TAMPA, Fla. — Carnival Cruise Line announced on Monday that PortMiami and Port Canaveral cruises for November were canceled.
In a press release, Carnival says the trips would not be "feasible." Carnival previously canceled all cruises except those on the six ships operating out of the two ports when the CDC extended its no-sail order until Oct. 31.
"Carnival continues to work on protocols and procedures that would allow for the resumption of cruise operations, with a gradual, phased-in approach, designating Miami and Port Canaveral as the first two homeports for embarkations," the release said.
Cruises scheduled for December from PortMiami and Port Canaveral remain in place at this time, according to Carnival. Guests booked on those trips can voluntarily cancel their reservations and get the same offer that all other impacted guests are receiving. According to Carnival, options include a combination of future cruise credit (FCC) and onboard credit (OBC), or a full refund.
Additionally, Carnival is also canceling five cruises scheduled to operate from Sydney, Australia in January and February 2021.
To see a complete list of canceled cruises, click here.
Cruise industry executives and the CDC joined a call with Vice President Mike Pence on Friday, to discuss how the industry plans to approach the restart of operations.
They adopted 74 recommendations to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Recommendations include testing all passengers between five days and 24 hours before boarding, requiring all passengers and crew to wear masks, upgrading air-conditioning systems and lowering the doctor-to-passenger ratio on cruise ships. The recommendations are on each cruise company's website.
In a statement to ABC Action News, Paul Anderson, Port Tampa Bay President & CEO said:
"Port Tampa Bay is working closely with all the cruise lines that homeport out of our port and we will be prepared to welcome them back when they are ready. We have taken extra precautions to keep our cruise terminals clean and disinfected, and we sanitize them with an EPA-approved chemical to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Port Tampa Bay is on standby to serve our cruise lines and to follow any protocols that may be in place for a safe return of cruising."
Many of the details like the kinds of tests that will be used on passengers, or who will pay for them are still being worked out.
