The Baltimore bridge collapse is forcing cruise lines to quickly change plans, and Carnival could lose $13 million CAD because of the accident.
The financial hit is due to Carnival having to change its homeport from Baltimore to Norfolk, Virginia.
“Given the timing of yesterday's event in Baltimore and the temporary change in homeport, our guidance does not include the current estimated impact of up to $10 million on both adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income for the full year 2024,” Carnival management said.
Despite the bridge problems, Carnival revenues reached a first-quarter record of $5.4 billion USD, alongside all-time high booking levels.
The Maryland Port Administration this week announced it’s suspending traffic in and out of the Port of Baltimore until further notice.
Carnival says that while rescue and remediation efforts continue in Baltimore Harbor following the collapse of the Key Bridge, it will temporarily move Carnival Legend’s Baltimore operations to Norfolk, Virginia, Cruise Industry News reports.
The Carnival Legend is scheduled to return from its current voyage on 31MAR. It will now return to Norfolk instead, and guests will be provided free bus rides (roughly four hours) back to Baltimore. Carnival Legend’s next seven-day itinerary on 31MAR will then operate from and return to Norfolk. Guests on the current and upcoming cruises are being informed of the change.
"Our thoughts remain with the impacted families and first responders in Baltimore," Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said in a statement. "We appreciate the pledge made by President (Joe) Biden today to dedicate all available resources to reopen Baltimore Harbor to marine traffic as soon as possible.
“As those plans are finalized, we will update our future cruise guests on when we will return home to Baltimore, but in the meantime, we appreciate the quick response and support from officials in Norfolk,” she said.
Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas is due to dock in Baltimore on 4APR. Royal Caribbean said it’s “closely monitoring the situation, and our port logistics team is currently working on alternatives for Vision of the Seas’ ongoing and upcoming sailings.”
The Washington Post said Norwegian Cruise Line doesn't have any cruises scheduled out of Baltimore until later this year. American Cruise Lines, a U.S. river cruise operator, has Chesapeake Bay trips on small vessels scheduled from Baltimore starting in May. The cruise line said it will monitor developments “and make adjustments if needed.”
The Post also quotes Cruise Lines International Association as saying that 12 ships are scheduled to make a total of 115 calls at the Port of Baltimore in 2024.
Baltimore isn’t a huge destination for Canadians, but visitors flock to the city’s waterfront and to see Baltimore Orioles’ baseball games at the delightful Oriole Park at Camden Yards stadium.
The Post reports that there also are worries that the disruption “will stall or reverse efforts to lure businesses back to the downtown area, including through an expensive remodeling project in the Inner Harbor.”
