Carnival Cruise Ships Join Dorset Laid Up Fleet

Two Carnival cruise ships have been added to the numbers already anchoring off Weymouth Bay.

The ships ‘Carnival Breeze’ and ‘Carnival Valor’ have moored this time within the shelter of Portland Harbour amid news that many such ships may never sail again.

‘Carnival Valor’ left and ‘Carnival Breeze’ in Portland Harbour in Dorset.

They are joining Cunard’s Queen Victoria and P&O’s Ventura, Azura and Britannia who are anchored nearby in Weymouth Bay.

Constant rumours seem to be flooding social media and the news channels that many ships will have to be retired from service. Although the cruise companies are saying little or naming such vessels.

Some countries like Spain have banned cruise ships from their ports whilst the current Covid19 situation still exists.

‘Carnival Breeze’ in Portland Harbour.

But P&O boss has said that they plan to restart cruising in October and are putting in place lots of new procedures on their ships.

All Are Carnival Cruise Ships

Under the banner of the huge cruise giant the Carnival Corporation PLC it operates almost ten brands.  And these includes Princess Cruises, Holland America, Seabourn and Carnival Cruise Lines itself.

The list also includes Cunard, P&O, AIDA and Costa Cruises.

Queen Victoria anchored in Weymouth Bay Dorset.

Therefore, the ships that are currently anchored in either Weymouth Bay or Portland Harbour. They are all owned by the same company Carnival Corporation PLC.

Currently Carnival operates 27 ships and in 2018 carried almost 6 million guests.

Carnival Valor in Portland harbour joining other ships from the same overall company.

Its Princess brand has 19 ships. Holland America line has 14 ships. Seabourn operates at the luxury end of the market and it has 5 ships generally much smaller at around 460/600 passengers each. Cunard with its internationally well-known brand has three ships two of which have been in Weymouth during the Covid19 lockdown.

British Olympic sailors racing past Carnival Valor in Portland Harbour.

AIDA Cruises offers a more casual cruising experience. They have 13 ships. Costa Cruises a leading cruise line in Italy, France and Spain bring 17 ships with their brand. P&O under both its UK and Australian brand have 11 ships between them.

P&O Ventura in Weymouth Bay.

Other news also relates to the crews themselves. Some of the crews have for instance like here in Weymouth been stuck on some of these ships for many months. Mental health of crews has been a concern.

Concern For The Crews After Several Incidents

A crew member from Carnival Breeze died when heading back to Europe to repatriate crew.

The company was quoted by CNN who published, “His death is not Covid-19 related, but out of respect for his family, we will not be providing additional details.”

Carnival Breeze cruise ship in Portland harbour joining other ships (behind) from the same company.

Other ships crews have been said to take some action.  Including posting items on social media about suicide concerns and a hunger strike was reported on another cruise line’s ship by a Miami newspaper.

As thrilling as it is to see these leviathans of the sea dotted around our Dorset coastline there next port of call could be the scrapyard.

Carnival Valor in Portland harbour joining 5 other ships all from the same company.

They could be sunk if people fail to start booking very soon.  Because currently I have no desire to book a cruise.

How about you?