I went on the first Carnival cruise to set sail in over a year. Here are 22 ways it's different from pre-pandemic cruising.

Monica HumphriesJul 16, 2021, 01:56 IST

Masks and hand sanitizer were in abundance at each cruise port.Monica Humphries/Insider

I spent eight days on Carnival Vista, Carnival Cruise Line's first ship to leave the US in 16 months.
Passengers told Insider that the experience was similar to previous cruises, but they noted plenty of changes.
Some of the largest differences were at ports, where masks were worn and shore excursions varied.

I spent a week aboard the Carnival Vista, Carnival Cruise Line's first ship to leave the US in 16 months.

The author, pictured in front of the Carnival Vista. Monca Humphries/Insider

Admittedly, much of the experience felt the same, but there were still some changes. Here are the biggest differences passengers saw aboard the ship.

The Carnival Vista cruise ship. RHONA WISE/AFP/Getty Images

On embarkation day, passengers had an official check-in time to arrive at the port. Before, they could just turn up anytime before 3 p.m.

A photo of signage pointing to the cruise check-in area and a screenshot of my boarding pass, which includes my check-in time. Monica Humphries/Insider

Boarding the ship was one of the few times where everyone was required to wear a face mask.

Masks were required to board the ship. Monica Humphries/Insider

As passengers boarded the ship, a healthcare worker verified each passenger's ID and vaccination card.

A cruise-ship crew member checks my passport and my vaccination card before boarding the ship. Monica Humphries/Insider

Once onboard, masks quickly vanished and some passengers noticed a lack of crowds.

A crowd gathered at the entrance of the cruise ship. Monica Humphries/Insider

Passengers were expected to watch a mandatory safety video once onboard. Previously, this information would be covered in the traditional muster drill.

One of the first things passengers were expected to do onboard was watch a safety video. Monica Humphries/Insider

The muster drill was also drastically different. Instead of crowding on the outer deck of a ship, passengers went to an area of the ship on their own time and learned how to wear a life vest.

Cruise-ship crew members show passengers how to properly put on a life vest during the muster drill. Monica Humphries/Insider

The muster drill was also drastically different. Instead of crowding on the outer deck of a ship, passengers went to an area of the ship on their own time and learned how to wear a life vest.

One of the biggest changes passengers mentioned was the reliance on Carnival's Hub app.

On the Hub app, passengers could book excursions, check in for dining, and look at the daily event schedule. Carnival Hub App/Carnival Cruise Lines

There were no more paper menus. Everywhere from the dining room to the spa required passengers to scan a QR code.

A QR code in the dining room, which I scanned to access the brunch menu. Monica Humphries

The other biggest change onboard was that the majority of Carnival employees wore a mask throughout the eight-day cruise.

A masked Carnival Cruise chef cooks an omelet. Monica Humphries/Insider

Some passengers said it seemed like the Carnival Vista was cleaner.

A crew member cleans up a table moments after guests are done eating. Monica Humphries/Insider

Unmasked entertainers were required to be five feet apart from the audience, but that rule didn't seem to be applied consistently throughout the week.

Dancers perform onboard the Carnival Vista. Monica Humphries/Insider

Some areas of the ship had signage that indicated unvaccinated passengers were supposed to wear a mask, but no one appeared to enforce the policy.

A sign outside the piano bar that reads "Don't got the vax? Grab a mask!" Monica Humphries/Insider

For this ship, places like Camp Ocean for kids were closed or operating at a lower capacity.

The doors to a closed kids' area. Monica Humphries/Insider

There was also only one turndown service, instead of the typical morning and evening service.

A wide-angle image of my cabin room. Monica Humphries/Insider

Some areas of the ship had been transformed. For example, a popular bar in the casino was replaced with slot machines.

These slot machines were formally a bar on the Carnival Vista. Monica Humphries/Insider

Other changes were apparent on port days where passengers were required to wear masks when leaving the ship.

While taking a ferry to Belize's port, passengers were expected to mask up. Monica Humphries/Insider

At each port, COVID precautions were taken seriously. There were plenty of sinks for handwashing and signage reminding people of the safety measures, and port employees were constantly spraying hand sanitizer.

Our driver passed out hand sanitizer before boarding the van. Monica Humphries/Insider

At each port, COVID precautions were taken seriously. There were plenty of sinks for handwashing and signage reminding people of the safety measures, and port employees were constantly spraying hand sanitizer.

Some ports felt deserted. A number of shops were closed, and since Carnival Vista was one of the few ships docked, there weren't many tourists out exploring.

Two closed shops at the cruise port in Belize. Monica Humphries/Insider

Aspects of the excursions also changed. Depending on the activity, the mask requirement was sometimes enforced.

Once we got to the park, masks came off. Monica Humphries/Insider

On port days, the 5% of unvaccinated passengers could either stay on the ship or opt for a "bubble tour," which are Carnival-approved tours.

A screenshot of the description of a bubble tour. Carnival Cruise Lines

On debarkation day, passengers masked up once again and exited the ship in crowds.

A Carnival employee scans my card to mark that I exited the ship; crowds form in the terminal as we disembark. Monica Humphries/Insider

Every guest no longer had to fill out a customs form. Instead, only those who had exceeded a spending amount had to declare and fill out forms.

If passengers didn't have anything to declare, they didn't need to go through customs. Monica Humphries/Insider

The majority of passengers Insider spoke with said the changes felt minor and that the core of cruising hadn't changed.

A view of one of Carnival Vista's pools. Monica Humphries/Insider

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I went on the first Carnival cruise to set sail in over a year. Here are 22 ways it's different from pre-pandemic cruising.

I spent a week aboard the Carnival Vista, Carnival Cruise Line's first ship to leave the US in 16 months.

Admittedly, much of the experience felt the same, but there were still some changes. Here are the biggest differences passengers saw aboard the ship.

On embarkation day, passengers had an official check-in time to arrive at the port. Before, they could just turn up anytime before 3 p.m.

Boarding the ship was one of the few times where everyone was required to wear a face mask.

As passengers boarded the ship, a healthcare worker verified each passenger's ID and vaccination card.

Once onboard, masks quickly vanished and some passengers noticed a lack of crowds.

Passengers were expected to watch a mandatory safety video once onboard. Previously, this information would be covered in the traditional muster drill.

The muster drill was also drastically different. Instead of crowding on the outer deck of a ship, passengers went to an area of the ship on their own time and learned how to wear a life vest.

One of the biggest changes passengers mentioned was the reliance on Carnival's Hub app.

There were no more paper menus. Everywhere from the dining room to the spa required passengers to scan a QR code.

The other biggest change onboard was that the majority of Carnival employees wore a mask throughout the eight-day cruise.

Some passengers said it seemed like the Carnival Vista was cleaner.

Unmasked entertainers were required to be five feet apart from the audience, but that rule didn't seem to be applied consistently throughout the week.

Some areas of the ship had signage that indicated unvaccinated passengers were supposed to wear a mask, but no one appeared to enforce the policy.

For this ship, places like Camp Ocean for kids were closed or operating at a lower capacity.

There was also only one turndown service, instead of the typical morning and evening service.

Some areas of the ship had been transformed. For example, a popular bar in the casino was replaced with slot machines.

Other changes were apparent on port days where passengers were required to wear masks when leaving the ship.

At each port, COVID precautions were taken seriously. There were plenty of sinks for handwashing and signage reminding people of the safety measures, and port employees were constantly spraying hand sanitizer.

Some ports felt deserted. A number of shops were closed, and since Carnival Vista was one of the few ships docked, there weren't many tourists out exploring.

Aspects of the excursions also changed. Depending on the activity, the mask requirement was sometimes enforced.

On port days, the 5% of unvaccinated passengers could either stay on the ship or opt for a "bubble tour," which are Carnival-approved tours.

On debarkation day, passengers masked up once again and exited the ship in crowds.

Every guest no longer had to fill out a customs form. Instead, only those who had exceeded a spending amount had to declare and fill out forms.

The majority of passengers Insider spoke with said the changes felt minor and that the core of cruising hadn't changed.