Duffy indicates no plan for vaccine mandate at Carnival Cruise Line

In an interview airing on ‘NBC Nightly News’ tonight at 6:30 EDT, Duffy shared this vaccination stance and reiterated the hope that Carnival can sail in July.

Part of reopening America

'I think the CDC and the interagency groups that are working with us now have that same goal in mind as President Biden said,' she told NBC News' Lester Holt. 'He wants to reopen America by the Fourth of July and we want to make sure that the cruise industry can be part of that reopening of America.'

Whether it is realistic to expect all passengers and crew members to be fully vaccinated as per the CDC's preference, Duffy said 'There's no mandate for any other business to have that requirement. We certainly are encouraging everyone to get a vaccine … We don't want to be treated differently than any other part of travel tourism, entertainment or society.'

Summer family vacations

She added that's where Carnival has the 'challenge of working through the details because, for our cruise line, children under 12 are a big part of the cruise experience in a summer, you know a family vacation, and as it stands right now, we wouldn't be able to have kids under 12 on board.'

Duffy said that crew who are getting the vaccines — at ports like Canaveral, Miami, Mobile and Galveston — are 'very grateful to have that opportunity.'