Carnival Cruise Line Ends Masks Requirement for Crew Members

Carnival Cruise Line crew members not must put on a masks whereas they’re working onboard. The cruise line launched a brand new guideline at present, October 14, which permits visitors to see crew members’ faces once more and crew members to indicate their wonderful smiles once more. 

Though masks haven’t been obligatory for visitors for fairly a while now, masks use by crew members has been a normal since ships began crusing once more final 12 months. The extra security measure is now non-compulsory for crew members, who’re all absolutely vaccinated, Carnival mentioned to Cruise Hive.

Masks Are No Longer Necessary for Crew Members

After almost 16 months of cruising, crew onboard the Carnival Cruise Line ships are not required to put on a face masks whereas finishing up their duties. The cruise line has applied the brand new rule at present, October 14. 

It means visitors can now as soon as once more see crew members smiling faces whereas they work, and crew members can do their jobs with out being hindered by the face masks.

Whereas the choice to make the masks necessary for crew members was logical, eradicating the mandate shall be extensively thought to be a superb factor and a return to regular onboard cruise ships.

Carnival Cruise Line mentioned the next in an announcement issued to Cruise Hive: “An replace to face masks necessities was issued at present for our shipboard staff members. Face masks are nonetheless beneficial however not required indoors – besides within the medical middle, the place they’re nonetheless required.”

Well being and security measures referring to the COVID-19 pandemic have been slowly however certainly pushed again within the final months. Cruise traces eliminated the vaccine mandate, pre-cruise testing for vaccinated visitors, and masks mandates for visitors following the choice from the CDC to discontinue the voluntary program for cruise ships earlier this 12 months. 

One of many first ships the place visitors might see crew members’ faces once more was onboard Carnival Ecstasy, the place Carnival Model Ambassador first reported the change.

Different ships which have already eliminated the masks mandate embrace Carnival Pleasure, crusing within the Mediterranean and visiting Mykonos in Greece at present. The cruise director introduced the brand new guideline within the morning hours. 

Royal Caribbean modified protocols for crew members earlier this month. A Royal Caribbean assertion to crew members mentioned the next: “We’re glad to announce that from at present masks are non-compulsory for the crew. In case you are prepared to put on a masks, it must be with the corporate’s brand. This can be a large step in the direction of our return to regular life. The choice to put on a masks is as much as each crew member.”

What Protocols Stay Onboard?

With a big majority of COVID-related measures slowly making their exit, it might appear that we’re nearing the purpose of returning to regular, pre-pandemic circumstances. Nevertheless, a number of measures nonetheless exist, primarily to make sure cruise traces can successfully deal with a possible breakout onboard. 

To that finish, all crew members are nonetheless required to be absolutely vaccinated except unable to take action based mostly on medical or spiritual circumstances.

The crew can nonetheless resolve to put on a masks if they need to take action for their very own private security. Additionally, a masks will stay necessary in areas of excessive threat, similar to medical facilities onboard. 

Carnival Cruise Line: “Staff members might select to put on or not put on masks based mostly on their preferences, and we ask everybody on board to please respect these private selections.”

Friends are nonetheless required to supply a damaging check outcome in the event that they haven’t been absolutely vaccinated or can not present proof of that vaccination. Masks might additionally nonetheless be wanted from visitors onboard cruises with a high-risk issue, similar to sailings of 16 nights or longer. Carnival might additionally resolve to implement stricter measures, ought to the necessity be there.

Whereas some will discover these measures a nuisance, they’ve confirmed to be extremely profitable onboard cruise ships within the final 16 months. With no important main outbreaks onboard cruise ships, and even a a lot decrease quantity of Norovirus instances, the COVID measures have confirmed to be an effective way of preserving visitors and crew wholesome.