After months of anchorage off Bahamas' coast, Carnival Breeze sailed back to PortMiami Florida on Monday, December 7. Sistership Carnival Horizon returned to Florida in late-November.
Earlier in 2020, CCL-Carnival Cruise Line confirmed the plan was for Breeze and Horizon to be their first liners to return to service. There has not yet been word as to which cruise ships might be next but the company said that when they're ready to look at voyages from ports outside of Florida, the next spot would likely be Galveston TX.
Meanwhile, before any cruise ship can depart from the USA, it will have to undergo a certification process overseen by the CDC-Centers for Disease Control.
Each vessel must complete a series of simulated cruises to show the CDC they have not only implemented the recommended health and safety protocols but have their crew properly trained too.
Once Carnival Breeze is compliant with the CDC's new rules, the current plan is the liner to operate Caribbean voyages roundtrip from homeport Galveston TX (starting May 5, 2021). Those plans, including listed itineraries, could change based on a variety of factors.
A major deciding factor will be which ports are ready to welcome liners and their guests. All cruise shipping companies and those ports will, in conjunction with the CDC order, need to have a plan in place for handling viral outbreaks onboard.