Carnival Cruise Lines suspends operations

The nation’s biggest cruise ship company has announced it will suspend operations across Australian-based ships for at least a month in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

AUSTRALIA’S biggest cruise ship company will dock its entire fleet for at least a month as a response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Carnival Cruise Line on Saturday announced it would suspend operations across Australian-based ships until at least April 13.

Two ships currently at sea will continue their voyages before returning to Sydney as scheduled.

Carnival Cruises will suspend all Australia-based ships for at least a month.

In a statement, a company spokesman said Carnival agents were contacting booked guests and their travel agents to notify them of the suspension in services.

“We are very sorry that this decision will disrupt the holiday plans for our guests and look forward to resuming operations and providing our guests safe, fun and memorable holidays,” he said.

“And it goes without saying, we can only do that with the support of our outstanding onboard team members who have been nothing short of amazing during this prolonged period of challenge.”

The shut-down also includes Carnival’s P&O ships with Pacific Dawn’s cruise from Brisbane scheduled to depart on Saturday not going ahead.

P&O plans to resume cruises on April 12.

The pause will affect cruises on Pacific Explorer, Pacific Dawn and Pacific Aria that were scheduled to depart Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide.

The decision comes as passengers aboard a Swiss cruise ship docked in Hobart have today been prevented from leaving the vessel.

The Magnifica, which can carry up to 3000 passengers and almost 1000 staff and crew, is on a world cruise and arrived at the Port of Hobart this morning, after travelling from New Zealand.

“The cruise company, MSC Cruises, has made the decision to keep passengers on board while in port, to ensure their health and safety, in response to potential risk of COVID-19,” TasPorts said.