Carnival Cruise Line is set to begin its long-awaited return to Caribbean cruising later this summer. 

The cruise giant will resume cruise operations in the region with eight ships by the end of August, the company confirmed this week. 

That will include sailings out of U.S. ports including Galveston, Miami and Port Canaveral. 

It will also notably include the debut of the line’s newest ship, Mardi Gras, the first-ever North American cruise ship powered by liquefied natural gas. 

That ship will launch Caribbean sailings out of Port Canaveral starting on July 31. 

Carniva is one of eight Carnival Corporation cruise brands that will be relaunching operations this year, following the extended shutdown of the cruise industry since March 2020.

“For all of our brands, our highest responsibility and top priorities are always compliance, environmental protection, and the health, safety and well-being of our guests, our shipboard and shoreside employees, and the communities we visit,” said Roger Frizzell, chief communications officer for Carnival Corporation. “We are excited to see our world-leading cruise line brands sailing this summer, and to date, we’ve announced over half of our capacity returning by the end of the fiscal year, as we work to meet significant pent-up demand for cruising and get back to what we do best – serving our guests with one of the world’s most popular vacations.”

— CJ