More cruises have been cancelled for the rest of the year

Carnival Cruise Line is notifying guests and travel agents that it has cancelled cruises from all US homeports except Miami and Port Canaveral for November and December 2020. While operations from Miami and Port Canaveral in November and December are still not certain, Carnival is focusing its initial return to service from those two homeports, whenever that might occur.

The cruise line continues to work on protocols and procedures that would allow for the resumption of cruise operations, with a gradual, phased-in approach, designating Miami and Port Canaveral as the first two homeports for embarkations.

Health and safety of guests remains cornerstone

Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruise Line, commented: “As we have said throughout this pause, our return to operations will be gradual and phased in. And while we are not making any presumptions, once cruising is allowed, we will centre our initial start-up from the homeports of Miami and Port Canaveral.

“The health and safety of our guests, crew and communities we serve remain the cornerstone of our plans and decisions. The patience and support of our guests and travel agent partners have been a huge motivation to our team as we have worked through this unprecedented situation and we are dedicated to getting back to operations when the time is right.”

Norwegian Cruise Line cancels cruises through November

Meanwhile, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has cancelled all of its cruises through November 2020, and a few of its ships will not sail until at least April 2021. NCL posted an update on its website stating that it has decided to extend its voluntary suspension of all cruises through November 2020. In addition, cruises on three ships are cancelled through the end of March 2021, including the Norwegian Star, Norwegian Spirit and Norwegian Dawn.

"The company will continue to work in tandem with global government and public health authorities and its Healthy Sail Panel expert advisors to take all necessary measures to protect its guests, crew and the communities visited," Norwegian said in a statement.

The Cruise Lines International Association members had already voluntarily agreed on the suspension of all US cruise operations until 31 October. Royal Caribbean Group – which includes Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara and Silversea, all CLIA members – had announced the suspension of its US operations in line with the latest CLIA announcement.