Carnival Cruise Line has taken another major step towards a resumption of cruising from the US.
Agreements with an initial three initial US homeports have been signed off by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The line hopes to sail from PortMiami, Port of Galveston and Port Canaveral this summer.
Carnival Horizon, sailing from Miami, and Carnival Vista and Carnival Breeze, sailing from Galveston, will be the the line’s first ships to carry guests under Carnival’s proposals for a July restart.
It expects to announce plans to start operations from Port Canaveral "over the coming days".
"These agreements move us one step closer to sailing with our loyal guests," said Lars Ljoen, executive vice-president and chief maritime officer for Carnival Cruise Line.
“We appreciate the support from not just these three homeport partners, but all of our homeports, that are eager to have us back as soon as possible.”
Under CDC guidelines, a cruise line must have agreements with its homeports that they are prepared to support the cruise operator with additional public health and operational resources prior to any simulated cruise and/or full guest operations.
It comes after Celebrity Cruises last week claimed a first when Celebrity Edge became the first ship to be approved to sail from the US in more than a year; Edge will depart Port Everglades on 26 June.