As several U.S. cruise lines announce summer sailings with Caribbean homeports, Carnival Cruise Line is taking a different approach. In a video address, CCL president Christine Duffy said there are currently no plans to move Carnival ships away from their American home ports.
“I have always said Carnival Cruise Line is America's cruise line. We sail from 14 U.S. homeports, 50 per cent of our itineraries are less than seven-day sailings and a significant number of our guests drive to their Carnival Cruise vacation,” she said.
She also noted the cruise line has not made a decision on vaccines being a requirement, but is focused on “securing a decision that will allow for a resumption and cruising from our US homeports consistent with the expected return of other forms of travel for the summer.”
Despite the pleas of industry leaders, including trade association CLIA, the CDC refuses to alter its guidance on cruises, reiterating that the "Framework for Conditional Sailing" remains in effect until 01NOV.
This creates an uncertain cruise timeline resumption for U.S. cruising, Duffy noted.
“The timing for restart in the U.S. continues to be a bit uncertain. Some cruise lines have cancelled their June sailings and several cruise lines have recently announced itineraries that will operate outside the US and require guests over the age of 18 and all crew to be vaccinated. Some of our Carnival Corporation sister brands are offering limited sailings for guests who have received the vaccine. We have not made a decision here at Carnival about our June sailings. If in fact, we could be given the opportunity to restart cruising from the US.”
Duffy said that while JUN sailings are still technically on the books, anyone booked on a Carnival sailing that month is allowed to cancel without penalty.
