise ship should be vaccinated.....actually all people everywhere should be vaccinated or this pandemic will never end.....Get your shots!!!

 

[Keys2Heaven]

In order for cruising to remain operational and safe, I really don't see any other way than to sail fully vaccinated. Now that the Pfizer vaccine has received full approval, I expect that this will become commonplace for many things aside from cruising.

[asalligo]

Will they still blame the unvaccinated when their 100% vaccinated cruise still has people getting sick at the same rate? 

[RoperDK]

I am pleased with the new protocol and doubly pleased that ALL cruises, regardless of destination, will have to comply.  When I first heard about the Bahamas rule, I thought it might drive more unvaccinated adults to choose a Western itinerary.  With school back in session, there would be more room for unvaccinated adults and I was concerned about that.  

[quattrohead]

In July during startup, all the cruise companies wanted to fill the ships with top dollar pax to try and makeup some money again, perfect business decision. Unfortunately, delta version has changed the landscape again. The Bahamas new rules that include all the "private" islands has cemented the 100% vax rule. Being able to take your kids on a cruise for the next several months seems unlikely.

 

Personally I finally decided to get the vax due to the quickly rising cases and the fact we now know so much more about the vaccines. Also it has become inevitable we will need it to live a full life for now.

I choose the Pfizer vax.

 

Edit to add happy coincidence -

On August 23, 2021, the FDA approved the first COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine has been known as the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, and will now be marketed as Comirnaty, for the prevention of COVID-19 disease in individuals 16 years of age and older. The vaccine also continues to be available under emergency use authorization (EUA), including for individuals 12 through 15 years of age and for the administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals.

Edited August 23, 2021 by quattrohead
FDA approval for Pfizer

[xmasteach]

If you live in Florida, download the app, HEALTHY TOGETHER, all test listed along with results, updated constantly.  Has all the info the cruise requires.  Also got a QR code concerning vaccinations on app CLEAR.  

Both are free!

Very hard to find free rapid test for our 9/4 cruise, but persistence paid off, having a NAAT rapid test on September 1. 
Shocked at prices these for profit testing companies!  150-200$…
 

[maryann2]

2 hours ago, firefly333 said:

The low low prices and casino give away fares say carnival does have a shortage of full fare cruisers.

 

Bingo

[Alibaster McGillicutty]

36 minutes ago, quattrohead said:

People are not necessarily getting sick, just testing positive.

If they tested pax for cancer/the clap/stupidness/alcoholism there would be no cruising.

Correct, testing positive and still able to spread.

Even if it is "100% vaccinated", don't be surprised if masking remains in place or tightens even further.