Carnival confirms more US cruise cancellations

Carnival Cruise Line has announced more ship deployments and cruise cancellations from US homeports.

Sailings on Carnival Magic, Paradise and Valor will be delayed until November 2021, which means voyages on Carnival Magic from Norfolk (embarkations from September 29 to October 30), Carnival Paradise from Tampa (embarkations from June 5 to October 28) and Carnival Valor from New Orleans (embarkations from September 16 to October 28) have all been cancelled.           

In November, Carnival announced that all sailings from US homeports would be cancelled until February.

Carnival Miracle’s planned seasonal service from San Diego has also been suspended until further notice, and sailings out of San Diego that were available for sale through April 2023 have been cancelled, with the exception of seven voyages to Hawaii, which will move to Long Beach.

Carnival Radiance’s dry dock and transformation has been moved to September, with a planned arrival to Long Beach in November 2021.

With Carnival Miracle’s reposition to Long Beach, the ship will assume the three- and four-day itineraries for Carnival Radiance from May 3 to November 1, 2021, as well as the seven Hawaii Carnival journeys. In addition, Carnival Miracle will launch a new programme of four- and five-day cruises to Mexico during the winter season, beginning November 2021 and continuing through April 2023.

Carnival is advising guests and travel agents of these changes. 

Where possible, West Coast guests are being accommodated in a transfer to Carnival Miracle (from Carnival Radiance), or the retention of their Hawaiian itinerary via a Long Beach embarkation instead. 

With this change, Carnival will eventually run a three-ship operation from its port facility at Long Beach with Carnival Panorama sailing seven-day Mexican Riviera itineraries and Carnival Radiance operating three- and four-day  itineraries year-round, with Carnival Miracle operating four- and five-day Mexico and 14-day Hawaii itineraries during the winter.

Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said: "Like so much about this current global situation, we are adapting our plans as circumstances evolve and we are able to confirm alternatives. We are disappointed that our return to seasonal ports like Norfolk and San Diego has been impacted and appreciate the support of those port partners and communities. 

"The support of our guests, travel agents, ports and business partners has truly been overwhelming as we work through this situation."

By Louise Longman, Contributing Editor (UK)