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Duffy indicates no plan for vaccine mandate at Carnival Cruise Line

President Christine Duffy indicated Carnival Cruise Line doesn't plan to require COVID-19 vaccination because there's no mandate for any other business to have it and Carnival carries so many children under 12.

Anne Kalosh, Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

May 17, 2021

1 Min Read
CRUISE Christine Duffy NBC News
Christine Duffy spoke to NBC News' Lester HoltPHOTO: NBC NIGHTLY NEWS

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.'

 

About the Author

Anne Kalosh

Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

Anne Kalosh covers global stories, reporting both breaking and in-depth news on cruising's significant people, places, ships and trends. A sought-after expert on cruising, she has moderated conferences around the world, including the high-profile State of the Industry panel at Seatrade Cruise Global. She created and led the acclaimed itinerary-planning case study for Seatrade's cruise master classes held at Cambridge and Oxford universities. She has been the cruise columnist for AFAR.com, and her freelance stories have appeared in a wide range of publications, from The New York Times to The Miami Herald.

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