As more Carnival Corporation brands finalize their relaunch plans, Cruise Industry News looks at the comeback trajectory of the world’s largest cruise operator.
Carnival Cruise Line
Original service resume: Carnival Vista in July 2021
Restart the termination plan: Carnival Shine in May 2022
Send now to service: Full fleet – 25 ships
In July 2021, Carnival Cruise Line became one of the first cruise lines to resume passenger operations in the United States.
With Carnival Vista sailing from Galveston and Carnival Horizon sailing from Miami, the company embarked on a bold relaunch program that included a return to all of its major ports.
The plan was finalized less than a year later, with Carnival Splendor resuming service in May 2022. Marking the return of Carnival’s entire 25-ship fleet, the ship is now set to be followed by the new Carnival Luminosa, which will to debut for the company in November.
Princess Cruises
Original service resume: Princess Majestic in July 2021
Restart the termination plan: Diamond Princess in November 2022
Send now to service: 93% of the fleet – 14 ships
Princess Cruises welcomed guests back in July 2021 with Princess Majestic. Leading the way to bring the industry back to Alaska, the premium carrier first resumed service in the state.
Just a few weeks later, the Princess also returned to the UK with Princess Regal and Princess Sky.
Gradually adding vessels into service, the brand later resumed operations in most of its key markets – including the West Coast, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Northern Europe and Australia.
Set to complete Princess’ relaunch, Diamond Princess will resume service in November, launching its first US-based program in nearly a decade.
Dutch America Line
Original service resume: New Amsterdam in July 2021
Restart the termination plan: Volendam in September 2022
Send now to service: Full fleet – 11 ships
Fourteen months after first welcoming guests, Holland America Line marked the return of its entire fleet in September 2022. Resuming service following a humanitarian charter, Volendam became the 11th cruise ship to resume service for the brand with a series Mediterranean cruises.
Holland America initially resumed guest operations in July 2021, with Niuew Amsterdam offering a summer program in Alaska.
With more ships being reactivated over the following months, the company returned to the Mediterranean, the West Coast, the Caribbean, Canada and New England and more.
During this period, the premium cruise line also received a new construction – the new Rotterdam.
Seabourn
Original service resume: Seabourn Ovation in July 2021
Restart the termination plan: Seabourn Sojourn in June 2022
Send now to service: Full fleet – 6 ships
Seabourn Sojourn completed Seabourn’s plans to resume service in June 2022. After welcoming guests for the first time in July 2021, the luxury company gradually reactivated its entire five-ship fleet as it offers itineraries to the Caribbean, North America and Europe.
Ahead of Sojourn, Seabourn Quest welcomed guests back to the Mediterranean, while Seabourn Odyssey resumed operations in the Caribbean and Seabourn Encore re-entered service in Western Europe.
As the first ship to return for the brand, Seabourn Ovation initially offered a series of itineraries to the Greek Islands before repositioning in North America. A new ship, the Seabourn Venture, also debuted in the summer of 2022.
Costa Cruises
Original service resume: Costa Deliziosa in September 2020
Restart the termination plan: TBD
Send now to service: 75% of the fleet – 9 ships
Costa Cruises became one of the first contemporary cruise lines to resume passenger operations in September 2020. Costa Deliziosa was the first ship to resume service, launching a number of domestic itineraries to Italy.
After additional service interruptions and some schedule changes, Costa began the latest phase of its resumption plans in early 2022.
Currently, a total of nine ships are in service for the brand across Europe. While a 10th ship, the Costa Favolosa, is set to resume service in October, two other ships still lack restart plans.
Anchored off Italy, Costa Magica was previously slated to be transferred to Carnival Cruise Line and is now awaiting a new relaunch plan. Costa Serena continues to be laid out.
AIDA Cruises
Original service resume: AIDAperla in March 2021
Restart the termination plan: AIDAaura in May 2022
Send now to service: Full fleet – 12 ships
Germany-based AIDA Cruises first resumed sailing in March 2021 with a series of cruises to the Canary Islands aboard AIDAperla. A few months later, the company also returned to the Mediterranean and Northern Europe for summer programs in both regions.
After gradually adding more ships to revenue operations, the brand also returned to the Caribbean and Middle East in late 2021.
In May 2022, AIDAaura welcomed guests for a series of Baltic and British Isles cruises, marking the return of AIDA’s entire fleet.
P&O Cruises
Original service resume: Britain in June 2021
Restart the termination plan: Arcadia in July 2022
Send now to service: Full fleet – 6 ships
After a gap of 14 months, P&O Cruises resumed service in June 2021 with a program of domestic UK sailings aboard Britannia and the new Iona.
With the resumption of international sailing in the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Atlantic Islands, the company added Ventura and Azura to the active line in December.
Following Aurora, which resumed service in March, Arcadia marked the return of the company’s full fleet in June 2022.
Cunard
Original service resume: Queen Elizabeth in August 2021
Restart the termination plan: Queen Victoria in June 2022
Send now to service: Full fleet – 3 ships
Following in P&O’s footsteps, Cunard also resumed service with a series of UK domestic sailings. As the first ship to resume operations for the brand, Queen Elizabeth welcomed guests in August 2021.
Queen Mary 2 followed suit in November and also marked the return of Cunard’s famous transatlantic crossings a month later.
Completing the company’s fleet, Queen Victoria returned in June 2022.
P&O Cruises Australia
Original service resume: Pacific Explorer in May 2022
Restart the termination plan: Pacific Adventure in October 2022
Send now to service: 67% of the fleet – 2 ships
After a long operational hiatus, P&O Australia finally welcomed guests in May 2022. One of the last Carnival Corporation brands to resume revenue service with Australia closed to international sailings, the company resumed its traditional Australia-based itineraries with Pacific Explorer.
Continuing its restart plans, the company added the Pacific Rim to the active lineup in late August.
In October, Pacific Adventure will launch service from Sydney, marking the return of the company’s entire three-ship fleet.
China Carnival
With the Chinese market still closed to foreign cruise ships, Carnival’s joint venture with CSSC remains out of service. In addition to the two ships under construction in China, the company’s fleet includes Costa Atlantica and Costa Mediteranea.
