For the first time in 17 months, a cruise ship will sail from California this weekend
Carnival Panorama will be the first vessel to depart from California in nearly 17 months when it sets sail from Long Beach on Saturday.
The 4,008-passenger ship will embark on a weeklong Mexican Riviera itinerary, calling on Cabo San Lucas and Mazatlan.
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Like most places, the Golden State has been devoid of cruises since the onset of the pandemic. In recent years, even before COVID-19, California saw a decline in the number of cruise ships based there -- particularly newer ones, such as Carnival Panorama, which debuted in 2019.
Among its amenities, the ship features a Sky Zone trampoline park; SkyRide, an aerial bike ride attraction; WaterWorks aqua park; and the Carnival Kitchen experience, where one of the onboard chefs teaches cooking classes for passengers.
Carnival's ships are currently sailing at about 75% capacity. Following a recent uptick in COVID-19 cases on some ships, the line instituted mandatory mask-wearing and pre-cruise testing for all passengers.