SAN DIEGO–Four Holland America Line ships and one Princess Cruises ship are scheduled to arrive this week and through the new year, periodically docking at the B Street Cruise Terminal for fuel, food, supplies, and services, according to Port of San Diego officials.
At this time, none of the vessels will be carrying passengers or conducting any sailings. However, these visits are a crucial part of the lines’ operations to re-establish the ships in U.S. waters as a prerequisite to meet the CDC Framework for Conditional Sailing order to resume cruising in the future.
Prioritizing public health, and with extra precautions in place to minimize community spread of and exposure to COVID-19, the Port of San Diego continues to work with its cruise line partners along with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and San Diego County Health and Human Services to resume sailings when it is safe to do so.
Time spent docked in San Diego will be limited. Each ship is scheduled to dock at B Street the morning of their scheduled arrival date and depart that evening.
At this time, the Holland American ships are scheduled to remain in the San Diego area and may be visible off the coast, with some periodically positioning in the outer anchorage just outside of San Diego Bay off the coast of Coronado. After their initial arrival, each ship plans to periodically return to the B Street Cruise Terminal to refuel and to resupply or receive services. The Emerald Princess is scheduled to go to Los Angeles after its December 24 visit. As with all maritime operations, vessel schedules may change.
Crew members aboard the vessels will not be allowed off unless as part of crew changes with plans and procedures reviewed and approved by the CDC, Coast Guard, CBP, and County Health and Human Services. All crew members will be regularly tested for COVID-19 and health procedures will be followed in the event of an infection.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had major impacts on San Diego’s tourism industry, including 119 canceled cruises since March. This represents a loss of roughly $200 million in regional economic activity, impacting local businesses and government. The Port’s cruise industry supports jobs including in retail, restaurant, and lodging; transportation, trucking, and warehousing; ship agents and stevedoring; and security and manpower services.
All future sailings are pending approval by the CDC, the Coast Guard, CBP, and the County.
