With more cruises resuming, COVID cases on cruise ships are also inevitably going to up, Carnival was the latest to report cases aboard Vista.
Carnival Cruise Line has cancelled all cruises until the end of June, citing ongoing uncertainty over when the CDC and US transport officials will allow cruises to resume from US ports.
The move comes just days after Carnival ruled out a cruise restart in the Caribbean, with Christine Duffy, President & CEO of Carnival Cruise Line, now suggesting a Caribbean homeporting season may be unavoidable.
These comments were made amid a flurry of cruise lines announcing Caribbean homeporting itineraries, targeting the North American cruise market with fly-cruise packages from the Bahamas, St Maarten and Jamaica.
Carnival took delivery of Mardi Gras, its largest-ever ship, last year, but has not been able to deploy her amid the pandemic.
RELATED: Carnival says vaccines offer a safe path to cruise resumption as bookings soar
RELATED: Carnival reveals dining and entertainment in La Piazza aboard new Mardi Gras
“We know that this is very disappointing to our guests who continue to be eager to sail, and we remain committed to working with the Administration and the CDC to find a workable solution that best serves the interest of public health,” said Duffy.
“We are asking that the cruise industry be treated on par with the approach being taken with other travel and tourism sectors, as well as U.S. society at large,” she added, referencing the CDC’s recent decision to allow fully vaccinated individuals to stay in hotels, take flights and use public transport.
In her statement, Duffy suggested that a Caribbean season might be on the cards after all, if the CDC does not change its stance by June.
Carnival Cruise Line may have no choice but to homeport in the Caribbean.
RELATED: Carnival Cruise Line cuts steel for new ship Carnival Celebration due in 2022
RELATED: Carnival Corp to sell more ships and delay all but one newbuild delivery in 2021
“While we have not made plans to move Carnival Cruise Line ships outside of our U.S. homeports, we may have no choice but to do so in order to resume our operations which have been on ‘pause’ for over a year,” said Duffy.
“We appreciate the continued patience and support from our loyal guests, travel advisors and business partners as we work on a return-to-service solution,” she added.
Booked guests and travel advisors are being notified directly of the cancellations and the options for a future cruise credit plus onboard credit package, or a full refund, according to Carnival.
To provide flexibility for guests booked on July itineraries that remain in the schedule, Carnival is extending final payment deadlines for all July sailings to May 31, 2021, with the ability to cancel without penalty.
Pacific World has become the first cruise ship of Cape Town’s 2026/27 season, arriving with…
Qatar Tourism and Old Doha Port held talks with five cruise operators at Seatrade Cruise…
MSC Musica has entered the Palumbo Malta Shipyard for a 45-day refurbishment that will add…
Travelmarvel has returned to Egypt with the maiden voyage of its new Nile river ship,…
The family of a South African crew member who died aboard MSC Euribia is seeking…
Holland America Line has completed a series of upgrades at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, including…