In mid-April 2020, Carnival Corporation (world's largest cruise shipowner) developed a crew repatriation plan using 8 cruise liners from 3 of its brands - Princess Cruises, HAL-Holland America Line and Seabourn Cruises - to bring staff-crew back home. The planned ship relocations (announced on April 18th) includes:
Caribbean Princess repositioning from The Bahamas to repatriate staff-crew to countries in the Caribbean and South America.
(two Transatlantic crossings) Regal Princess repositioning from Bimini Islands (Bahamas) to Europe (Southampton England and Rotterdam Holland) to repatriate all European staff-crew. Crown Princess repositioning from Fort Lauderdale (Florida USA) to Asia and South Africa to repatriate all Filipino, Indonesian, Indian and South African staff-crew.
(Panama Canal transit) Island Princess repositioning from Fort Lauderdale to Asia to repatriate Filipino, Indonesian, Indian and South African staff-crew.
(three Panama Canal transitions) The 3 HAL ships (currently anchored near Great Harbour Cay Bahamas) - Nieuw Amsterdam, Veendam and Volendam - reposition to Asia to repatriate all HAL's Filipino, Indonesian, Indian and South African staff-crew.
(Transatlantic crossing) Seabourn Quest repositioning from Speightstown (aka Little Bristol, Barbados) to Europe, also carrying staff-crew from Seabourn Odyssey (both are currently anchored near Speightstown).
In mid-March 2020, all major cruise companies suspended passenger shipping operations fleetwide and globally due to the pandemic.