MIAMI, Sept. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival
Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world's
largest cruise company, today announced a new initiative making
pre-board testing more convenient and accessible for its guests.
The effort will facilitate access to pre-cruise COVID-19 viral
testing for guests of Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line,
Princess Cruises and Seabourn at more than 1,500 convenient Quest
Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) patient service centers and retail pharmacy
testing locations throughout the U.S.
The program helps streamline pre-cruise preparation for guests
planning to sail aboard Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises,
Holland America Line or Seabourn. Currently, all guests, regardless
of vaccination status, must present a negative COVID-19 viral test
taken no more than three days before their embarkation, along with
additional health and safety requirements. Beginning September 13, 2021 and after, in accordance with
CDC directives, all vaccinated guests must present a negative
COVID-19 viral test taken no more than two days before their
embarkation (for example, if a cruise leaves on a Saturday, guests
should schedule their tests for the Thursday before embarking).
Details about requirements are available on the Carnival
Corporation cruise line brand websites.
The pre-board test (molecular or antigen) is one of the added
measures recently implemented by the company's cruise lines, which
have been operating with enhanced health and safety protocols
designed to change as needed to adapt to the evolving public health
environment.
"Access to testing continues to play an important role in the
restart of our guest operations, and working with Quest simplifies
the process for our guests by making it easier to access convenient
testing options from a trusted national laboratory provider," said
Roger Frizzell, chief communications
officer for Carnival Corporation. "These testing protocols are part
of our layered approach to safeguarding the health and safety of
our guests, crew and the communities we visit."
Guests may schedule testing with Quest Diagnostics at more than
1,500 locations, including Quest Diagnostics patient service
centers and select Walmart and other retail pharmacy locations
throughout the U.S. Appointments are required and may be scheduled
online via secure link provided by Carnival Cruise Line, Princess
Cruises, Holland America Line or Seabourn. Results are typically
available within 48 hours via email or mobile application*.
Carnival Corporation has worked closely with health and medical
experts globally and nationally, as well as with authorities in
destination countries, to put in place comprehensive health and
safety protocols for protection and mitigation across the entire
cruise experience for all of the company's nine brands. This
includes cross-industry learnings and best practices based on the
proven health and safety record of industrywide sailings, and input
from top scientists and public health, epidemiological and policy
experts. Details about enhanced protocols, including the latest
information and requirements for each Carnival Corporation cruise
line brand, are available at their websites.
*Turnaround time can fluctuate with demand, supplies and other
factors, and vary by region.
About Carnival Corporation & plc
Carnival
Corporation & plc is one of the world's largest leisure travel
companies with a portfolio of nine of the world's leading cruise
lines sailing to all seven continents. With operations in
North America, Australia, Europe and Asia, its portfolio features Carnival Cruise
Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O
Cruises (Australia), Costa
Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK) and Cunard.
Additional information can be found on www.carnivalcorp.com,
www.carnival.com, www.princess.com, www.hollandamerica.com,
www.seabourn.com, www.pocruises.com.au, www.costacruise.com,
www.aida.de, www.pocruises.com and www.cunard.com.
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SOURCE Carnival Corporation & plc