March 26, 2021
(5 p.m. EST) -- Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy has reaffirmed Carnival's commitment to maintaining U.S. homeports, even as many in the cruise industry look abroad in order to restart operations.
In the past few weeks, lines have begun organizing sailings in the U.K., the Mediterranean and the Caribbean for restarts in May, June and July, working with local government authorities.
Cruising in the U.S., however, remains stymied by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which continues to largely ignore the pleas of industry leaders, senators, mayors and local officials in numerous states to provide cruising with a proper framework for a safe domestic restart of sailings.
Things have gotten so bad that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis pled with the CDC to take action Friday, while Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody warned of potential legal repercussions.
In a video address posted online, Duffy noted the availability of vaccines and remarked that despite negative coverage over the past week involving the agency, the CDC has yet to alter their guidance on cruise, merely reiterating that their "Framework for Conditional Sailing" remains in effect until November 1, 2021.
Featured Videos
Carnival Mardi Gras: Free Dining on the Lido Deck
Carnival Mardi Gras: RedFrog Tiki Bar & Summer Landing
Carnival Mardi Gras' Excel Suite and Loft 19
Live From Carnival's Mardi Gras: The French Quarter
BOLT: We Try Carnival Mardi Gras' Roller Coaster at Sea
How to Make a Towel Animals Swans, Dogs and Elephants
Towel Animals with Carnival Cruise Line and Cruise Critic: How to Make Towel Swans
Towel Animals with Carnival Cruise Line and Cruise Critic: How to Make a Towel Dog
Towel Animals with Carnival Cruise Line and Cruise Critic: How to Make a Towel Elephant
Bolt - Top Deck Roller-Coaster at Sea on Carnival Mardi Gras
How To Make Carnival Cruise Line's Famous Warm Chocolate Melting Cake - Video
Shaquille "Shaq" O'neal Named Chief Fun Officer Of Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line's "Choose Fun" Commercial
Carnival Splendor Photo Tour
Carnival Conquest Photo Tour
Carnival Pride Photo Tour
Carnival Dream Photo Tour
Carnival Sunshine Photo Tour
Carnival Breeze Photo Tour
Photo Tour of Carnival Liberty
5 Best Restaurants for Free Eats on Carnival Sunshine
SkyRide On Carnival Vista: Cruise Critic Tries It
Carnival Vista Top Deck Attractions
Behind the Scenes at CSMART - Carnival's Arison Maritime Training Center
Cruise Pier Runners In Cozumel -- Carnival Liberty
Cruise Critic Quick Chat With Carnival CEO Arnold Donald
"Our decisions about vaccines continue to be informed by our global medical and science experts, and of course the requirements from the places in which we operate our ships and the destinations we visit," Duffy said.
Duffy then addressed the elephant in the room: How does a line like Carnival -- itself tremendously dependent on drive-to ports of embarkation within the continental United States -- plan to restart operations?
"The timing for restart in the U.S. continues to be a bit uncertain," Duffy said. "Some cruise lines have cancelled their June sailings, and several cruise lines have recently announced itineraries that will operate outside the U.S. and will require guests over the age of 18, and all crew, to be vaccinated."
"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 U.S."
Duffy said that while June sailings are still technically on the books, anyone booked on a June sailing with Carnival would be allowed to cancel without penalty.
Carnival typically stays close to home, deploying only a handful of ships from foreign ports like Barcelona or Vancouver for a small seasonal timeframe. The majority of the fleet sails from tried-and-true U.S. homeports like Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville, Galveston, Mobile, Baltimore and Long Beach.
Many of Carnival's loyal passengers embarking on these sailings do so with only a birth certificate and a driver's license. This is acceptable documentation for an American citizen making a closed-loop cruise that returns to the United States, but unsuitable for cruises embarking in foreign ports like Nassau or Bermuda, where passports and air travel would be required.
Duffy says that moving its ships out of the U.S is out of the question.
"We currently do not have any plans to move our ships away from their U.S. homeports," said Duffy. "I have always said Carnival Cruise Line is America's cruise line."
Duffy also hinted that vaccine mandates wouldn't be coming to Carnival Cruise Line anytime soon.
"We also sail more families and children than any other cruise line," she said. "And as you know, so far the vaccines are not approved for anyone under the age of 16."
In closing, Duffy reiterated that the CDC has allowed other forms of travel to operate nearly unfettered, while keeping the cruise industry shuttered.
"If it's safe to fly on an airplane, stay in a hotel or resort, or visit an amusement park, it should be safe to cruise on a ship with the additional health and safety protocols that we have in place," Duffy said.
Cruise Critic will update this article with more information as it becomes available.
