On the same day that Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. and Royal Caribbean Group submitted their health recommendations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Carnival Corporation and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) have done the same in response to the government agency’s call for public comment.
“Our highest responsibility and top priorities are compliance, protecting the environment, and the health, safety and well-being of our guests, our crew members and the communities we visit,” Carnival Corporation said in a statement. “That ongoing focus is reflected in the core elements of extensive health protocols for a gradual resumption of cruise operations in the Americas submitted today by CLIA, our cruise industry association, to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The core elements submitted to the CDC incorporate input from Carnival Corporation and our nine cruise line brands, along with our fellow CLIA members.”
CLIA’s intent is to resume cruise operations in the Americas in a phased-in fashion while abiding by mandatory health protocols informed by leading experts around the world. The association adds that the measures will be continuously evaluated and modified according to the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic and that they do not preclude extra protocols potentially adopted by individual lines.
The core elements required by CLIA are listed as follows:
- Testing: 100% testing of passengers and crew for COVID-19 prior to embarkation.
- Mask-Wearing: Mandatory wearing of masks by all passengers and crew onboard and during excursions whenever physical distancing cannot be maintained.
- Distancing: Physical distancing in terminals, onboard ships, on private islands and during shore excursions.
- Ventilation: Air management and ventilation strategies to increase fresh air onboard and, where feasible, using enhanced filters and other technologies to mitigate risk.
- Medical Capability: Risk-based response plans tailored for each ship to manage medical needs, dedicated cabin capacity for isolation, and advance arrangements with private providers for shoreside quarantine, medical facilities and transportation.
- Shore Excursions: Only permit shore excursions according to the cruise operators’ prescribed protocols, with strict adherence required of all passengers and denial of re-boarding for any passengers who do not comply.
Requirements vary, specifically for Carnival Corporation’s two brands operating now (Costa Cruises as of Sept. 6) or soon (AIDA Cruises on Oct. 17).
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Both AIDA and Costa mandate pre-boarding COVID-19 testing and health screenings, reduced capacities and physical distancing, enhanced sanitation and protected shore excursions, but they differ somewhat regarding temperature checks and face masks during the cruise.
Costa provides self-service thermometer kiosks on the ship and generally requires face masks in public areas while onboard. However, AIDA specifies regular temperature checks for guests and crew, and requires face masks in public areas and outdoors only when distance between non-family guests is less than 5 feet.
So, the question remains exactly how Carnival’s North American brands such as Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises will deal with mask mandates and more once they resume from local homeports.
The Details
Carnival Corporation
www.carnivalcorp.com
Cruise Lines International Association
www.cruising.org
