Category Archives: Bahamas

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Leader Philip Brave Davis yesterday accused the Free National Movement (FNM) of suppressing votes as the country heads into a general election, asserting that a lot of Bahamians who want to vote arent going to be able to.

Everywhere I go, and it doesnt matter where if Im over-the-hill or in San Sal or Crooked Island of South Eleuthera everywhere I go, young Bahamians are telling me: I want to vote, but I didnt have time to register.

A lot of people were caught off guard.

They didnt think Minnis would call a snap election in the middle of our countrys worst month during this pandemic.

In fact, he kept telling us that elections were not due until May 2022.

And you know what?

They think this government deliberately wanted to exclude young Bahamians.

They believe the government didnt give them enough time because they know young people are hungry for change, and this government can only offer them more of the same.

He added: Vote, because this year, a lot of Bahamians who want to vote arent going to be able to.

Davis said it is shameful.

He said no matter the political disagreements, weve never seen voter suppression tricks like this in our country before.

In a democracy, voters are supposed to choose their government, but in The Bahamas today, the government wants to choose its voters, the PLP leader said.

Its wrong on so many levels, especially when you think about how much is at stake for young Bahamians.

According to Davis, the future of The Bahamas depends on opportunities, a level playing field and land and homeownership.

He said the PLPs Blueprint for Change and Economic Plan provides a way forward toward those goals and a bigger, more diverse and inclusive economy.

The plan focuses on creating new industries, expanding tourism and building wealth in the sector, creating incentives for entrepreneurs in renewable energy and strategically developing the countrys natural resources.

Davis pledged, if elected, to create a first-job apprenticeship program so young Bahamians can get a one-year subsidized job placement; establishing a new school of the visual, performing and recording arts; and revolutionize education with training in coding, digital marketing, e-commerce and design.

Friends, I believe in the dignity and the potential of our people and youre going to see that every day in the way we govern and in the policies we put forward, Davis said.

The truth is, moments of great crisis are also moments of great opportunity.

The current prime minister seems paralyzed, though, by how hard the problems are.

I noticed the other day that Hubert Ingraham endorsed one of Minnis colleagues, but declined to endorse the prime minister. That tells you something, ey?

Dont feel too bad for him. Dont worry. Im going to rescue him from a job he doesnt really want and cant really do.

Davis said the country cannot afford another term under a Minnis administration, and encouraged the electorate to vote for an administration that is ready.

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THEY ARE THE CRISIS: Davis accuses FNM of employing voter suppression tricks - EyeWitness News

The second MSC cruise ship has been approved by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to restart operations. After completing its test cruise, MSC Divina now has the green light to be the first in the fleet to sail from Port Canaveral in Florida.

After completing its simulated sailing to stress tests protocols, MSC Divina has been approved to restart cruise operations from the U.S. The test voyage was completed last week, which means the cruise line can focus on the ships revenue restart.

MSC Divina will become the second ship in the fleet to resume from the U.S. this month and the 11th in the fleet. Cruises will begin from Port Canaveral, Flordia, on September 16, the first time the cruise line will operate from the port.

Also Read: Things to Do on the MSC Divina Cruise Ship

After officially resuming cruises from the U.S. with MSC Meraviglia in early August, we are thrilled to cross another significant milestone toward bringing our entire fleet back to sea around the world for safe, relaxing and enjoyable cruises, said Rubn Rodrguez, President of MSC Cruises USA. In the U.S. in particular, MSC Divinas restart will bring us into an entirely new, easily accessible embarkation destination, providing our guests with more choice when cruising with us to popular destinations in The Bahamas and Caribbean, including our stunning new private island destination, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

The vessel will offer three-, four- and seven-night itineraries that will include Port Canaveral as an embarkation port and the cruise capital of the world, PortMiami. The cruises will sail the Caribbean and the Bahamas, including the cruise lines private island of Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

MSC Meraviglia has already resumed sailings out of Florida, with the first return cruise setting sail in August 2021. The ship is now offering three- and four-night cruises to the Bahamas but will begin sailing week-long cruises from September 18, 2021.

The cruise line is sailings under its Health and Safety protocols and following guidelines from authorities in Florida and beyond. From September 3, all guests 12 years and older must be fully vaccinated, which will remain in effect until November 1, 2021. The protocols remain fluid as cruise lines adapt to the spreading variants along with requirements from the CDC and ports.

In November, MSC Seashore, currently the newest ship in the fleet, will also begin cruises out of Miami, Florida, following an inaugural season in the Mediterranean. The ship will sail Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.

Continued here:

MSC Cruise Ship Approved by CDC to Restart Operations From Florida - Cruise Hive

OPINION

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas 2021 General Election on Thursday, September 16 will have candidates running for the various constituencies from all walks of life.

There are many former and current athletes, officials and executives that have put their names in the political fray, but the question for once the votes are in and counted, is will sports get its just due from those elected to power?

Over the years, there have been persons with sporting backgrounds who have been placed in the role of Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, but it appears that very little is done on a consistent basis to advance the growth and development of athletes.

As we continue to linger through the COVID-19 era, it will be vital for the government elected to appoint a minister who can thrust the sports agenda forward in Cabinet to get sporting programmes off the ground and running again.

Sporting leaders have been crying out for a national forum where they can come together and voice their sentiments on sports and the way forward.

So while its too early to speculate who could and should be the new Minister of Sports with the elections still a week away, lets take a look at the list of some of the more prominent sporting personalities whose names are on the dotted lines for their constituencies.

Free National Movement

Noted incumbents

Deputy Prime Minister Desmond Bannister, the current Member of Parliament for Carmichael, is a former middle distance runner, who moved into the top of the sport of track and field where he served previously as the president of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations and the legal advisor for the Bahamas Football Association.

Current Minister of Sports, Iram Lewis, is seeking another term as the Member of Parliament for Central Grand Bahama. The Grand Bahamian native is a two-time Olympic track and field sprinter, who also served as a vice president for both the BAAA and the Bahamas Olympic Committee.

Minister of Health Renward Lewis, seeking to be re-elected in Bamboo Town, is also an Olympic sprinter, who competed along with Lewis on the local and international scene. He also held the Bahamas national records in the 60m and 100m.

Shanendon Cartwright, the MP for St Barnabas, had a promising career as one of the top junior basketball players. But after returning from college, he never excelled to the senior level as one of the potential national team players.

Newcomers

Drumeco Archer, the candidate for Fort Charlotte, is also a former sprinter who represented The Bahamas at both the Carifta Games and the Junior Central American and Caribbean Championships and is the current president of the BAAA.

Felicia Knowles, running for the constituency of Cat Island, Rum Cay and Salvador, hails from the field of basketball and netball. She was a former national team player and an executive of the New Providence Womens Basketball Association.

Jennifer Isaacs-Dotson, running for Exuma and Ragged Island, was one of the countrys most versatile athletes, having played volleyball, softball, netball, field hockey and a little bit of basketball. She also represented the country as a national team player in a number of those disciplines.

John Pinder, like Isaacs-Dotson who come from the Labour Movement, he is running for Fox Hill where he was standout basketball player in both the park league and for the Saints in the New Providence Basketball Association. He also ventured into football where he played in the Commonwealth American Football League.

Progressive Liberal Party

Notable Returnees

Obie Wilchcombe, back in his bid to regain the seat of West Grand Bahama & Bimini, is a former quarterback in the CAFL, of which he also served as a president. He is also a former president of the Grand Bahama Basketball Association.

Coming over from the FNM as the MP for Golden Isles, Eleuthera native Vaugh Miller will be seeking to be re-elected as a PLP candidate. He is a former outstanding basketball player for the Becks Cougars in the NPBA.

An array of newcomers

Mario Bowleg, the candidate for Garden Hills, is also a former basketball player, who emerged as a championship coach with the CC Sweeting Cobras in the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association and the NPWBA. He is the current president of the Bahamas Basketball Federation and a head and assistant coach on the mens national basketball team.

Grand Bahamian native Wayde Watson is seeking the seat of Bains Town & Grants Town. He is a former basketball player, who has established himself as one of the top coaches, winning championship titles in the Bahamas Government Departmental Basketball Association; the NPBA and the NPWBA. He was also an assistant coach for the BBFs national team.

As the candidate for South Beach, Bacchus Rolle is a versatile basketball/baseball/softball player, who now holds the position as the head coach of the University of the Bahamas Mingoes mens basketball team.

Ronald Duncombe, the candidate for Killarney, has enjoyed a successful run as a former volleyball player in the New Providence Volleyball Association with the champions, Becks Condors, and the Intruders in his prime.

Grand Bahamian native Curt Hollingsworth is running for Marco City. Before he ventured into politics, he played basketball and participated in track and field. But hes known for his role as a high school coach in Grand Bahama and New Providence as well as serving as an interim president of the BAAA.

Jamahl Strachan, running for Nassau Village, competed in track and field as a hurdler and pole vaulter, and represented the Bahamas as a member of the Carifta team.

Coming in as the candidate for North Andros and the Berry Islands, Leonardo Lightbournes claim to fame was in basketball where he excelled as a member of the mens national basketball team and professional player, who took his talents throughout the Caribbean, Latin America and Europe.

Christopher Saunders, the candidate for St Annes, is a noted journalist from both the print and electronic media. He was a former swimmer, who emerged as one of the countrys certified basketball referees and an internationally certified statistician and table official.

Link:

What lies ahead for sports after the general election? - Bahamas Tribune

Update: 45596 Bahamas will haul the tour from Crewe to London with 61306 Mayflower

Steam locomotive 45596 Bahamas will be back in steam on the mainline and will visit Hereford this Wednesday, 8th September 2021.

The Jubilee class locomotive is on a rail tour from Holyhead to London Paddington.

The train will depart Holyhead behind a diesel locomotive at 10:00 and will then pass through Llanfair PG (10:21), Bangor (10:25), Llandudno Junction (10:41), Rhyl (11:00), Chester (11:28) and Crewe at 11:52 where Bahamas is attached to the train.

Departing Crewe at 12:26, the Jubilee locomotive will pass through Wrenbury (12:41), Shrewsbury (13:11), Church Stretton (13:27), Craven Arms (13:36), Ludlow (13:57), Leominster (14:08), Hereford (arrives 14:27, departs 17:14), Abergavenny (17:44), Severn Tunnel Junction (18:49), Lydney (19:08), Gloucester (19:31), Swindon (20:45), Didcot Parkway (21:44), Reading (22:06), Maidenhead (22:33), Southall (22:46) and London Paddington at 23:06.

These above timings in brackets are approximate; please click the links below, which track the train throughout the day to keep you up to date on when it will pass through your local station.

For timings on these movements, please click the links below:

If you do go out and see 45596 Bahamas on the tour, why not share your pictures to LocoStop, our railway community. Click here for more details.

As always, please respect the dangers of the railway. Please do not trespass on the railway to see this iconic locomotive stay to public access spots!

RailAdvent PlusGet image downloads, Prints and Streaming VideoRailAdvent NewsThe latest railway newsRailAdvent ShopRailway Prints, DVDs / Blu-Rays and moreLocoStop CommunityCome and share your railway picturesMainline UK Steam InfoUpcoming mainline steam tours/loco movements

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Bahamas steam locomotive to pass through Hereford this Wednesday - RailAdvent - Railway News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS The desire to possess job-ready technical skills may have hit a new high with nearly one third of this years Lyford Cay Foundation scholarship winners opting to earn a technical degree.

The Foundations awarded 26 new scholarships this term to students pursuing a diverse range of studies in Canada and the United States. This year, eight recipients are pursuing technical degrees, with more than half taking up studies to prepare them for careers in health-related fields.

Lyford Cay Foundations Executive Director Dr Nicola Virgill-Rolle said: Based on the applications we received, there was particularly strong interest in technical training and we are grateful to our donors who have consistently funded these scholarships.

She added: We have an independent panel of technical experts who assess our applicants, evaluate their selected schools, career paths and the likelihood of the applicant securing employment or entrepreneurial opportunities in The Bahamas when finished with their education.

Virgill-Rolle noted: The Lyford Cay Foundations have been strong supporters of technical and vocational skills upgrading in The Bahamas and seek to do more in this area in response to the growing need for skilled persons in technical professions, she noted.

We were delighted to award Grand Bahamian Dwayne Auguste, who had previously attended St Georges High School and BTVI (the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute), is seeking a diploma in an industrial trade welding fabrication a field he says is in dire need of locals, especially as the Grand Bahama Shipyard is set for a $300 million expansion that will make it a world leader in hauling and repair.

Auguste will be heading to Holland College in Canada.

The five students studying health-related disciplines include:

The final two technical award recipients are Apryl Miller, who attended St Johns College and is going on to study for a Bachelors degree in theatre at the University of the Ozarks in Arkansas, USA and who has a special interest in the technical aspects of stagecraft; and Niara Black, who attended St Annes School and will be working toward a Bachelors degree in aerospace management/aeronautics at Averett University in Virginia with a concentration in flight operations. Black wants to be a jet pilot for Bahamasair.

See the original post:

Nearly 1/3 of all Lyford Cay Foundations 2021 scholarships go to technical training - EyeWitness News

Dr Duane Sands on the campaign trail.

By KHRISNA RUSSELL

Tribune Chief Reporter

krussell@tribunemedia.net

THE COVID-19 crisis has forced The Bahamas to its knees, former Health Minister Dr Duane Sands said yesterday, as he recalled his distress at the toll the virus has taken on Bahamian lives.

As a health care worker who is actively involved in the care of COVID patients it distresses me how many people are sick in hospital, how many people are dying and how many more are likely to die, Dr Sands said yesterday of the situation at the Princess Margaret Hospital.

COVID-19 hospital admissions have continued to climb, jumping from 191 on Monday a previous record to a record 193 on Tuesday.

This number is the highest tally of hospital cases since the start of the pandemic.

Sixty of those cases are in Doctors Hospital, nine are at the South Beach Acute Care and Referral Centre, 104 are at PMH and 20 are at Grand Bahama Health Services.

Fifteen patients are in the intensive care unit.

On Monday, the Ministry of Health added seven new COVID related deaths, pushing the death count to 453.

Dr Sands said The Bahamas is facing what much of the world has experienced in prior months.

We have seen this in other countries. Weve seen this in India. Weve seen this in the United States. Weve seen it in Great Britain. Weve seen it in Italy and elsewhere. At a particular point in time many of those places I just named were similarly on their knees.

This is our time, and it is by cooperation, it is by rigid adherence and discipline to public health measures and an adopting of vaccination that were going to get out of this. We cannot flaunt the public health measures and refuse vaccination given the challenges that we are already having with the healthcare system and expect this to turn out well.

I dont believe this is an effective time for finger-pointing. I think what we ought to be doing is collectively working together to solve what is an horrendous problem and if we do that, we may emerge somewhat intact, but right now the situation is grim.

It is bad out there.

He insisted there must be a greater focus on health protocols.

To people who are worried about their safety, public health measures are very effective hand washing, social distancing (and) mask wearing. Its really effective even against the Delta variant and so you can protect yourself by using those methods and I would strongly suggest that people do so.

I also strongly suggest that people get vaccinated although vaccination is not going to provide them with protection in the immediate term. So, if you get vaccinated today it is gonna take you some time before that vaccine confers a level of immunologic protection, but its a critical part of the way forward.

Weve managed to vaccinate some 30,000 people in the last two weeks. I think thats good. We should hopefully get to do some more and lets continue to fight this thing as aggressively as we can.

This ought to be an all of country response and I dont think that any of us from the competent authority down to the smallest child who can make a decision for themselves, can be exempt from participating in the process of keeping The Bahamas safe.

So, we all need to look at our behaviour. We all need to look at the policies being made, Dr Sands said.

See the rest here:

Sands: Country is on its knees - Bahamas Tribune

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Tourism Development Corporation (TDC) and Ministry of Tourism and Aviation officials are partnering with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and European experts to develop and strengthen certification systems in The Bahamas.

The aim of the project is to increase the resiliency and sustainability of The Bahamas as a tourism destination; enhance the state of the natural environment; improve destination competitiveness; ensure that revenue from tourism reaches a greater proportion of Bahamian communities; and position The Bahamas as a climate-resilient destination by implementing climate risk management policies and implementation frameworks.

IDB Bahamas Country Representative Daniela Carrera-Marquis said:This technical cooperation represents a strong commitment to achieving measurable impact in the tourism industry of The Bahamas.

Tourism is the driving force of the Bahamian economy and has registeredunprecedented challenges in the last several years following Hurricane Dorian andthe global pandemic.

The long-term consequences of these experiences are stillunfolding, but through our Vision 2025 plan, the IDB is committed to supporting ourmember countries during the recovery process.

This project will build capacity in the countrys tourism industry and foster a sustainable and inclusive recovery that maximizes the efforts of the government in The Bahamas and around the region.

The project is being led by IDBs Juliana Bettini, with TDC CEO and Executive Director Janet Johnson as a focal point.

Tourism experts participating in this project include Sea Going Green, a Dutch sustainable marine tourism consultancy; Green Case Consulting, a UK-based sustainable tourism specialist; Oceanic Global, a US-based non-profit and sustainability verification program; and climate change experts JF Clarke Consulting from Barbados.

Bahamian sustainable tourism practitioners Rashema Ingraham, Kendria Ferguson and Dr Jennifer Edwards are also playing a vital role in the projects delivery.

Johnson said certifications are essential in the tourism industry.

Certifications indicate that the business is registered with the TDC and has met the quality assurance standards necessary for the hospitality business, she said.

Obtaining certifications for your business puts you on the cutting edge and encourages larger conglomerates to engage your services such as cruise ships and hotels.

It is the mandate of the TDC to raise the standards of all tourism-related businesses in the Islands of The Bahamas and so, this collaboration with the IDB and all of the other experts involved will act as a springboard for the development of sustainable tourism businesses with implementation of global best practices.

The project, which began in August, is expected to be completed in January 2022. At that time, a recommendation of the most suitable certification schemes will be presented, and a strategic and operational implementation plan will then be developed and validated with Bahamian stakeholders.

Once the Certification Programme is complete, in addition to a webinar campaign, TDC-certified evaluators and executives of the Bahamas Association of Shore Experiences (BASE) will travel throughout The Bahamas to inform all tourism-related enterprises of the new standards.

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SETTING THE STANDARD: New project to strengthen tourism-based business certification systems - EyeWitness News

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

ABOUT 3,000 people are expected to vote in the advanced poll in Grand Bahama today.

Those persons are senior citizens, disabled residents, police officers, and government workers. Poll workers and the 33 nominated candidates also will be voting.

The polls will open at 8am and close at 6pm.

Five schools have been identified and designated on Grand Bahama for the advanced poll.

The advanced poll for Central and East Grand Bahama is at St Georges High School gymnasium; Marco City is at Jack Hayward Senior High School; Pineridge is at Jack Hayward Junior High School, and West Grand Bahama is at Eight Mile Rock High School.

Over 800 people are expected to vote early in the East Grand Bahama constituency and about 1,500 in West Grand Bahama.

Police officials will be out at the various polling stations to ensure order and that COVID-19 protocols are being upheld.

Those eligible to vote early include people with disabilities or someone aged 65 or older. Also, a registered voter who is likely to be a patient in any hospital on Election Day; a person who is ill, pregnant, or recently gave birth is also eligible as well as people who live overseas.

Students studying overseas as well as staff at diplomatic missions also qualify.

Canard Bethel, former deputy parliamentary commissioner at the Parliamentary Registration Department, urged people to queue before 6pm when the polls close.

Speaking on a ZNS radio show yesterday, he noted if there is some unforeseen event, such as a rainstorm that might prevent persons from coming to vote in time, then the presiding officer will bring it to the attention of the parliamentary commissioner, who once satisfied can authorise the poll to continue the same day or the next day.

Mr Bethel explained that between 5pm and 6pm the presiding officer will instruct staff to check the line. If it is long, they will make a mark of the line and see if anyone is approaching. And if someone is approaching, they put them on the line, he said.

Mr King stated that there are constituencies that have 1,000 people who will vote.

He believes the pandemic will slow down voting at the polls.

We cannot forget the pandemic is here and there is social distancing. And we ought to obey rules and regulation as it applies to social distancing and that will slow down the taking of the poll and it is quite possible that there will be persons there on the line at 6pm, he said.

He said presiding officers must act in accordance with the rule to establish the last person on the line and put a police officer there to ensure no voter is disenfranchised.

Original post:

3000 expected to vote in Grand Bahama today - Bahamas Tribune

All cruise passengers ages 12 and older must be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 for ships to enter a Bahamas port, effective Sept. 3.

The order includes cruise lines' private islands in the Bahamas. Every major cruise company sailing from the U.S. -- Carnival Corp., Royal Caribbean Group, MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings -- calls at a private Bahamas destination.

Bahamas prime minister Hubert Minnis issued the emergency order on Aug. 19. The restriction is valid through Nov. 1.

What is an agency's liability for having sold a cruise to an anti-vaccine client if the line changes its policy after the sale?

Before arriving in port, the ship's captain will be required to submit a manifest disclosing the vaccination status of all people aboard.

Cruise lines immediately began changing their vaccine requirements on sailings from Florida in response to the order.

Royal Caribbean International said that in order to comply, guests 12 and older sailing from Florida ports must provide proof of vaccination in order to cruise, starting Sep. 3. The updated policy matches Royal's requirements for cruises departing other U.S. ports. Guests under 12 must provide a negative test result at boarding.

MSC Cruises said unvaccinated guests whose cruise is scheduled to depart Florida between Sept. 3 and Oct. 31 won't be allowed to sail. They are eligible for a full refund.

Earlier this month, Royal Caribbean International said that the U.S. Virgin Islands would not allow cruise ships to enter unless all eligible passengers onboard were vaccinated.

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Bahamas: Cruise passengers 12 and over must be vaccinated for ...

COVID-19: Reporter details time on cruise ship with positive cases

Morgan Hines, a USA TODAY Travel Reporter, detailed her time aboard a cruise ship with positive COVID-19 cases on board.

Staff video, USA TODAY

Cruise ships will not be allowed to enter ports in the Bahamas if there are unvaccinated passengers on board aged 12 and older without a medical excuse, the country said in an emergency order issued Thursday.

The order posted to the Bahamas Customs & Excise Department website wassigned by Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Minnis, takes effect Sept. 3 and is valid through Nov. 1.

The new rule is applicable to private islands such as Royal Caribbean's private island Perfect Day at CocoCay, according to the order.

In order to dock, a cruise ship's captain is required to transmit a "crew and passenger manifest"disclosing every person's vaccination status to the Port Medical Officer before arrival.

Cruising requirement: Norwegian Cruise Line extends 100% COVID vaccination requirement through end of year

'I never felt unsafe': USA TODAY reporter aboard cruise ship with positive COVID cases

All passengers who are aged 12 and older must be fully vaccinated at embarkation. Additionally, the health protocol on board must be that which wasapproved previously by the "Competent Authority" and complied with.

There are exceptions to the new regulation.

The rule does not apply to crew, contractors and any "non-revenue passenger" under the protocol previously agreed upon between the government and cruise lines. The rule is also moot when a cruise ship is attempting to enter port in an emergency and when a passenger has a medical reason as to why they are unvaccinated.

Passengers entering The Bahamas on a cruise ship are also subject to testing requirements mandated by the cruise line and given approval by the "Competent Authority."

On Thursday, Royal Caribbean announced that it would change its vaccine policy for ships sailing from Florida to the Bahamas including its private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay to comply with the emergency order. The cruise line already requirs proof of vaccination from passengers 12 and older sailing from other U.S. ports.

And Sunday, Carnival Cruise Line announced changes to its policy, too.

"Effective Aug. 28 through October, for departures from all Atlantic and Gulf homeports, only children under 12 and adults with a medical condition that prohibits their vaccination are exempt from vaccination requirements to sail," Carnival said in a release, noting that their ships are already sailing with at least 95% of crew and passengers fully vaccinated, in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance.

Carnival passengers who had previously received an exemption outside those two categories have had those exemptions rescinded through October.

Read more:

Bahamas implements vaccine requirement for cruise ships to ...