(Alliance News) - Carnival PLC on Monday said the Costa Luminosa, the second ship of its Italian unit to resume operations in 2021, has marked "the restart of the cruise sector in the eastern Mediterranean".
The ship set sail on Sunday from the port of Trieste, Italy, becoming the unit's second ship in 2021 to resume operations and the first to resume cruises in the Adriatic Sea and Greece.
Shares in the company closed 0.1% lower at 1,592.60 pence each in London on Monday.
Earlier Monday, Carnival said some of its units have resumed cruises in Europe and the Caribbean as it eyes restarting US voyages in July, amid regulatory talks.
AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn and P&O Cruises have begun sailing from global ports in Europe and the Caribbean, Carnival said.
"Additionally, as the company continues to work with authorities to resume sailing in the US, its Carnival Cruise Line brand has announced possible US restart plans and hopes to begin operating sailings in July on three ships from ports in Miami and Galveston, Texas. The company and several of its brands are also hopeful that cruises will be allowed to sail to Alaska for part of the summer," Carnival added.
"Collectively, the brands resuming sailings from global ports over the next several months will be using a gradual, phased-in approach, including limited itineraries that have been announced on 16 initial ships to date, representing nearly 20% of the company's global fleet."
The initial cruises will have a limited capacity, as well has "enhanced health protocols".
By Eric Cunha, ericcunha@alliancenews.com; updated by Greg Roxburgh, gregroxburgh@alliancenews.com
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Carnival (CCL)