MIAMI, May 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Three cruise
line brands from Carnival Corporation &
plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world's largest cruise
company, are expected to return to service in the United States starting in July with
Alaska sailings departing directly
from Seattle.
Based on recent guidance from the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and close collaboration
with Alaskan officials, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and
Carnival Cruise Line plan to resume guest cruise operations
for a partial season in Alaska,
each with one ship sailing round-trip. These Alaska cruises are available for guests who
have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at
least 14 days prior to the beginning of the cruise and have proof
of vaccination. Crew vaccinations will be in accordance with CDC
guidelines.
"We are excited to once again serve our guests from the U.S.,
and we express our deep gratitude to all national, state and local
officials who have worked collaboratively with us, the CDC and our
entire industry to make this possible. It is great news for
cruising, for travelers ready to again explore the world and for
all the communities in Alaska that
depend on cruising and have suffered great hardships over the past
year," said Arnold Donald, CEO of
Carnival Corporation. "As one of America's natural treasures,
Alaska is a land of beauty and
wonder, and one of the most popular destinations for our guests. We
look forward to our brands restarting this summer from the U.S.
while also supporting our longtime partners and the communities in
Alaska."
Donald added: "Our highest responsibility and top priority
are always compliance, environmental protection, and the health,
safety and well-being of our guests, the people in the communities
we touch and serve, and our shipboard and shoreside personnel. As
we continue to work with the CDC on requirements for sailing in the
U.S., we remain committed to returning to service in a way that
serves the best interest of public health and provides our guests
with a great cruise vacation at an exceptional value."
Plans for these itineraries to
fulfill obligations under the Passenger Vessel
Services Act (PVSA) are expected to be
approved. Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and Carnival
Cruise Line are each continuing the return-to-cruising
preparation already underway.
Princess Cruises will resume operations in Alaska starting July 25
through September 26, with seven-day cruises onboard
Majestic Princess, a MedallionClass ship. Its
cruises will visit signature ports, glaciers and
attractions in Alaska including Glacier Bay National Park,
Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan.
Holland America Line will resume
its cruise operations to Alaska
with seven-day itineraries aboard Nieuw Amsterdam, calling at
Juneau, Icy Strait Point,
Sitka and Ketchikan, with scenic cruising in
Alaska's iconic locales, including
Glacier Bay and Stephens Passage. The first cruise for the brand is
scheduled to depart July 24, with 11
Saturday departures that will operate through October 2.
Carnival Cruise Line has already opened Alaska sailings departing from Seattle beginning July
27, with weekly departures through September 14 aboard Carnival Miracle. There are
seven 7-day cruises featuring calls in Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, as well as scenic cruising in Tracy
Arm Fjord. The September 14 departure
is an 8-day cruise with an additional stop in Icy Strait Point.
Carnival Cruise Line is also working to finalize its plans to
operate Carnival Horizon from Miami, and Carnival Vista and Carnival Breeze
from Galveston in July. Itineraries along with specific
details about protocols are expected to be finalized and announced
next week.
Additional details on the Alaska sailings will be announced in the
coming weeks by each respective brand and available on their
websites.
Carnival Corporation and its brands continue to work with the
CDC and other authorities on protocols and requirements for
sailings out of U.S. ports, which continue to evolve with changing
circumstances. Each of the brands will provide guests with
advanced, detailed information about protocols in place at the time
of departure, as full details continue to be updated in
collaboration with medical and science experts and government
authorities.
The company is currently sailing with two of its brands in
Europe – AIDA Cruises and Costa
Cruises – using highly effective enhanced health and safety
protocols developed in conjunction with national and global health
authorities and medical experts. Additionally, eight of Carnival
Corporation's nine cruise line brands have announced plans to
resume guest operations this summer in Europe, the Caribbean and Alaska, with AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise
Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, Princess
Cruises, Seabourn and P&O Cruises (UK) resuming sailings from
global ports over the next several months.
About Carnival Corporation & plc
Carnival
Corporation & plc is one of the world's largest leisure travel
companies with a portfolio of nine of the world's leading cruise
lines sailing to all seven continents. With operations in
North America, Australia, Europe and Asia, its portfolio features Carnival Cruise
Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O
Cruises (Australia), Costa
Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK) and Cunard.
Additional information can be found on www.carnivalcorp.com,
www.carnival.com, www.princess.com, www.hollandamerica.com,
www.seabourn.com, www.pocruises.com.au, www.costacruise.com,
www.aida.de, www.pocruises.com and www.cunard.com.
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SOURCE Carnival Corporation & plc