Cruise operator Carnival PLC(LON:CCL) was forced on to the backfoot after plans to resume some services in North America from August were met with a barrage of criticism.
In a statement today, Carnival said some of the reports had not fully conveyed the contents of its previous media statement and why certain itineraries were not being cancelled.
The FTSE100-listed group yesterday said it intended to phase-in services from Miami, Port Canaveral and Galveston from 1 August using eight ships. All other North American homeport cruises will be cancelled until 31 August.
In statement today, it added: “Any resumption of cruise operations – whenever that may be – is fully dependent on our continued efforts in cooperation with federal, state, local and international government officials.
“In our continued support of public health efforts, any return to service will also include whatever enhanced operational protocols and social gathering guidelines that are in place at the time of the resumption of cruise operations.
“We are committed to supporting all public health efforts to manage the COVID-19 situation and will continue to keep our guests, travel agent partners and other stakeholders informed.”
Cruises have been cited a major cause of the spread of coronavirus by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which issued a no-sail order on 14 March that was subsequently extended until 24 July.
Carnival has seen more than 1,500 coronavirus infections on its cruises and numerous deaths from the virus, with the Diamond Princess now synonymous with the disease after it was quarantined for 27 days in Tokyo Bay with 3,700 passengers trapped aboard.
Carnival is being investigated by the CDC over how quickly it reacted once the scale of the coronavirus outbreak became clear.
In a statement, the CDC said it did not have enough information for it to say when it would be safe for cruise ships to resume sailing, the Guardian reported.
In a separate statement today, Carnival added it has also put back plans to resume operation in Australia and New Zealand until 31 August.
“Australia and New Zealand have led the world in flattening the COVID-19 curve, which adds to our optimism for the future.
“However, we also recognise that a further extension is the prudent and responsible course,” said Sture Myrmell, the president of Carnival’s P&O Cruises arm.