MIAMI — Carnival says it’s working towards plans for a possible July restart in the U.S. on select ships, aiming to operate sailings on three ships from Florida and Texas this summer.

The cruise line announced yesterday that it hopes to sail Carnival Vista and Carnival Breeze from Galveston, and Carnival Horizon from Miami.

The company added: “Further, if Carnival can find a solution to allow cruise ships to visit Alaska, Carnival Miracle will assume some of Carnival Freedom’s departures from Seattle.”

The Alaska cruise season for 2021 is in limbo because the Canadian ban against cruise ships was extended through February 2022. Under U.S. law, ships with non-U.S. registry (and that includes most of the major cruise lines) can’t embark and disembark passengers at more than one U.S. port on a sailing, unless that itinerary also includes a distant foreign port. Canadian ports are a big part of most Alaska cruise itineraries.

With its news about possible U.S. port sailings, Carnival also sent out a cancellation update.

For the Alaska cruises, Carnival says that the uncertainty in its ability to operate these cruises, means passengers booked on those sailings who wish to make alternate summer vacation plans can cancel without penalty by May 31, 2021 and receive a full refund.

Carnival is also cancelling sailings on all other Carnival ships through July 30, 2021. Guests whose cruises are cancelled are eligible for a future cruise credit (FCC) and onboard credit (OBC) or a full refund.

“We continue to have constructive discussions with the CDC but still have many questions that remain unanswered.  We are working diligently to resume sailing in the U.S. and meet the CDC guidelines,” said Christine Duffy, President, Carnival Cruise Line. “We sincerely appreciate the continued patience and understanding of our guests and travel advisor partners and will share additional information as quickly as we can.”

Separately, late last week Carnival notified its guests that Carnival Splendor’s pause out of Sydney was extended another month, as it cancelled sailings from Aug. 19 to Sept. 17, 2021.

Last month, when Carnival released its latest round of cancellations, its update included a message from Duffy in reference to the CDC’s Conditional Sailing Order.

The CDC has since indicated that cruising from U.S. ports may restart this summer.

“We are asking that the cruise industry be treated on par with the approach being taken with other travel and tourism sectors, as well as U.S. society at large,” said Duffy in the cruise line’s April 6 update on its site.

Register Now!  Travelweek’s ‘Future of Travel: Sunnier Days Ahead’ will take place Wed. May 19, from 1 – 3 p.m.  Click here to register now, travelweekfutureoftravel.com