Three Carnival Lines Announce Plans to Resume Alaska Cruises in July

Three cruise lines within the Carnival Corporation umbrella have announced that they are expecting to resume cruises in Alaska starting in July.

Based on recent guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and in close collaboration with Alaskan officials, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, and Carnival Cruise Line plan to resume cruise operations for a partial season in Alaska. Each line plans to operate one ship, roundtrip from Seattle.

            Carnival Miracle in Tracy Arm Fjord, Alaska (Photo courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line)

Passengers on Nieuw Amsterdam in Alaska (Photo courtesy of Nancy Schretter)

These Alaska cruises will be available to travelers who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the cruise. Crew vaccinations will be in accordance with CDC guidelines.

“We are excited to once again serve our guests from the U.S.,” said Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation, “and we express our deep gratitude to all national, state and local officials who have worked collaboratively with us, the CDC and our entire industry to make this possible. It is great news for cruising, for travelers ready to again explore the world and for all the communities in Alaska that depend on cruising and have suffered great hardships over the past year.”

He went on to say that, “As one of America’s natural treasures, Alaska is a land of beauty and wonder, and one of the most popular destinations for our guests. We look forward to our brands restarting this summer from the U.S. while also supporting our longtime partners and the communities in Alaska.”

Plans for these itineraries to fulfill obligations under the Passenger Vessel Services Act are expected to be approved. The Alaska Tourism Restoration Act was just passed in the House of Representatives today, and previously passed via an unanimous vote in the Senate. Now, the only person that needs to sign off on the bill for it to become law is President Biden.

Ships docked in Juneau, Alaska

The three Carnival Corporation cruise lines are all continuing their return-to-cruise preparation, which was already underway.

Princess Cruises plans to resume Alaska cruises on July 25, and run its season in the region through September 26. Majestic Princess is set to operate seven-night cruises, visiting Glacier Bay National Park, Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan.

Holland America Line will resume its Alaska cruise operations with seven-night itineraries aboard Nieuw Amsterdam, calling at Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Sitka, and Ketchikan, with scenic cruising in Glacier Bay and Stephens Passage.

The first cruise for Holland America is scheduled to depart July 24, with 11 Saturday departures that will operate through October 2.

Carnival Cruise Line has already opened Alaska voyages departing from Seattle beginning July 27, with weekly departures through September 14 aboard Carnival Miracle. 

Seven-night cruises will call in Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, as well as feature scenic cruising in Tracy Arm Fjord. The September 14 departure is an eight-night cruise with an additional stop in Icy Strait Point.

Carnival Cruise Line is also working to finalize plans to operate Carnival Horizon from Miami, and Carnival Vista and Breeze from Galveston in July.

Additional details on these Alaska sailings will be announced in the coming weeks by each respective cruise line.

In other news today, Norwegian Cruise Line also showed signs of hope for a partial Alaska cruising season, as it reopened 2021 Norwegian Bliss Alaska cruises for booking.

Tags: cruises in Alaska