Cruise passengers sail away from Galveston for the first time in 16 months "The last time we were on a cruise was July of 2019," said Mike Dawson. Dawson spoke with us from the cruise ship with his wife and friends. They’re on Carnival Vista, setting sail on a week's vacation to Honduras, Belize, and Mexico. "We’re just ready to have fun and get away from cellphone service," said Dawson. "It just seems like a [normal] cruise. Like we’re turning back the hands of time a couple of years." This is the first Carnival cruise to leave the United States in more than a year. According to Carnival, all passengers must show proof of a COVID-19 vaccine and/or receive an approved exemption. At least 95 percent of passengers are vaccinated.