Battles With Cdc Over Health Requirements
The cruise industry was hard-hit by the pandemic after passengers and crew members tested positive for COVID-19 and some ships were turned away from ports. The industry has battled the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over health requirements for resuming sailing in U.S. waters.
Major cruise lines were granted permission by the CDC in April to resume sailing in U.S. waters by mid-summer so long as 95% of customers and 98% of crew are vaccinated against COVID-19. Passenger cruise ships had been barred from excursions leaving U.S. domestic ports in March of last year, under the CDC’s “no sail” order.
Carnival said its operational protocols exceed CDC recommendations. They include having all employees vaccinated and requiring all passengers to show a negative COVID-19 test.
Passengers must be vaccinated, but the company will allow “a small number of exemptions” for those unable to get the vaccine, including children under 12 who are not yet eligible. Those who are unvaccinated will have to follow additional precautions, according to Carnival’s COVID-19 guest protocols.
Last week, 27 people tested positive for COVID-19 on a Carnival cruise just before the ship made a stop in Belize City, Belize. The ship headed back to Galveston, Texas, Friday after stopping in Mexico.
The positive cases were among 26 crew members and one passenger on the Carnival Vista, which was carrying over 1,400 crew and nearly 3,000 passengers, the Belize Tourism Board said in a statement.
This Was The Big Announcement
The day before Royal Caribbean revealed its plans to return to Los Angeles, Freed told travel agents to expect a big announcement, referring to it as “the news we’ve all been waiting for.”
While cruises from the West Coast are significant, many readers were disappointed the news was not worthy of the hype preceding it.
Because several travel agents reported being told by Royal Caribbean that the big announcement was being delayed or canceled, we suspect that larger news was originally on the docket.
Cruises From San Diego
There are many cruises from San Diego. This is the complete schedule of cruises leaving in 2021 and 2022.
Spring cruises departing out of SD go to Hawaii, the Mexican Riviera, South America, through the Panama Canal, and up the Pacific Coast. In the fall, cruises go to Mexico, South America and Hawaii. Winter cruises go to the Mexican Riviera, Hawaii and through the Panama Canal.
If you’re interested in short cruises, check our schedules of 2-day cruises and 3-day cruises from San Diego. For more departures from Southern California, check the cruises out of Los Angeles.
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Royal Caribbean Will Cruise From California For The First Time In A Decade
Royal Caribbean will base a cruise ship in California after a 10-year-long hiatus.
At a webinar on Wednesday, the line announced that recently refurbished Navigator of the Seas will homeport in Los Angeles, beginning next year, offering a series of Mexico sailings.
The voyages will vary in length, featuring three- and four-nighters with calls on Ensenada and Catalina Island five-night cruises visiting Cabo San Lucas and seven-night sailings with stops at Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas.
“We are going back to the West Coast,” said Vicki Freed, Royal Caribbean’s senior vice president of sales and trade support & service. “Los Angeles, here we come….”
This will be the first time the line has based a ship in the Golden State since back in 2011 due to violence in Mexico and dwindling profits.
Earlier this month, Royal Caribbean Blog speculated that the move was coming after spotting the ship listed on the Port of Los Angeles’ website. Navigator of the Seas was also blatantly missing from Royal Caribbean’s list of upcoming itinerary offerings.
Oddly, the port’s website lists Navigator of the Seas’ sailings beginning as early as September 2021, but Royal Caribbean has said they will run from summer 2022 through spring of 2023.
Read more: Navigator of the Seas Tips & Best Things To Do
Hooked first debuted on Symphony of the Seas, and Navigator of the Seas is now the only other ship in the fleet on which it’s located.
Port Of San Francisco
Imagine standing on the deck of a cruise ship, sailing through the San Francisco Bay, past the infamous prison island of Alcatraz, under the Golden Gate Bridge and out to the Pacific Ocean. Before leaving San Francisco, consider taking a tour of Alcatraz, eating at a seafood restaurant on Fishermans Wharf or enjoying a chocolate sundae at Ghirardelli Square. The following cruise lines use the Port of San Francisco as a departure point: Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Oceania Cruises, P& O Cruises, Princess Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
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Carnival Panorama Resumes Sailings From California
The Carnival cruise ship has restarted operations out of the Long Beach cruise terminal in California. Its been a long 17-month wait for the cruise to bring back the fun out of California, but finally, the day is here as Carnival Panorama becomes the eighth ship in the fleet to resume operations.
Carnival Cruise Line held a Back to Fun ribbon-cutting ceremony in the terminal to mark the major step forward. The event was attended by Carnival President Christine Duffy and Carnival Panorama Captain Luca Lazzarino.
Carnival is the leader in West Coast cruising, and were thrilled that Carnival Panorama is resuming service as the first cruise ship to sail from California,said Duffy. Weve implemented extensive protocols on board to keep our guests, crew and the destinations we visit safe and healthy. We want to thank our partners and local officials in Long Beach for working closely with us to restart our cruise operations from Southern California. Were ready to show our guests the vacation of a lifetime while providing a boost to the local economy.
The third Vista-class vessel is departing from the port on a seven-day Mexican Riviera itinerary. The departure time is around 4:30 PM local time, and the voyage includes three sea days along with Mexican ports of Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas. Carnival Panorama will return home to complete its first return voyage on Saturday, August 28, 2021.
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Returning After A Decade
Royal Caribbean’s announcement that it will cruise from Los Angeles regularly after more than a decade is significant, as industry insiders have speculated about its West Coast return for years.
While other cruise lines returned, Royal Caribbean stayed away, claiming it was able to make more money elsewhere.
In 2015, Freed pointed out the low rates competitor cruise lines were getting. “We always look at the West Coast. But we continue to look at the rates that the other cruise lines are getting, and we offer an experience that we can’t afford to be selling at those low rates.
“If and when we see the rates start to bounce back, and we feel we can get paid for what we offer for our product, then well be back there. But right now, unfortunately, it’s a bath out there. They’re selling four-day cruises at $199 per person, and were not just talking Carnival.
“We spend more on food, more on entertainment and more on our overall onboard experience , and so we cannot be the low-price leader out in any market.”
The line also cited the logistical challenges of returning its ships to the West Coast, much of which had to do with the rise of cruise popularity in other areas of the world, such as Europe and China. Sending ships to those locations meant fewer ships to go to other ports.
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Cruise From Los Angeles California
When it comes to the Los Angeles cruise port, there is no shortage of cruise options. Residents of LA can cruise on some of today’s most popular cruise lines such as Cunard, Crystal Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Silversea and many others. Cruise destinations include the Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico, Panama Canal and even South America.
Carnival Cruise Line Restarts Operations From Long Beach California
Carnival Cruise Line restarts operations from California with the Carnival Panorama cruise ship sailing out of Long Beach.
Carnival Cruise Line restarts operations with the Carnival Panorama cruise ship out of Long Beach. The ship also becomes the first to resume sailings out of California for the first time since suspensions started in March 2020.
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Further Hawaii Sailings Remain Scheduled
Guests who are booked on the sailing are being notified about the cancellations and their compensation options. Carnival is offering a future cruise credit so that an alternative booking can be made with some savings.
Carnival Cruise Line has already changed the voyage and split up those 14 days. The ship will be departing on November 28 on a four-day Mexican Riviera cruise. The itinerary includes a call at Catalina Island and Ensenda, returning to Long Beach on December 2, 2021.
Carnival Miracle is still scheduled to operate its next cruise to Hawaii that departs on January 9, 2022. The ship will sail a 14-day voyage to Hawaii as part of its Carnival Journeys program. The program allows for more time in port and for guests to experience the cultures the ship visits. Theres also a cruise to Hawaii an additional three times in 2022 and even more in 2023.
Currently, there are no guests operations from Hawaii, with only ships visiting to take on fuel and supplies. Celebrity Solstice will be the next ship to make a supply stop with no guests at Honolulu on November 11. The first cruise ships are set to restart in Hawaii in early 2022.
Carnival Miracle became the fourth ship in the fleet to resume passenger operations on July 27 from Seattle, Washington. The ship kickstarted what remained of the Alaska cruise season. More recently, the ship was redeployed to operate Mexican Riviera cruises from the Port of Long Beach in California in September 2021.
Pre And Post Cruise Options From Los Angeles California
The sprawling metropolis of Los Angeles with its subtropical climate, palm trees, and expanse of powdery white sand beaches makes it a perfect city for a pre or post cruise stay. This is a city of glitz and glamour, beautiful people, and the movers and shakers of the movie industry. Its also a child friendly town filled with theme parks, movie studios and museums. All this makes a cruise from Los Angeles, California a perfect land/sea vacation that the entire family will enjoy. Whether you have one day or several days to in the area, your options of things to do is endless. Here are a few of my favorites:
Hop-on, Hop-off Double Decker City Tour: This is a great way to discover everything Los Angeles has to offer. Enjoy the open-air view from the top of the tour bus as the guide points out landmarks from Downtown L.A. to the beaches of Santa Monica, with Hollywood and Beverly Hills in between. Hop-On or Hop-Off at any or all of 50 stops to explore places like the Walk of Fame, Melrose Avenue, Rodeo Drive or Chinatown.
Universal Studios Hollywood: This theme park has thrilling rides and live shows and is also a real working movie studio. Go behind the scenes on the legendary Studio Tour to explore where Hollywood movies are made and experience the largest movie set street in Hollywood history. In the evening head to Universal Studios City Walk for great dining, shopping, and shows.
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Carnival Panorama Returns To California Sailings
The Carnival cruise ship has resumed service from the cruise port in Long Beach, California. Its been a long 17 months since the cruise line brought the fun back to California, but the day has finally here as Carnival Panorama becomes the fleets eighth ship to begin operations.
To commemorate the significant stride forward, Carnival Cruise Line conducted a Back to Fun ribbon-cutting ceremony at the terminal. Carnival President Christine Duffy and Carnival Panorama Captain Luca Lazzarino were in attendance.
Returning to the Long Beach Cruise Terminal for a Fun Ribbon-Cutting
Were delighted that Carnival Panorama is resuming service as the first cruise ship to sail from California, added Duffy. Weve put in place a number of procedures on board to keep our passengers, crew, and the places we visit safe and healthy. Wed like to express our gratitude to our Long Beach partners and local authorities for collaborating with us to bring our cruise operations back to Southern California. Were ready to provide our visitors with a once-in-a-lifetime trip while also helping the local economy.
The third Vista-class ship is leaving the harbor for a seven-day cruise around the Mexican Riviera. The cruise departs about 4:30 p.m. local time and includes three sea days as well as visits to the Mexican ports of Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas. On Saturday, August 28, 2021, Carnival Panorama will come home to finish its maiden restart trip.
First Cruise Ship To Depart From California In Over A Year Sets Sail For Mexican Riviera
A cruise ship headed for the Mexican Riviera set sail from the Port of Long Beach on Saturday the first cruise ship to depart from California in 17 months.
The Carnival Panorama is on a seven-day voyage and will stop in the Mexican ports of Cabo San Lucas and Mazatlan before returning to Long Beach, Carnival Corp. said in a statement.
The 1,060-foot Carnival Panorama debuted in 2019.
Passenger Bob Lechtreck said he and his wife were on the inaugural sailing on December 11, 2019.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am to be on the Panorama for its inaugural return to service,” Lechtreck told the Press-Telegram in a text. “It’s been way too long since we’ve sailed, and we couldn’t be happier returning to our favorite activity.”
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Long Beach Cruise Terminal
Also in the Los Angeles metro, the Long Beach Cruise Terminal is owned and operated by the Carnival Corporation. Most of the Carnival cruises departing from Los Angeles sail out of this facility. Before boarding your ship, you may want to check out the Long Beach Waterfront, which offers many attractions. You can take a guided tour aboard the Queen Mary, which has served as both a luxury liner and a World War II troop carrier. The Aquarium of the Pacific is also located on the waterfront, along with plenty of opportunities for shopping, dining and strolling along the coast.
References
St Cruise Ship From California In Months Heads To Mexico
A cruise ship headed for the Mexican Riviera set sail from the Port of Long Beach on Saturday the first cruise ship to depart from California in 17 months
Big cruise lines changing their on-board safety polices as delta rips across US
LONG BEACH, Calif. — A cruise ship headed for the Mexican Riviera set sail from the Port of Long Beach on Saturday the first cruise ship to depart from California in 17 months.
The Carnival Panorama is on a seven-day voyage and will stop in the Mexican ports of Cabo San Lucas and Mazatlan before returning to Long Beach, Carnival Corp. said in a statement.
The 1,060-foot Carnival Panorama debuted in 2019.
Passenger Bob Lechtreck said he and his wife were on the inaugural sailing on Dec. 11, 2019.
I cant tell you how excited I am to be on the Panorama for its inaugural return to service, Lechtreck told the Press-Telegram in a text. “Its been way too long since weve sailed, and we couldnt be happier returning to our favorite activity.
The cruise industry was hard-hit by the pandemic after passengers and crew members tested positive for COVID-19 and some ships were turned away from ports. The industry has battled the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over health requirements for resuming sailing in U.S. waters.
The company said its operational protocols exceed CDC recommendations. They include having all employees vaccinated and requiring all passengers to show a negative COVID-19 test.
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Carnival Cruise Ship To Depart From California For 1st Time In 17 Months
The Carnival Panorama will set sail from Long Beach Saturday, marking the first cruise ship departure from California after a 17-month hiatus.
The cruise shop will depart at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Carnival Cruise Line has recently announced new COVID-19 safety precautions, including asking all guests to wear masks in certain indoor areas and adding a pre-cruise testing requirement for all guests.
Erin Myers reports for the KTLA 5 News on Aug. 21, 2021.
Carnival Miracle Hawaii Cruise Cancelled
Even though Carnival cruise ships are gradually returning to service through Spring 2022, it remains very complex, and not all ports are yet fully able to cater to cruise ships. It includes Hawaii, which is not yet ready to welcome Carnival Miracles Carnival Journeys sailing that departs from Long Beach on November 28 to Hawaii.
The vessel was originally scheduled to sail a 14-day Carnival Journeys cruise from the Long Beach Cruise Terminal. The Spirit-class ship was set to first call in Honolulu on December 3 along with calls in Kahului, Kailua-Kona, Hilo, and then finally in Ensenada before returning to Long Beach on December 12.
Many guests had been asking for more information regarding the voyage over the past weeks. The cruise line has been working with the authorities in Hawaii to try and keep Carnival Miracles November 28 departure to Hawaii a reality. Despite the cruise line agreeing to all the necessary protocols, Hawaii is still not ready to welcome back cruise ships for guest operations.
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Carnival Cruise Line brand Ambassador John Heald said, While the ship is ready and we agreed to all the protocols required by the State, they will not be ready to restart cruising in Hawaii until 2022. I want to assure you that they made every effort to preserve this but, unfortunately, we now have no other choice but to cancel this cruise.
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