Staff Report //March 31, 2020//
The Carnival Sunshine cruise ship will remain in Charleston Harbor through May 11 as Carnival makes plans to extend its pause in operations.
The ship has been docked at the Columbus Street Terminal since March 16, when all passengers disembarked following the Sunshine’s most recent voyage. Cruise operations were initially expected to be halted for 30 days, but Carnival said Monday that it intends to extend the cessation.
Approximately 1,100 crew members are aboard the cruise ship and will remain on board unless a medical emergency occurs. Carnival has been taking daily temperatures of its crew and encouraging social distancing, and all crew members remain healthy, the cruise line said.
Carnival plans to disembark crew members in the coming weeks so they can return to their homes. That will be coordinated with authorities, and the cruise line will provide transportation from the ship directly to an airport, Carnival said.
The Sunshine has periodically been taken out of the harbor to dispose of gray water and take on water for the ship’s needs. The ship last sailed offshore Sunday.