Following the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, Carnival Cruise Line has made the decision to temporarily relocate the Carnival Legend’s homeport from Baltimore to Norfolk, Virginia. This decision was made in the aftermath of a container ship crash that caused the bridge to crumble. As a result of the bridge closure, Carnival has arranged for guests returning on Sunday to be provided with a bus back to Baltimore.
Travelers aboard the Carnival Legend will complete their weeklong Caribbean vacation on Sunday and will be disembarking in Norfolk, Virginia instead of Baltimore. The Port of Baltimore will remain closed for the time being, prompting Carnival to temporarily base the ship in Norfolk. Passengers on the Legend’s Caribbean voyage will be given a complimentary bus ride back to Baltimore.
The next weeklong cruise on the Carnival Legend will depart and return to Norfolk, Virginia. Carnival has assured passengers that they will receive updates on future plans to return to Maryland. Other cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and American Cruise Line, which also sail from the Port of Baltimore, have not released information regarding potential itinerary changes.
The closure of the Port of Baltimore could result in a daily loss of $15 million in economic activity, according to experts. While the port is important for certain imports and exports, it represents a relatively small portion of cruise departures in the United States. In 2023, over 444,000 passengers embarked on cruises from Baltimore.