Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise company operating nine cruise lines, reported earnings earlier this morning and gave an update on cruises in 2021 that include the selling of a couple more cruise ships.
Carnival now expects to dispose of 19 cruise ships, 15 of which have already left the fleet. In total, the 19 cruise ships represent approximately 13 percent of pre-pause capacity and only three percent of operating income in 2019.
Based on the actions taken to date and the scheduled newbuild deliveries through 2022, the Carnival’s fleet will be more efficient with a roughly 14 percent larger average berth size per ship and an average age of 12 years in 2022 versus 13 years, in each case as compared to 2019.
Carnival will now only take delivery of one more new cruise ship in 2021 out of five that were originally scheduled for delivery.
Carnival Corporation continues to work directly with the CDC for resuming cruises from U.S. ports. The CDC’s Framework for Conditional Sailing Order went into effect on October 30, 2020.
The framework consists of several initial requirements that cruise ship operators will need to follow prior to resuming guest operations.
While the framework represents an important step in cruises resuming, many uncertainties remain as to the specifics, timing, and cost of implementing the requirements.
Carnival continues to work closely with governments and health authorities in other parts of the world to ensure that its health and safety protocols will also comply with the requirements of each location.
Carnival expects a phased reentry for their cruise ships throughout 2021.
