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Carnival to make masks optional on cruise ships

The change goes into effect March 1 and comes after the CDC eased its warnings for cruise ships.
Image: Carnival Vista
The Carnival Cruise Ship 'Carnival Vista' in the Miami harbor entrance known as Government Cut in Miami, on June 2, 2018.Rhona Wise / AFP via Getty Images file
/ Source: Reuters

Carnival Cruise Line plans to make masks optional for its guests after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased its warnings for cruise ships, the company said.

Masks will be recommended but not required beginning March 1, the company said in a statement Friday.

“There may, however, be certain venues and events where masks will be required,” Carnival said in the statement.

Carnival also said it plans to be offer more flexibility in pre-cruise testing requirements.

The cruise line said children under 5 will be allowed to sail without any need for vaccine or exemption.

The easing of the mask mandate follows similar action from cruise operator Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd and theme park Disney World. 

The CDC eased its warnings for cruise ships by a notch from the highest level two days earlier in response to a decline in onboard Covid-19 cases.