Is Carnival Sailing At Reduced Capacity?

Carnival Cruise Line is likely to sail at full capacity until 2022, at the earliest, according to the company’s CEO. The cruise line has extended its cancellation of future sailings and pushed back the inaugural journeys of new and renovated ships. It is planning a phased restart over the coming months. Carnival’s newest ship, Carnival Mardi Gras, is nearly full.

With a strong North American cruise market, Carnival is pivoting to add more capacity in the form of two redeployed Costa Cruises vessels under the Costa by Carnival umbrella. The Costa Venezia will be Carnival Cruise Line’s flagship. As of now, 75% of its capacity has resumed passenger sailings. However, occupancy, the number of people onboard, will not immediately affect passenger flow.

Carnival Corporation, the largest cruise corporation, now reports that it hopes to have as much as three-quarters of fleet capacity in the coming months. Most ships are sailing at less than full capacity, partly to encourage physical distancing. Carnival Cruises has already begun limiting passenger capacity on several sailings on its U.K.-based Cunard Line.

A calculation based on the announcements so far shows cruise lines are reducing capacity by 15% due to a lack of berths, high demand, and a lack of berths. Carnival plans to dispose of 18 of its ships, a full 12% of the group’s fleet. The company has accelerated the sale of less efficient ships, enabling it to capitalize on pent up demand on reduced capacity and structurally lower its cost base.

Carnival Cruises is considering cruising with less than full capacity and checking the temperature of passengers as preventative measures. Full capacity won’t happen for many months, and Carnival is expected to sail with a max of 75% as long as there are restrictions, mask mandates, and checking passengers’ temperatures.