Carnival brings more ships back into service

Carnival Cruise Line tweeted this image from Carnival Dream to celebrate the return to service of more than 50% of its U.S. capacity,

The cruise industry is continuing its comeback. This is good news not only for travelers and investors, but also for many local economies hard hit by the shutdown of the industry in the wake of the pandemic.

On Monday, Carnival Cruise Line reported that it now has 11 ships—half its U.S. fleet, back in operation, operating from seven U.S. homeports: Miami, Galveston, Seattle, Port Canaveral, Long Beach, Baltimore and New Orleans. Today, its parent Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world’s largest cruise company, announced that it expects to return over 50% of its total fleet capacity to guest cruise operations by the end of October, representing an important milestone on the way to its plans to begin the New Year with nearly 65% of its fleet capacity in service.

To date, eight of the company’s nine cruise line brands—Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK) and Cunard—have resumed guest sailings. By the end of October, those eight brands have announced they will be operating 42 ships, marking the return of over 50% of the company’s global fleet capacity, as part of overall restart efforts around the world.

Collectively, the corporation’s brands are resuming operations using a gradual, phased-in approach, with sailings from major global ports in multiple regions around the world, including the U.S., Mexico, Caribbean, United Kingdom, Western Europe and the Mediterranean, among others. The cruises operate with enhanced protocols developed in conjunction with government and health authorities, and informed by guidance from the company’s public health, epidemiological and policy experts. This includes operating vaccinated cruises with updated testing and masking policies that follow the latest guidance, while creating vacation experiences that continue to generate high guest satisfaction scores.

“Based on our initial restart of guest cruise operations across eight brands, it is clear from our guests that there is tremendous confidence in our brands, our health and safety protocols, and the return of cruising as one of the world’s most popular vacations,” said Roger Frizzell, chief communications officer for Carnival Corporation. “As the restart of cruising continues to gain momentum and create positive economic activity for people who depend on our industry to make a living, we look forward to serving our guests with more than half our fleet capacity returning in October, while delivering a great guest experience and serving the best interests of public health. Our highest responsibility and top priority remains compliance, environmental protection, and the health, safety and well-being of our guests, our shipboard and shoreside personnel, and the communities we visit.”

The following summarizes Carnival Corporation’s brand restart announcements to date, including those contributing to the 50% milestone in October, along with plans for additional ship restarts as part of the company’s overall goal to return nearly 65% of capacity by December 31, 2021.

NORTH AMERICA BRANDS:

• Carnival Cruise Line plans to have 13 ships sailing in October and a total of 17 ships by year-end.
• Princess Cruises plans to have six ships sailing in October, with eight total ships in operation by the end of the year.
• Holland America Line plans to have four ships in operation in October, with a total of six ships in operation by the end of the year. Additionally, the brand has announced plans for all 11 ships in its fleet to be in service by spring 2022.
• Seabourn plans to operate its full fleet by spring 2022, including a new expedition ship with its first sailing in April 2022, totaling six ships in service next year.

• Costa Cruises plans to have five ships in operation in October, with a total of six ships in operation by the end of the year.
• AIDA Cruises plans to have eight ships in operation in October, with a total of 10 ships in operation by the end of the year.
• P&O Cruises (UK) plans to have three ships in operation in October, with a total of four ships in operation by the end of the year. Additionally, the brand has announced plans to operate its full fleet by spring 2022.
• Cunard plans to have two of the three ships in its fleet in operation by the end of the year. Additionally, the brand has announced plans to resume operations with its remaining ship in spring 2022.