Carnival Cruise Line is plotting a return to Baltimore later this month once wreckage from the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge is cleared from the Patapsco River.
Carnival has received a "strong indication" from the U.S. Coast Guard, the state of Maryland and the Port of Baltimore that cruise traffic can return before the end of May, a Carnival spokesman said.
The line expects to conclude the Carnival Pride's seven-day May 19 Bahamas cruise in Baltimore instead of in Norfolk, Virginia, from where the cruise will depart. Carnival is encouraging guests to register for complimentary shuttle service from Baltimore to Norfolk for its May 19 embarkation should guests prefer to park their vehicle in Baltimore. The line said it will communicate any changes to guests.
Carnival is in close contact with local, state and federal officials regarding its return to operations at the Port of Baltimore, the spokesman said.
Both Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International had moved their ships out of Baltimore and into Norfolk after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in March, blocking access to the Maryland Cruise Terminal.
Demolition of a main portion of Francis Scott Key Bridge was expected to begin on May 13 in the Patapsco River, using small explosives to dismantle chunks of its remains and free the Dali cargo ship, which crashed into the bridge on March 26.
Travel Weekly contacted Royal Caribbean about when it would return to Baltimore.