Carnival Cruise Line will require masks for all guests

(CNN) – After a “small number of positive cases” of Covid-19 were detected aboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship, a new fleet-wide mask policy requiring all guests to wear masks in some interior areas was implemented ahead of schedule, the cruise line said.

Carnival did not immediately say how many positive cases were detected aboard the Carnival Vista, which departed from Galveston, Texas.

Covid-positive individuals are isolated and their close contacts have been identified and tested, Carnival said in a statement.

“Our pre-established protocols of vaccinated guests and crew, testing, improved medical capabilities and contact tracing anticipated the potential for positive cases, and they are designed to accommodate a variety of scenarios,” the statement said.

The trip will go as planned, Carnival said.

The cruise line will continue to operate vaccinated cruises as defined by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC requires that 95% of passengers and crew be vaccinated. Carnival said its crew were fully vaccinated.

In addition to its new mask rule, Carnival is also adding a pre-cruise testing requirement for all vaccinated guests. Fully vaccinated guests must have a negative Covid-19 test result (PCR or antigen) taken within three days of departure.

This rule will come into effect on August 14. The two new requirements are expected to be in place until October 31.

Top photo: Carnival Vista cruise ship docked in Galveston, Texas on May 3, 2021 (Photo by Jennifer Lake / SIPA USA)