MIAMI — Though unable to operate at this time due to ongoing travel restrictions, Carnival Cruise Line is using this time to make plans for the future that include a brand new ship and new homeports.
Carnival Excel rendering
“We have used this pause in operations to think carefully about our fleet and to build a plan that gives our guests new choices and upgrades to current ship offerings,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “With a fleet that gives guests lots of choices in ships, homeports, destinations and features including a multitude of dining, entertainment and accommodation choices, we are very excited about the future for Carnival Cruise Line.”
Here are some updates:
DATE ANNOUNCED FOR ADDITIONAL SHIP
As part of Carnival’s 50th birthday in 2022, a November 2022 delivery date for the unnamed, second Excel-class ship has been confirmed from the Meyer Turku shipyard. The sister ship to the Mardi Gras will include many of the same features, including BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea. It will sail out of PortMiami as previously announced and will open for sale this fall. Guests can register to be the ‘first to know’ about itineraries and promotions at www.carnival.com/ship2022.
SOLD SHIPS
To reduce its overall capacity and focus on ships with upgraded features, Carnival has sold the Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Inspiration. Carnival Fascination and Carnival Imagination will move to a long-term lay-up status, with no specific timeline identified for a return to operation.
REDEPLOYMENTS
Carnival Sensation will move from Miami to Mobile and take up itineraries previously assigned to Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Fascination, with guests on these two ships being re-accommodated on Carnival Sensation.
Carnival Sensation
Carnival Sunrise will move from Port Everglades to PortMiami and assume the itineraries previously operated by Carnival Sensation, providing a larger, upgraded ship for short itineraries. Guests booked on the Sunrise 4- and 5-day itineraries from Port Everglades will be automatically moved to sailings from PortMiami.
Carnival Radiance will now move directly from Europe after its US$200 million transformation and homeport in Long Beach in April 2021, where it will assume the short Baja Mexico itineraries previously served by Carnival Imagination and Carnival Inspiration.
Guests booked on Carnival Imagination and Carnival Inspiration after April 22, 2021 will be re-accommodated on Carnival Radiance, where they will experience new features including Shaq’a Big Chicken Restaurant and an expanded waterpark.
BIRTHDAY SAILING
Carnival Sunrise
Carnival Sunrise is part of Carnival’s 50th birthday celebration and there will be no changes to its birthday sailing, which is scheduled for March 5, 2022. These special, high-demand sailings will feature special entertainment, at-sea ship rendezvous and onboard activities. For more information go to www.carnival.com/sailabration.
CANCELLATIONS
Carnival Fascination itineraries from San Juan and Barbados have been cancelled for 2020-2021 as the cruise line focuses its return to operations on mainland drive markets in the U.S.
Itineraries for Carnival Imagination and Carnival Inspiration from Long Beach have been cancelled through April 19, 2021. Carnival Panorama will continue to operate seven-day cruises from Long Beach while Carnival Miracle will operate shorter itineraries from San Diego to Baja Mexico.
Carnival has also notified its Australian guests that it has extended its pause of operations in Australia and has cancelled six cruises scheduled to operate between Sept. 25 and Oct. 29, 2020.
Guests and travel agents are being notified directly from impacted sailings, guest re-accommodations and cancellations.
