Update April 6, 2021: Carnival Cruise Line Extends Cancellations
Carnival Cruise Line notified guests of more cruise cancellations. This time, the cancellations continue through June 30, 2021, extended be one more month.
This follows on the heels of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (the CDC) latest Phase 2 of their Conditional Sailing Order. The Phase 2 update includes a list of requirements that cruise lines and local ports must meet in order to resume cruises.
Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line said, “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. We appreciate the continued patience and support from our loyal guests, travel advisors and business partners as we work on a return-to-service solution.”
Carnival Mardi Gras Debut Date Changed?
Nothing was mentioned in today’s (April 6, 2021) announcement regarding the debut of Mardi Gras at Port Canaveral. The last time the inaugural was changed, the cruise line postponed the ship’s debut until until June 5, 2021. Now it seems like that date may also change. On Carnival’s website, the earliest available booking date we could find for departures is July 3, 2021. Interestingly, Carnival took delivery of Mardi Gras way back in December, 2020.
Carnival Cruise Line Cancellations
A date for when Carnival will resume cruising from U.S. ports has not yet been determined. Earlier this month, the cruise line began to provide more flexible options for those who were booked into early summer. Guests booked can cancel their reservation without penalty simply if they needed or just wanted to make different plans.
For anyone booked on cruises in today’s new cruise cancellations extension, Carnival gives guests the choice of a future cruise credit plus onboard credit package, or a full refund.
“We continue to work on plans to resume operations and are encouraged by the focus to expedite vaccine production and distribution which are having a demonstrated impact on improving public health,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “We appreciate the support of all of our guests, employees and trade partners who we know are looking forward to our return.”
Carnival Mardi Gras Debut Date Changed
Also mentioned in the February 24, 2021 cruise cancellations advisory was the debut of Carnival’s new Mardi Gras. The official launch date from Port Canaveral, Florida has been pushed back several times in the past few months. Today’s change hopes to see guests board the new Mardi Gras at Port Canaveral on June 5, 2021.
Cruises
- The previously-announced dry dock plans for Carnival Magic, Carnival Paradise and Carnival Valor. Their scheduled date to return to service is delayed until November 2021.
- As a result of these three ships’ delay, cruises for Carnival Magic from Norfolk (Sept. 29-Oct. 30), Carnival Paradise from Tampa (June 5-Oct. 28) and Carnival Valor from New Orleans (Sept. 16-Oct. 28) have been canceled.
- Carnival Miracle cruises from San Diego has been suspended until further notice. All departures from San Diego through April 2023 are canceled.
- Carnival Journey cruises to Hawai’i aboard Carnival Miracle are still planned, but embarkation will take place in Long Beach, California.
- As mentioned above, Carnival Victory to Radiance dry dock and transformation has been moved to September. The ship will then sail from Long Beach in November 2021.
- Carnival Miracle will replace Carnival Radiance cruises from Long Beach with three- and four-day itineraries beginning May 3-Nov. 1, 2021.
- Carnival Miracle begins a new program of four- and five-day cruises to Mexico starting in November 2021 and continuing through April 2023.
Carnival is in the process of advising guests and travel agents of these changes. Whenever possible, guests who planned to cruise from the West Coast will be transferred to Carnival Miracle instead of Carnival Radiance.
Those booked on the Hawai’i cruises will be offered the option to keep their cruise and simply sail from Long Beach instead of San Diego.
Carnival to Homeport Three Ships in Long Beach
When the dust finally settles, Carnival will have three ships departing from the port of Long Beach. This includes Carnival Panorama sailing seven-day Mexican Riviera itineraries and Carnival Radiance operating three- and four-day itineraries year-round. And the third ship, Carnival Miracle, will offer four- and five-day Mexico plus the 14-day Hawaii itineraries through the winter 2021-2022.
Previous Carnival Cancellations from January 22, 2021
Carnival Cruise Line has once again reached out to guests and travel agents with another list of cruise cancellations. This time, Carnival didn’t publish a list of ships and cancellation dates. Instead, the cruise line issued a simple blanket statement and leaves dates open for more cancellations further into the future.
Carnival Cancels All Cruises Through April
In today’s announcement, Carnival has canceled ALL cruises that were scheduled to depart through and including April 30, 2021. They also leave room for additional cancellations due to more ships leaving the fleet, redeployments, government restrictions and changes to dry dock schedules.
Carnival Cruise Line recently sent three ships into dry dock. These include Carnival Magic with cruises canceled through September 24, 2021, Carnival Paradise canceled through May 31 and Carnival Valor through Sept 11, 2021.
Among the canceled cruises are those hoped-for early departures from Miami, Port Canaveral and Galveston. Carnival has also canceled the inaugural sailing of Mardi Gras.
READ MORE: Norwegian Cruise Line Issues More Cancellations
Carnival Mardi Gras Inaugural Date
With this new round of cancellations through all of April, the inaugural sail date of April 24, 2021 for Mardi Gras is not going to happen. The new ship will eventually cruise from Port Canaveral. When the new date is announced, we’ll list it here (update: Now it’s June 5, 2021 – see above).
Currently, Mardi Gras is positioned off the coast of Spain, near Barcelona in the Western Mediterranean.
The new ship will be the first ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) in North America. Mardi Gras will also feature BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea.
Carnival took delivery of the ship from the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland in December, 2020.
Here’s the January 6, 2021 Cancellation List
You can see how things have changed in just two weeks since this last list was published.
- Carnival Splendor sailings through and including April 19, 2021
- Carnival Breeze from Ft. Lauderdale sailings November 7, 2020 through and including March 7, 2021
- Carnival Sunrise
- Ft. Lauderdale, New York and Norfolk sailings through and including October 19, 2020
- Miami 7 and 8 day sailings from October 9, 2021 through and including April 30, 2022, excluding the March 5, 2022 sailing
- Miami 5 day sailing January 3, 2022
- Carnival Radiance
- Sailings through and including November 1, 2020
- 9, 12, and 14 day sailings from May 2, 2021 through and including April 29, 2022
- 5 day sailings December 23, 2021 and December 28, 2021
- Carnival Legend sailings through and including March 26, 2021
- Carnival Paradise cruises through and including May 31, 2021
- Carnival Magic sailings through and including September 24, 2021
- Carnival Imagination and Carnival Inspiration sailings through and including April 19, 2021
- Carnival Valor sailings through and including September 11, 2021
- Carnival Miracle sailings through and including September 16, 2021
- Carnival Liberty sailings from September 17, 2021 through and including October 18, 2021
- Carnival Spirit sailings through and including June 12, 2021
- Carnival Sensation sailings through and including March 31, 2021, and March 3, 2022 and March 7, 2022
- Mardi Gras sailings through and including April 17, 2021
- Carnival Sunshine sailings from October 11, 2021 through and including November 13, 2021
- Carnival Freedom from Galveston through April 10, 2021 (this includes a repositioning of the ship from Galveston to Seattle and a 17-day Carnival Journeys cruise not allowed under the current guidelines issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Carnival Miracle from San Diego and San Francisco through September 16, 2021 (remember, 10-day and longer itineraries are not allowed under the current CDC guidelines)
- All Other Ships sailings through and including March 31, 2021
- Carnival Spirit 15-day cruise from Singapore to Brisbane on June 12, 2021 canceled to follow current limitations on international travel in place in Australia
NOTE: The CDC has stated that cruises that depart from U.S. ports cannot be longer than seven nights.
According to the CDC Conditional Sail Order, “The cruise ship operator must not sail or offer to sail on an itinerary longer than 7 days. CDC may shorten or lengthen the number of days permitted to sail based on public health considerations and as set forth in technical instructions or orders.”
READ NEXT: Princess Just Sold Their Third Ship
Two more ships cancel cruises and head into dry dock
- Carnival Liberty from Port Canaveral from September 17-October 18, 2021 for rescheduled dry dock
- Carnival Sunshine from Charleston October 11-November 13, 2021 for rescheduled dry dock
If your cruise was canceled, here are your options:
Timeline of Carnival Cruise cancellations
November 3, 2020: Carnival Cruise Lines Further Extends Cancellations into 2021
In addition, departures from the ports of Baltimore, Charleston, Jacksonville, Long Beach, Mobile, New Orleans and San Diego are canceled through Feb. 28.
Cruises on Carnival Legend out of Tampa are canceled through March 26.
Carnival Horizon is due to arrive at PortMiami this week followed by Carnival Breeze.
When Carnival begins the phased-in approach to resume cruising as required by the CDC, the first cruises will embark at Port Canaveral and Port Miami followed by Galveston.
Following CDC protocols, Carnival Horizon is scheduled to arrive in Miami this week. Carnival Breeze will be the next ship to return to the U.S.
Carnival ships scheduled to sail in 2021
In November, Carnival stated that there are 16 ships currently following CDC guidelines for an eventual return to service in the U.S. sometime in 2021. This includes:
- Carnival Conquest
- Carnival Dream
- Carnival Ecstasy
- Carnival Elation
- Carnival Freedom
- Carnival Glory
- Carnival Liberty
- Carnival Miracle
- Carnival Panorama
- Carnival Pride
- Carnival Sensation
- Carnival Sunrise
- Carnival Sunshine
- Carnival Vista
Mardi Gras will enter service in 2021.
“We are committed to meeting the CDC requirements and keeping our guests and business partners informed of our progress,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “The entire Carnival team appreciates the great support of our guests, travel advisors and business partners, and local officials in our homeports and destinations.”
Also on November 3, 2020, Carnival Cruise Line announced that their planned cruises for December from Port Canaveral and PortMiami are canceled. Carnival cruise cancellations follow the CDC’s announcement on October 30 of a “Framework for Conditional Sailing.”
Only a few months ago, when the Centers for Disease Control announced its extension of the No Sail Order through October 31, Carnival Cruise Line was hopeful. The cruise line planned to reopen two Florida ports Port Canaveral and Port Miami, with six ships sailing.
Carnival Cruise Line canceled remaining cruises for 2020
Carnival’s latest list of cruise cancellations includes departures from all U.S. homeports through December 2020. In addition to Carnival Cruise Line, the remaining brands in Carnival Corporation are also included in the cruise cancellations. These are Cunard North America, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn.
“Our highest responsibility and top priorities are always compliance, protecting the environment, and the health, safety and well-being of our guests, the people in communities we touch, our crew and shoreside employees,” said Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation.
Carnival will give you the same refund incentive that other guests received on canceled cruises. You have a choice for a combination of a future cruise credit and onboard credit or request a full refund.
Read more: Carnival Panorama adds hands-on cooking classes
Health and safety protocol implementation
Until the cruise lines can comply with the CDC’s “Framework for Conditional Sailing” the resumption of cruises is still in flux. Carnival (and all other cruise lines) must develop and present their plan that demonstrates how to safely resume cruising. All the major cruise lines have some sort of official collection of experts or panels. And they’re all trying to figure out how to get all sorts of health protocols in place.
From pre-boarding coronavirus testing to mandatory wearing masks indoors, enhanced on board medical facilities and so much more, Carnival has yet to formally announce any definitive plan to return to cruising.
How to cancel a future Carnival cruise
Anyone booked on a departure into 2021 can cancel their booking any time prior to departure. At least that is the latest word from Carnival. The form is available on Carnival’s website.
When cruising will resume is anyone’s guess. I’m betting on late spring or early summer.
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Hi Andy,
Sorry for this late reply…but I’m sure you already know the answer to your question. Panorama falls into the “Other Ships” category that are canceled through March 31. Stay tuned for further cancellation notices. Thank you for your comment.
Sherry
Hi Brenda,
Thanks for writing. You should contact your travel agent or Carnival directly to see what’s happening. While Carnival’s website is still selling Glory departures in March, chances are it won’t happen. If it were me, I’d cancel before the full penalty date kicks in…or rebook with a credit.
Sherry
Hi Andy,
Thank you for your question. Because we are already at the beginning of January and the CDC requires 60 days of trial cruises, I would venture to guess that your early March cruise will not happen. Check on their website or call Carnival regarding a refund or credit. Not much will happen, in my opinion, until at least mid-summer.
Sherry
Cruising with Carnival in March on the Panorama, and idea if that will be cancelled?
Hi Sharilyn,
Thank you for your question. Even though Miracle is not on the cancellation list, I checked on Carnival’s website (carnival dot com) and there does not appear to be any sailings to Hawai’i in April 2021. This would make sense because even when cruises do begin, the CDC will not allow cruises longer than seven days. You or your travel agent should contact Carnival to see what are your new options.
Sherry
I am booked on the Miracle cruising to Hawaii in April 2021. Has this been canceled?
We have a cruise scheduled to leave out of New Orleans on the glory March 21st we have not been contacted that this Cruise has been canceled yet is there anyway you can let us know because we have to put in our time at work and find motel rooms
I have a cruise sailing out of Long Beach the beginning of March any idea when they’ll come out with information about it being canceled or not?
HI Sheila,
Thanks for asking. Carnival is still posting April departures on their site…but my gut feeling is no, it won’t happen. Keep checking back, though. You never know. Happy New Year!
Sherry
hi i have a 8 day cruise on the horizon April 3 thru 11 of 2021. are they planning on sailing
Hi Vanessa,
So far, your cruise is still scheduled for an April departure. Stay tuned. If you haven’t made final payment yet, I would think that you could still cancel and get a refund. Thank you for reading the article.
Sherry
I have a cruise scheduled in April on Ecstasy, has it been cancelled? It’s bad enough that we have to go back into the schools. I don’t want to be trapped on a ship.
Hi Brenda,
Thank you for your question. My gut feeling is yes, it will be canceled. My brain is saying…maybe covid will be under enough control and cruise lines are able to implement all the CDC protocols including 60 days of trial cruises AND Canada permits ships to dock. And that last one is a big maybe. I’d give it a 50/50 chance. Sorry I can’t be more helpful or positive about when cruises to Alaska or any N. American departures will resume. I’ll keep posting as the news is available.
Thank you again.
Sherry
I have a group cruise that I booked for May 2021 on the Freedom to Alaska. IS it likely it may be canceled?
Thank you
Hi Terry,
I don’t know if it will be canceled but my best hunch would be if it isn’t canceled, it could be a shorter cruise. Still in wait-and-see mode. Thanks for asking.
Sherry
Correction: my cruise is scheduled for May 2021. Horizon. Will it be canceled? Left earlier message, but had the incorrect year. Thanks.
Hi Jim,
Thanks for your question. Your best bet would be for you or your travel agent to contact Carnival reservations. Since the CDC guidelines limit departures to 7 nights, it would seem to me that your March 27 8-night cruise won’t happen. And you’re right…it’s not offered on their website. I’d reach out to Carnival and find out what’s the latest update with your cruise…final payment would be coming up soon, too. With so much happening right now at the cruise lines, I wouldn’t wait for them to contact me first. Good luck and hopefully 8-night cruises will be back soon.
Sherry
I am booked on the Carnival Breeze for an 8 day cruise to leave from Port Canaveral on March 27
th2021? Currently is shows 16 ships that carnival is working on to the CDC guidelines and the Breeze is not on that list but the cruise is not canceled yet, do you think it will sail? The cruise is not on the website to book anymore.
Jim
Hi Ron,
Thank you for your question. My best advice to you would be to call your travel agent or Carnival and speak with a representative for clarification. Be sure not to miss the final payment due date or the date that you can get your deposit fully refunded.
Someone directly from Carnival can answer your questions so there aren’t any problems.
Sherry
My scheduled cruise is a 10 day in August 2021. My cruise does not show on Carnival cruise line web site for schedule or booking at this time. No cancellation notice has been received except for the general notice from other sources saying no cruises longer than 7 days until Nov 1 . IF FULL PAYMENT IS DUE IN MARCH, AND CARNIVAL HAS NOT NOTIFIED YOU OF CANCELLATION IS FULL PAYMENT NEEDED. Is Carnival planning to collect more payment on cruises that may already be cancelled or are they going to freeze payments on cruises with currently unknown cruise status.
Hi Becky,
Thank you for your question. At this time, your cruise aboard Panorama is still scheduled. Hopefully, it won’t be canceled from its departure from Long Beach. At this time, I’d take a wait and see stance. There’s a lot to get done for all those Carnival ships to be ready to sail by March. Just keep checking. Thank you again for reading the article.
Sherry
Hi Melanie,
Thank you for your question. So far, Carnival still plans on the Elation to sail from Port Canaveral in March. Keep an eye out for possible cancellations, however. Carnival has quite a bit of health and safety protocols to get in place before any ships can resume cruising. Fingers crossed that March is not canceled.
Sherry
Hi Stephanie,
Thank you for your question. I don’t know who told you the cruise is still scheduled but Carnival has canceled all of their January departures from all US ports. I just double-checked on their website and there are no cruise departures in January 2021. Please contact Carnival or your travel agent to arrange either a future cruise credit or refund, depending on what is available to you.
Thank you again for taking the time to send a question.
Sherry
We have a cruise leaving out of Port Canaveral on Jan.2.2021. They are saying the cruise is scheduled as planned. Do you know if this is factual? Being a senior with health issues this is a concern for me.
Is the Elation scheduled to sail in March from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas?
I have a cruise booked on the Panorama for March 6. Any chance that it will still take place?
Hi Robert,
Thank you for your question. At this time, Carnival’s website still shows that the 8-night Horizon departure is scheduled. According to the CDC’s new Framework For Conditional Sailing Order, the 7-night maximum is in effect only through November 1, 2021. That is probably why your departure still appears on their site. If there is a change, Carnival says it will contact the passenger or the travel agent of the changes. I always think it’s a good idea to be pro-active and check Carnival’s website during 2021 to see if your sailing is still on schedule.
Thank you again for reading my article.
Sherry
Hi Jack,
Thank you for your question. As of today, 11/22/20, Carnival’s website still shows that Mardi Gras is sailing from Port Canaveral on February 13, 2021. However, do not be surprised if this cruise is canceled. Three other brands in the Carnival family have already canceled departures through March 2021. Just keeping checking with Carnival. Thank you for taking the time to write your comment.
Sherry
I AM BOOKED ON THE HORIZON FOR AN EIGHT DAY CRUISE IN NOV 2021. I HEARD THAT NO CRUISES WILL GO BEYOND SEVEN DAYS. IS THAT TRUE AND IF SO WHEN WILL I BE NOTIFIED.
Can you tell me if my cruise set to sail out of Port Canaveral on Feb 13 is still on? And has it been changed to the Mardi gras. It showed on your web site my ship is know the Mardi gras.