Baltimore is currently facing a crisis in its cruise industry following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. This incident has had a severe impact on the access to the Patapsco River and the port areas, causing several cruise lines to reevaluate their scheduled sailings to the city.
Two major cruise lines, Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International, are among those that operate from the Maryland Cruise Terminal in Baltimore. The closure of the bridge has forced these companies to suspend vessel traffic into and out of the port until further notice. This has disrupted the upcoming sailings of the 2,124-passenger Carnival Legend and the 2,513-passenger Vision of the Seas.
In light of the bridge collapse, Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International are currently assessing their options for their scheduled sailings to Baltimore. Carnival’s spokesperson mentioned that they are evaluating alternatives for the Carnival Legend’s return, while Royal Caribbean is actively monitoring the situation and working on logistics for the Vision of the Seas.
Aside from Carnival and Royal Caribbean, American Cruise Line, which had plans to visit Baltimore on coastal itineraries, has also been affected. However, the line’s sailings to Baltimore are scheduled to resume in May, with cruises currently departing from Washington D.C.
Overall, the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore has had significant repercussions on the city’s cruise industry, causing disruptions to scheduled sailings and forcing cruise lines to reconsider their operations in the affected area. This unfortunate incident serves as a reminder of the fragility of transportation infrastructure and the ripple effects it can have on various sectors, including the tourism and hospitality industry.