Carnival Cruise Line Planning To Phase In Limited Sailings In August
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Looking to the future, Miami-based Carnival Cruise Line says it plans to phase in North American sailings.
"We will be taking a measured approach to resume sailing later this summer, phasing in some cruises, starting in August. We will use this extended pause to continue to identify and implement additional protocols, so we can safely welcome you back," the cruise line said in a statement.
Carnival Cruise Lines halted new sailings on March 13 due to the coronavirus outbreak.
All North American cruises from June 27 to July 31 remain canceled.
The initial phase-in of sailings will involve a total of eight ships from Miami, Port Canaveral, and Galveston.
The ships at Port Miami will be the Carnival Horizon, Carnival Magic, and Carnival Sensation.
At Port Canaveral the ships Breeze and Elation will be anchored and in Galveston Texas, Carnival's Dream, Freedom and Vista are set to relaunch in August.
Carnival Cruise Line has canceled the following sailings:
- All San Francisco sailings through 2020.
- All Carnival Sunrise sailings through and including October 19, 2020.
- All Carnival Legend sailings through and including October 30, 2020.
- All Carnival Radiance sailings through and including November 1, 2020.
- All Carnival Spirit Alaska, Hawaii, & Trans-Pacific sailings through and including October 6, 2020.
- Carnival Breeze, Carnival Dream, Carnival Elation, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Magic, Carnival Sensation, & Carnival Vista sailings through and including July 31, 2020.
- All other ships sailings through and including August 31, 2020
Impacted guests and their travel advisors are being notified by email, including options for a combined future cruise credit and onboard credit package, or a full refund.
With many families putting travel plans on hold this summer because of the pandemic, it remains to be seen how many people will sign up for the Carnival cruises.
In South Florida, some travelers say they fear getting stuck on a ship with ill passengers.
In April. cruise ships with sick passengers had to dock at Port Everglades and Port MIami after being turned away at other ports.
Lorraine Muavero, who has taken cruises before, says she may wait a year before she sets sail again.
"I don't think people are ready. There's a lot of fear. Scientists still have to learn more about the virus. They are unsure," she says.
As to what changes people can expect in August, a Carnival spokesperson said they are still working on a protocol for passengers and crew and the safety of the community.
