COLUMBIA, S.C. — In the wake of the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), Carnival Cruise Line sent a letter to guests detailing enhanced screening procedures for passengers and crew and offering options to those guests who have booked cruises during the month of March. The Carnival Sunshine operates cruises to the Bahamas and eastern Caribbean through the port of Charleston, SC.
In a response to questions about any changes to cruise schedules or business practices due to confirmed cases of COVID-19 in South Carolina, Vance Gulliksen from Carnival Cruises said:
"The health and safety of our guests is of the highest priority and cruising remains one of the most attractive vacation options available.
Our guests should make individual decisions knowing that we continue to implement higher and more rigorous protocols to protect their health and safety.
While advisories are in place, we are open for business and look forward to welcoming guests who choose to take a cruise vacation with us."
According to the published protocol, passengers would be unable to sail if they had
- traveled through China, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, Italy, Iran, Japan, or Singapore in the last 20 days before embarkation
- been in contact with another person diagnosed with or tested for COVID-19.
In addition, any guests who have visited or traveled through Thailand, Vietnam or Taiwan in the last 20 days will receive medical screening and will be required to provide travel documentation and are subject to passport verification.
All passengers and crew will also follow these expanded protocols:
- Comply with standard pre-boarding health reporting at time of check-in
- Additional pre-cruise and in-terminal screenings and questionnaires will be administered, including pre-boarding medical evaluations, as needed.
- Carnival Cruise medical stall will be taking the temperatures of all guests and crew during embarkation
- Medical staff in the terminals to conduct secondary screenings for those with a temperature over 37.8 degrees C (100 degrees F) and as necessary based on travel history.
- Crew members are subject to additional screening measures prior to boarding.
Gulliksen said that if someone does not meet the criteria for boarding or shows signs of illness they would be denied boarding.