Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Carnival plans service phase-in
Carnival Cruise Line intends to start phasing in service from PortMiami, Port Canaveral and Galveston, Texas, starting Aug. 1, but has canceled all other North American and Australian home port cruises through Aug. 31, the company announced Monday.
Most of the cruise line industry has been shut down in the face of the coronavirus pandemic since mid-March as companies were stunned by the reality that large numbers of their passengers became infected. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention imposed a “no sail order” on March 14 for all cruise ships sailing out of U.S. ports and may extend through July 17.
Since the suspension, the industry has been trying to hammer out a plan to satisfy CDC requirements and return to service. A number of lines canceled sailings into June and have been making plans to return to the high seas even though the coronavirus crisis has gone largely unresolved.
In a statement, Miamibased Carnival stressed that its reopening of service is limited and confined to ports that are accessible by car for most customers. Historically, the bulk of cruise line customers have arrived in South Florida by air to meet ships leaving Port Everglades in Broward County and PortMiami.
“We are committed to supporting all public health efforts to manage the COVID-19 situation,” the company said in a statement. “We are taking a measured approach, focusing our return to service on a select number of home ports where we have more significant operations that are easily accessible by car for the majority of our guests.
“We will use this additional time to continue to engage experts, government officials and stakeholders on additional protocols and procedures to protect the health and safety of our guests, crew and the communities we serve,” the statement said.
Carnival, whose parent Carnival Corp. operates a total of nine cruise lines worldwide, shut down during the second week of March as the virus ran amok around the industry, stranding ships at sea with infected passengers and creating angst among cities that turned away vessels from their local seaports.
Carnival said all Spirit Alaskan cruises from Seattle will be canceled, as well as the Carnival Spirit Vancouver-Honolulu cruise on Sept. 25 and the HonoluluBrisbane transpacific cruise on Oct. 6.
Other than the planned services from PortMiami, Port Canaveral and Galveston, Texas, all other North American and Australian home port cruises will be canceled through Aug. 31.
The company said impacted guests and their travel advisers are being notified by email about credit and reimbursement options including a combined future cruise credit and onboard credit package, or full refunds. Booked guests can make their choices online, or through Carnival’s customer service center. But the company noted its customer service employees are still working from their homes due to locally-imposed office closures in South Florida.
Sister companies Princess Cruises, Holland America and Costa canceled voyages through June 30 while Cunard Line suspended sailings of its three ships through July 31.
Virgin Voyages, a new cruise line formed by British billionaire Richard Branson, was set to open service with its new ship Scarlet Lady at PortMiami in March. But it is now waiting until at least mid-July before starting some promotional sailings followed by an official maiden voyage on Aug. 7.
Norwegian, Oceania and Regent Seven Seas, all part of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, canceled cruises through June 30. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara, three brands under parent company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., will sail no earlier than June 12.
MSC Cruises, which operates several ships from PortMiami, has canceled its voyages through July 10.
Most of the lines have offered full refunds for canceled cruises or the option of applying the cruise costs to a future cruise with an on-board credit. Check each cruise line’s website.