Tag: Port Canaveral

So, What’s the Plan for Cruising This Year? Uh, Nothing!

 

Saturday, June 20, 2020

A New Reality

 

Citing “the ongoing situation within the U.S. related to COVID-19”, the cruise industry trade group, Cruise Line International Association (CLIA), announced on Friday (June 18, 2020) that all its members operating oceangoing ships will continue their suspension of cruises in U.S. waters until September 15, 2020.  This is in anticipation that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will extend the “no-sail” order (now set to expire July 24) for cruise ships in U.S. waters.

The “no-sail” order does not apply to small ships carrying less than 250 passengers and crew.  That’s because social-distancing, sanitation, and touring issues are easier to handle on a smaller scale.  So, perhaps, we may all anticipate that river ships and the smaller ships sailing coastal waters will soon resume operations!!!

But when it comes to oceangoing cruises, most of the cruise lines (who all suspended operations on March 15, 2020)  have already announced schedules that will extend their own “no-sail” policies for much longer—some for rest of this year!!!  Cunard will stay-put ‘til November 1; Holland America’s Europe, Alaska, Grand Africa, Canada and New England sailings are a “no go” at least to the end of 2020; nearly all Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line sailings are idled thru September 30; Princess Cruises has cancelled most sailings through November 4.

So what does this all mean for those of us who love long ocean cruises?  Mmm, we’re pretty much up the creek, without a paddle….. or a boat!!!  Well, OK, Road Trip here we come!!!

And with that in mind, we journeyed to Port Canaveral to check-out the cruise ships last seen in port during our visit in March.  Oh, oh, no liners in sight!!!

Port Canaveral is a cruise, cargo and naval port.
Port Canaveral is a cruise, cargo and naval port.
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But today, there are absolutely no cruise ships in port!!! Upon inquiry, we learned that port fees were the issue. The cruise ships will come into port for fuel and supplies, but they remain at sea while sitting out the “no sail” order.
We did see cargo ships loading and sailing out.
We did see cargo ships loading and sailing out.

When we were here last March, all the terminals were full but no services were available.

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The Carnival Magic and the Disney Fantasy sought refuge at Port Canaveral when all cruise ships ceased operations on March 15, 2020. Disney Fantasy is home-ported at Port Canaveral.
The Carnival Breeze is also home-ported at Port Canaveral.
The Carnival Breeze is also home-ported at Port Canaveral.
The Exploration Center at the port is a fabulous place to visit.
The Exploration Tower at the port is a fabulous place to visit when it is open!
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Back in March, the restaurants at the port were all closed. Grills Tiki Bar was only open for take-out.

Today, Florida is reopened on a limited basis.  So, although the ships are bobbing out in the ocean, the restaurants and gift shops and Exploration Tower are all open!

And it is OPEN once again!!!
Exploration Tower is OPEN once again!!!
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We stopped in at the newly reopened Grills for a libation. We recalled past journeys and talked of hopes for future adventures.

Here’s to travel dreams!!!

CHEERS