Carnival extends sailing pause for US departures to April 30

Carnival Cruise Line has announced that it will extend its sailing pause for US departures through to April 30.

Carnival joins Royal Caribbean Group in moving its possible business restart to May.

Cruise industry experts this weekend posited that Royal Caribbean could restart cruising in May based on the company’s announced cruise sales.

President of Carnival Cruise Line Christine Duffy said in a press statement on Friday that despite the constant pushing back of the company’s sail restart date, guests and travel agents continue to express their desire to get back on Carnival ships.

“We are heartened by the booking demand and activity we continue to see,” Duffy said.

“We are certainly committed to welcoming them back as quickly as possible, but unfortunately we have determined it’s going to take a while longer. The situation in Europe will also impact Mardi Gras’ departure to the US and Carnival Legend’s itineraries in Europe.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website, Carnival has all but three of its ships green-lighted to begin commercial travel, though the company and other cruise companies still have to carry out the CDC’s mandated test sailing with volunteer guests or crew only.

The CDC lists in its COVID-19 response plan status update that both Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean Group, the two largest cruise ship companies, have a huge majority of their ships’ no sail order response plans green-lighted.

Nassau Cruise Port Limited’s (NCP) Chief Executive Officer Mike Maura told Guardian Business last week that his company has secured more than 950 berth bookings from cruise lines beginning in April, up to the end of the year. 

Maura contended that cruise lines could begin simulated sailings required by the CDC – with some of the vessels visiting the Port of Nassau to carry out simulated disembarkations – in the next two months.

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source https://thenassauguardian.com/carnival-extends-sailing-pause-for-us-departures-to-april-30/