Two More Carnival Cruise Ships Return to Service

It was a big weekend for Carnival Corporation (CCL) as two more of their ships — one from Carnival Cruise Line and another from sister brand Holland America — returned to service for the first time in 19 months.

On the east coast, Carnival Freedom returned to operations from PortMiami on Saturday, joining Horizon and Sunrise, which also sail from the Florida port. Freedom will operate a series of alternating six- and eight-night Eastern and Southern Caribbean sailings.

Meanwhile, over the on the west coast, Holland America’s ms Koningsdam returned to service from San Diego, operating a California coastal itinerary. Sunday’s departure was the first of 23 seven-night sailings the ship will do along the California Coast or to Mexico between now and April 3, 2022.

Eventually, three other Holland America Line ships will also be doing sailings out of San Diego.

READ: Carnival Celebrates Three Months Back in Service

“We are thrilled to get back to cruising from San Diego and to supporting this wonderful city and the ports we visit along the West Coast — from Mexico to Washington,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line. “Our guests are eager to be back on board and our team members look forward to reconnecting with them and providing a memorable vacation. We’re ready for a successful season of cruising.”

After a successful partial Alaska cruise season, Holland America is slowly ramping up operations in the rest of North America.

This November, its newest build, Rotterdam, is scheduled to debut from Port Everglades. The ship will sail a series of Caribbean voyages through the fall and winter months. Then in April 2022, the vessel will operate a 14-night repositioning cruise to Northern Europe.

Carnival Cruise Line recently said that by the end of 2021, they will have 17 ships returning to service, and plan to have the entire North American fleet operational by early 2022. The brand also has two cruise ships homeported in Australia, but the industry remains closed there through early 2022.

On Monday, October 11, another Carnival Cruise Line ship will enter service as Elation resumes sailings from Port Canaveral, making it the third Carnival ship to sail from the Central Florida port. Currently Mardi Gras and Carnival Magic are also sailing from the port.