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Carnival Cruise Line threatens to remove its ships from US home ports to sail elsewhere

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, USA TODAY Published 3:38 p.m. ET April 6, 2021 | Updated 3:39 p.m. ET April 6, 2021

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After an intense year of lockdowns, getting out there and seeing the world is in most people’s minds. Many cruise itineraries will be a week or less. Buzz60

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Carnival Cruise Line threatened to move its ships out of U.S. waters Tuesday after canceling additional all cruises departing from U.S. ports through June 30. 

“While we have not made plans to move Carnival Cruise Line ships outside of our U.S. homeports, we may have no choice but to do so in order to resume our operations which have been on ‘pause’ for over a year," Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said in a statement provided by spokesperson Vance Gulliksen.

Carnival has 14 home ports along the east and west coasts and the Gulf of Mexico in the U.S., Gulliksen said.

"We remain committed to working with the Administration and the CDC to find a workable solution that best serves the interest of public health," Duffy said in the release, adding that Carnival is asking that the "cruise industry be treated on par" with other sectors of the travel industry "as well as U.S. society at large."

The threat comes on the heels of new guidance published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Friday detailing the second phase of its Conditional Sailing Order — which the cruise industry had pushed the agency to lift the week prior. 

Although there was new information on the benchmarks cruise lines need to hit before carrying paying passengers once more, there was no word on when cruising will be able to restart in U.S. waters.

A year without cruising:No ‘crystal ball’ to tell when sailing could restart amid COVID-19

x201c;While we have not made plans to move Carnival Cruise Line ships outside of our U.S. homeports, we may have no choice but to do so in order to resume our operations which have been on x2018;pausex2019; for over a year,

“While we have not made plans to move Carnival Cruise Line ships outside of our U.S. homeports, we may have no choice but to do so in order to resume our operations which have been on ‘pause’ for over a year," Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said in a statement provided by spokesperson Vance Gulliksen.

 (Photo: Marina113 / Getty Images)

The cruise industry has been shuttered in U.S. waters since March of last year while other sectors have been allowed to continue to operate or reopen with health and safety modifications including airlines and  theme parks.

But more than a year later, there is no "crystal ball" that can tell when sailing might restart, saidKelly Craighead, president and CEO of Cruise Lines International Association, the leading trade group for the industry.

"I couldn't begin to speculate as to why the cruise industry is being held out in ways that other industries are not," Craighead told USA TODAY in February.

Other cruise lines have already taken action to move their ships to other parts of the world in order to resume operations.

On Tuesday, Norwegian Cruise Line announced its official return to service would begin in July in Europe and the Caribbean. And last month, Royal Caribbean International announced sailings in Israel, Bermuda and the Bahamas and its sibling line, Celebrity Cruises, added itineraries for St. Maarten – all with specific vaccine requirements.

Carnival said it is notifying guests whose cruises have been canceled and are providing options for a future cruise credit with added onboard credits or a full refund.

Plan B:Norwegian Cruise Line will resume sailing in Europe, Caribbean in late summer

The cruise industry is hoping for a major do-over in 2021. Thanks to COVID-19-induced shipyard delays and sailing suspensions, several brand-new ships from major cruise lines including Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity missed their planned 2020 debuts and are now set to join their respective fleets in the new year. They'll be joined by ships from a brand-new line, Virgin Voyages, as well as speciality brands, including Silversea, Crystal and Seabourn. Scroll ahead to check out the most-anticipated cruise ships of the year. 
The debut of Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Sea was bumped from November 2020 to April. The new ship features a two-level pool deck, including a sky ride that gives passengers a bird's-eye view.
The pandemic also delayed the April 2020 launch of Celebrity Apex, operated by Celebrity Cruises. <a href=
Virgin Voyages&#39; first ship, Scarlet Lady, will finally set off on her maiden voyage in May, more than a year after it was originally scheduled due to the coronavirus pandemic. It will sail in the Caribbean.
Like its sister ship, Virgin&#39;s Valiant Lady will also set sail later than intended. It&#39;s slated for a November launch.&nbsp; It, too, will sail Caribbean and Bahamian routes.
Carnival Cruise Line&#39;s biggest ship to date, the 5,282-passenger Mardi Gras, was originally supposed to make its debut in the fall of 2020; it will now&nbsp;sail its maiden voyage in April. Based out of Florida&#39;s Port Canaveral, it will sail Caribbean and Bahamian itinearies.
In July, Holland America Line, owned by Carnival Corp., will launch Rotterdam, a new ship with an old name. (The previous Rotterdam is no longer part of the fleet.) It will offer Baltic, transatlantic and Caribbean routes.
After several Princess Cruises ships suffered COVID-19 outbreaks last year, the Carnival Corp.-owned line plans to launch its fifth Royal Class vessel, Enchanted Princess, in Later September.&nbsp; The ship will see a variety of itineraries, including the California coast, Mexican Riviera, Caribbean, South America, Europe and translantlantic crossings.
MSC Cruises will launch two new ships in 2021. The first, MSC Virtuosa, is scheduled to make its first voyage in April and will offer Caribbean and Mediterranean itineraries. Part of&nbsp;MSC&#39;s Meraviglia Plus class, it features Cirque du Soleil performances, an indoor promenade with a digital sky ceiling, an indoor amusement park, an outdoor water park and the first contemporary fine art museum at sea.
The second, the Mediterraean-focused MSC Seashore, is set to debut in June. This ship will boast an entirely redesigned deck layout offering more dining spaces, bar and entertainment venues, new public spaces and, behind the scenes, new engines.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection had intended to debut its first ship, Evrima, in June 2020. But COVID-19 and <a href=
Viking will debut its latest ship, the 930-passenger Venus, in early 2021.
The luxurious, all-suite Crystal Endeavor, which had cruises booked for March 2020, is now eyeing a mid-2021 debut, <a href=
Crystal Endeavour is joined by seven other small, new expedition ships for 2021.&nbsp;All but two of the ships are part of the burgeoning luxury expedition movement that blends expedition-style cruising (Zodiacs, wet/dry landings, hikes) with high levels of service, gourmet cuisine and luxury amenities. Among the other news ships: Quark Expeditions&#39; Ultramarine (pictured here), National Geographic Endurance,&nbsp;Hurtigruten&#39;s Fridtjof Nansen, Victory Cruise Lines&#39; Ocean Victory and&nbsp;Ponant&#39;s Le Bellot and<strong>&nbsp;</strong>Le Jacques Cartier.
Silversea&#39;s Silver Origin, scheduled for an April debut,&nbsp;will be one of the newest and most luxurious hybrid cruise-expedition vessels serving the Galapagos.&nbsp;
When it sets sail in April, Silversea&#39;s Silver Moon&nbsp;will be the first vessel in the Silversea fleet to inaugurate the line&#39;s new Sea And Land Taste (SALT) culinary concept that introduces itinerary-specific cuisine in a dedicated space. Itineraries include&nbsp;Africa and the Indian Ocean; Asia; Caribbean and Central America; Mediterranean; South America; transoceanic and world cruises.
Debuting in November, Silversea&#39;s Silver Dawn will offer&nbsp;Mediterranean, South American and transoceanic itinearies and itinerary-specific SALT culinary experiences.
The debut vessel for Atlas Ocean Voyages, the 196-passenger World Navigator, will enter the luxury expedition segment when it sets sail in the second half of 2021. It will offer itineraries to the Mediterranean, Caribbean, South America and Antarctica as well as transoceanic voyages.
Swan Hellenic&#39;s green-hulled Minerva sets sail in November. The luxury expedition ship will also carry a fleet of Zodiac rafts and a team of experienced expedition guides to places like the Arctic, Antarctica and eastern Russia.
Outfitted with a PC6 polar class ice-strengthened hull and 132 all-verandah oceanview suites, Seabourn Venture will build on the quietly elegant spaces that have become Seabourn&#39;s hallmark onboard experience when it debuts in December. Itineraries include<strong>&nbsp;</strong>the Arctic, Antarctica and South America.
The debut of P&amp;O Cruises&#39; new ship Iona was also delayed by the pandemic. It&#39;s not clear when in 2021 it will begin sailing, but when it does, the ship will offer itineraries to Northern Europe, the Norwegian fjords, Portugal and Spain, as well as the&nbsp;Canary Islands.
Scheduled for an April launch, the 132-passenger Sea Cloud Spirit&nbsp;features three masts of billowing sails and, in a first for the line, a forward-facing fitness center, spa and wellness facility. Itineraries include the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Caribbean, Central America and transatlantic crossings.
Saga Cruises&#39; Spirit of Adventure will finally debut in May and offer the cruise line&#39;s over-50 audience itineraries in Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, Caribbean and the Americas.

Replay

The cruise industry is hoping for a major do-over in 2021. Thanks to COVID-19-induced shipyard delays and sailing suspensions,&nbsp;several brand-new ships from major cruise lines including Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity missed their planned 2020 debuts and are now set to join their respective fleets in the new year. They&#39;ll be joined by ships from a brand-new line, Virgin Voyages, as well as speciality brands, including Silversea, Crystal and Seabourn. Scroll ahead to check out the most-anticipated cruise ships of the year.&nbsp;1 of 23

The debut of Royal Caribbean&rsquo;s Odyssey of the Sea was bumped from November 2020 to April. The new ship features a two-level pool deck, including a sky ride that gives passengers a bird&#39;s-eye view.2 of 23

The pandemic also delayed the April 2020 launch of Celebrity Apex, operated by Celebrity Cruises. <a href=3 of 23

Virgin Voyages&#39; first ship, Scarlet Lady, will finally set off on her maiden voyage in May, more than a year after it was originally scheduled due to the coronavirus pandemic. It will sail in the Caribbean.4 of 23

Like its sister ship, Virgin&#39;s Valiant Lady will also set sail later than intended. It&#39;s slated for a November launch.&nbsp; It, too, will sail Caribbean and Bahamian routes.5 of 23

Carnival Cruise Line&#39;s biggest ship to date, the 5,282-passenger Mardi Gras, was originally supposed to make its debut in the fall of 2020; it will now&nbsp;sail its maiden voyage in April. Based out of Florida&#39;s Port Canaveral, it will sail Caribbean and Bahamian itinearies.6 of 23

In July, Holland America Line, owned by Carnival Corp., will launch Rotterdam, a new ship with an old name. (The previous Rotterdam is no longer part of the fleet.) It will offer Baltic, transatlantic and Caribbean routes.7 of 23

After several Princess Cruises ships suffered COVID-19 outbreaks last year, the Carnival Corp.-owned line plans to launch its fifth Royal Class vessel, Enchanted Princess, in Later September.&nbsp; The ship will see a variety of itineraries, including the California coast, Mexican Riviera, Caribbean, South America, Europe and translantlantic crossings.8 of 23

MSC Cruises will launch two new ships in 2021. The first, MSC Virtuosa, is scheduled to make its first voyage in April and will offer Caribbean and Mediterranean itineraries. Part of&nbsp;MSC&#39;s Meraviglia Plus class, it features Cirque du Soleil performances, an indoor promenade with a digital sky ceiling, an indoor amusement park, an outdoor water park and the first contemporary fine art museum at sea.9 of 23

The second, the Mediterraean-focused MSC Seashore, is set to debut in June. This ship will boast an entirely redesigned deck layout offering more dining spaces, bar and entertainment venues, new public spaces and, behind the scenes, new engines.10 of 23

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection had intended to debut its first ship, Evrima, in June 2020. But COVID-19 and <a href=11 of 23

Viking will debut its latest ship, the 930-passenger Venus, in early 2021.12 of 23

The luxurious, all-suite Crystal Endeavor, which had cruises booked for March 2020, is now eyeing a mid-2021 debut, <a href=13 of 23

Crystal Endeavour is joined by seven other small, new expedition ships for 2021.&nbsp;All but two of the ships are part of the burgeoning luxury expedition movement that blends expedition-style cruising (Zodiacs, wet/dry landings, hikes) with high levels of service, gourmet cuisine and luxury amenities. Among the other news ships: Quark Expeditions&#39; Ultramarine (pictured here), National Geographic Endurance,&nbsp;Hurtigruten&#39;s Fridtjof Nansen, Victory Cruise Lines&#39; Ocean Victory and&nbsp;Ponant&#39;s Le Bellot and<strong>&nbsp;</strong>Le Jacques Cartier.14 of 23

Silversea&#39;s Silver Origin, scheduled for an April debut,&nbsp;will be one of the newest and most luxurious hybrid cruise-expedition vessels serving the Galapagos.&nbsp;15 of 23

When it sets sail in April, Silversea&#39;s Silver Moon&nbsp;will be the first vessel in the Silversea fleet to inaugurate the line&#39;s new Sea And Land Taste (SALT) culinary concept that introduces itinerary-specific cuisine in a dedicated space. Itineraries include&nbsp;Africa and the Indian Ocean; Asia; Caribbean and Central America; Mediterranean; South America; transoceanic and world cruises.16 of 23

Debuting in November, Silversea&#39;s Silver Dawn will offer&nbsp;Mediterranean, South American and transoceanic itinearies and itinerary-specific SALT culinary experiences.17 of 23

The debut vessel for Atlas Ocean Voyages, the 196-passenger World Navigator, will enter the luxury expedition segment when it sets sail in the second half of 2021. It will offer itineraries to the Mediterranean, Caribbean, South America and Antarctica as well as transoceanic voyages.18 of 23

Swan Hellenic&#39;s green-hulled Minerva sets sail in November. The luxury expedition ship will also carry a fleet of Zodiac rafts and a team of experienced expedition guides to places like the Arctic, Antarctica and eastern Russia.19 of 23

Outfitted with a PC6 polar class ice-strengthened hull and 132 all-verandah oceanview suites, Seabourn Venture will build on the quietly elegant spaces that have become Seabourn&#39;s hallmark onboard experience when it debuts in December. Itineraries include<strong>&nbsp;</strong>the Arctic, Antarctica and South America.20 of 23

The debut of P&amp;O Cruises&#39; new ship Iona was also delayed by the pandemic. It&#39;s not clear when in 2021 it will begin sailing, but when it does, the ship will offer itineraries to Northern Europe, the Norwegian fjords, Portugal and Spain, as well as the&nbsp;Canary Islands.21 of 23

Scheduled for an April launch, the 132-passenger Sea Cloud Spirit&nbsp;features three masts of billowing sails and, in a first for the line, a forward-facing fitness center, spa and wellness facility. Itineraries include the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Caribbean, Central America and transatlantic crossings.22 of 23

Saga Cruises&#39; Spirit of Adventure will finally debut in May and offer the cruise line&#39;s over-50 audience itineraries in Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, Caribbean and the Americas.23 of 23

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