CARNIVAL VS DCL: The discussion and comparison thread!

[mevelandry]

Just got an email from CCL with new testing/masking requirements:

Please carefully review the information below regarding new, temporary testing requirements:

• Effective with cruises departing on Saturday, August 14, 2021, we will require ALL fully vaccinated guests to produce a negative viral COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen) taken within 3 days of their embarkation on all Carnival Cruise Line sailings. Guests who are unvaccinated will continue to follow the requirements already communicated (and as detailed below).
• Fully vaccinated guests will be required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test along with proof of full vaccination upon arrival in the terminal and can then proceed on board. Please note that testing in the terminal will not be available for vaccinated guests so it’s critical that you have your negative test results with you upon your arrival. We will not be able to accommodate guests without proof of a negative test. Please check our Have Fun. Be Safe. protocols at Carnival.com for further details on testing requirements.
• Guests who are not fully vaccinated are still required to show the negative results of a PCR test taken between 72 and 24 hours prior to the sailing date, and will be tested again in the terminal prior to boarding the ship and again within 24 hours of debarkation (for itineraries five days or longer). Unvaccinated guests approved for an exemption will continue to be charged US$150, per person, for testing, reporting and health safety screenings, and also must provide proof of travel insurance if departing from the states of Florida or Texas.
• Children under two are exempt from testing requirements.

In addition to testing requirements, we are also making adjustments to our onboard mask policy effective with cruises beginning this Saturday, August 7, 2021, as follows:

• First, we strongly encourage all guests to wear face masks when indoors, particularly guests who are unvaccinated including children under the age of 12 who should wear masks in public areas, except when eating or drinking.
• All guests age 2 and older will be required to wear face masks in elevators and in designated indoor entertainment areas, all retail shops, and in the casino, except when eating or drinking.
• Guests will be required to wear face masks prior to being seated in our main dining rooms and in the Lido Buffet area and occasionally in other designated areas where larger number of guests may congregate.
• As a reminder, masks are required during embark and debark in the terminal, and masks should also be worn during the debarkation process on board.

I felt something like this was coming. Bummed about the masks, but we plan on sailing regardless. Fingers crossed the "temporary" part will kick in and we won't have to worry about it. But doubtful. The only trouble we might have is trying to get tested in Seattle because we're leaving for the trip more than 3 days prior. And ughhhh if we test positive for some reason....I can't even think about it.

I just saw that...

The idea of testing positive adds to the stress.

Thanks, Delta. *Sigh*

 

[trvlgirlmq]

Cruising is definitely not the vacation for me anytime soon. In fact, my family is going back to our pre-vaxxed behavior; masked up and no indoor dining. I really, really hope that by next summer we can finally be free of this and take my kid's postponed grad trip without the hassles and headaches and tests and masks.

 

[mevelandry]

Cruising is definitely not the vacation for me anytime soon. In fact, my family is going back to our pre-vaxxed behavior; masked up and no indoor dining. I really, really hope that by next summer we can finally be free of this and take my kid's postponed grad trip without the hassles and headaches and tests and masks.

Things are still under control here in Quebec but cases have been (slowly) starting to get higher in the last week. Don't think we can avoid the fourth wave. I'm slowly getting to the point of acceptance that if we want to cruise, we'll have to wear masks and pay money to get tested before the cruise.

 

[sethschroeder]

Saw pretty enough on the recent videos to probably never step foot on one of their ships.

Others can do what they wish though.

 

[belle032]

Saw pretty enough on the recent videos to probably never step foot on one of their ships.

Others can do what they wish though.

Can I ask what this is in reference to?

 

[sethschroeder]

Can I ask what this is in reference to?

The videos from the recent cruises to go out.

Very open, packed, and zero concerns about distancing or anything.

 

[belle032]

The videos from the recent cruises to go out.

Very open, packed, and zero concerns about distancing or anything.

Alrighty! Enjoy whatever ship you decide to cruise on then.

 

[sethschroeder]

Alrighty! Enjoy whatever ship you decide to cruise on then.

You asked I answered.

 

[belle032]

You asked I answered.

Didn’t mean to come across rude! I know not every cruise line is for every cruiser. Doesn’t bother me a bit. I was just genuinely confused what your original post was in reference too. Happy cruising!

 

[sethschroeder]

Didn’t mean to come across rude! I know not every cruise line is for every cruiser. Doesn’t bother me a bit. I was just genuinely confused what your original post was in reference too. Happy cruising!

It's all good certain people on this site have me on edge sorry, it had nothing to do with your response.

Carnival ships look great and I can see why others are drawn to it.

 

[mevelandry]

The videos from the recent cruises to go out.

Very open, packed, and zero concerns about distancing or anything.

Link?

 

[sethschroeder]

Link?

Kyle Pallo vlogs and I think it was the sea day vlog. It's absolutely packed in the normal pool area.

To add ship looks amazing though.

 

[mevelandry]

Kyle Pallo vlogs and I think it was the sea day vlog. It's absolutely packed in the normal pool area.

To add ship looks amazing though.

(I went to watch the video. Thanks for the precision.)

Packed? Which cruise line have you sailed on that was less packed than that on a sea day? (Never seen this before on DCL, RCCL or CCL.)

 

[mevelandry]

Here is my Canadian rant: boy was I naive when I thought that travelling would get easier with time and the vaccine.

I just had to cancel our ladie's trip on Oasis of The Seas that was supposed to happen in November because as of now (and with no way to find out what the future will bring), we would have had to pay about 500$+ each just for private COVID testing (one to get out of Canada and another one to come back). Our cruise was too short for RCCL to provide testing on board making things even more complicated for us… Even though all of us are fully vaxxed.

Tomorrow was the paid in full date so we had to make a decision...

As of now, I still have our MSC cruise booked for October and praying we can make this one work...

 

[sethschroeder]

(I went to watch the video. Thanks for the precision.)

Packed? Which cruise line have you sailed on that was less packed than that on a sea day? (Never seen this before on DCL, RCCL or CCL.)

Easy Disney

You can watch various vlogs and see how well it's spaced.

Kyle even commented to such on his post cruise recap vlog.

Wasnt Carnival cruising with like 70% capacity vs DCL which is around 25-35%? It showed.

 

[mevelandry]

Easy Disney

You can watch various vlogs and see how well it's spaced.

Kyle even commented to such on his post cruise recap vlog.

Wasnt Carnival cruising with like 70% capacity vs DCL which is around 25-35%? It showed.

I have been on three Disney cruises and the main pools were always jammed packed. Way worse than CCL/RCCL.

Of course, cruising at super low capacity vs low capacity will make a difference… but this situation is not normal.

 

[sethschroeder]

I have been on three Disney cruises and the main pools were always jammed packed. Way worse than CCL/RCCL.

Of course, cruising at super low capacity vs low capacity will make a difference… but this situation is not normal.

You have been on 3 cruises this month? I talking specifically right now. I would expect the current time to be the peak of health and safety concern so if they are lax now I am not expecting much later so it impacts what I will do long term.

Same with Universal vs Disney when they first started reopening and Universal being a little to cavalier again imo.

 

[mevelandry]

You have been on 3 cruises this month? I talking specifically right now. I would expect the current time to be the peak of health and safety concern so if they are lax now I am not expecting much later so it impacts what I will do long term.

Same with Universal vs Disney when they first started reopening and Universal being a little to cavalier again imo.

Not this month, no. I thought you were speaking « in general » not in covid times.

 

[sethschroeder]

Not this month, no. I thought you were speaking « in general » not in covid times.

Oh sorry ya was just talking about now.

I will say I was a little overzealous when I first responded as it just shocked me after watching so many DCL videos.

 

[belle032]

Oh sorry ya was just talking about now.

I will say I was a little overzealous when I first responded as it just shocked me after watching so many DCL videos.

I think a lot of it has to do with client base and vaccination protocols. CCL, RCCL & NCL are sailing 95%-100% vaxed which may allow them to bring on a larger number of passengers for one sailing. I know CCL is enforcing indoor masking again, but not as much social distancing.

DCL has no vaccine requirement, so they choose to enforce stricter social distancing and reserving all activities, including pool time.

Not saying either one is right or wrong, it just might account for some of those differences.