Cruise lines have altered their Baltimore sailings after the collapse of the city's Francis Scott Key Bridge closed access to the Patapsco River and port areas.
Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International both operate cruise ships from the Maryland Cruise Terminal in the city's Locust Point area.
Royal Caribbean said the 2,514-passenger Vision of the Seas, which had been scheduled to arrive in Baltimore on April 4, will instead complete its current cruise in Norfolk, Virginia.
The ship's next two cruises, departing on April 4 and 12, will leave from Norfolk instead of Baltimore.
The 2,124-passenger Carnival Legend, which was scheduled to arrive in Baltimore on March 31, will instead disembark passengers in Norfolk and offer bus service back to Baltimore. The drive from Norfolk to Baltimore can take four to five hours depending on traffic.
The Legend will temporarily shift its homeport from Baltimore to Norfolk, Carnival said. The cruise that was scheduled to depart from Baltimore on March 31 will depart from Norfolk. Guests on current and upcoming cruises are being advised of the change, Carnival said.
Passengers currently on the Vision of the Seas will receive compensation and complimentary shuttle transportation from Norfolk to Baltimore. They will also receive free Wi-Fi and phone calls to adjust their travel arrangements, Royal Caribbean said.
Guests on the April 4 and 12 cruises will also receive compensation due to the change in the departure port. Upon completion of the April 12 cruise, the Vision will go to the Bahamas for previously scheduled maintenance.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed early Tuesday after a container ship leaving the Port of Baltimore struck a column on the bridge. Several construction workers who were working on the bridge at the time of the crash are presumed dead, according to the Associated Press.
According to the Maryland Transportation Authority, vessel traffic into and out of the port is suspended until further notice; a report from the Baltimore Sun referenced a U.S. Coast Guard report that said the Patapsco River channel was "fully blocked."
President Joe Biden said Tuesday that he wanted to get the port reopened quickly. "I've directed my team to move heaven and Earth to reopen the port and rebuild the bridge as soon as humanly possible," he said.
American Cruise Line also frequents Baltimore on coastal itineraries, but it won't sail there until May. The line is currently cruising from Washington, D.C. to the Chesapeake Bay, but its itinerary is unaffected, the line said.
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This report was updated on March 26 with altered plans for the Carnival Legend.
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This report was updated on March 28 with changed plans for Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas.