Cruise ships won’t sail from Port Canaveral until September: How the port plans to weather their absence

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Port Canaveral won't see any cruise passengers until September.

On Wednesday, commissioners will be asked to adjust to reflect the ships’ absence and lack of revenue.

Port Canaveral is still making adjustments as it navigates the COVID-19 pandemic. The cove, exploration tower and Jetty Park are all open for business.

READ: Cruise customers grow frustrated over delayed refunds

But it will be months until the port's primary source of revenue, the cruise industry, sails back in. The port's total cruise revenue of $43 million, which came to a halt in March, is below that of the last fiscal year by $10.5 million. Officials said non-cruise revenue took a dip too, mainly due to reduced activity at Jetty Park.

Port CEO Captain John Murray said the port will get through the suspension of cruise traffic by accessing its unrestricted funds. The port has managed to keep some important capital projects on track like the construction of cruise terminal 3, which will be the home of the Carnival Mardi Gras.

READ: Family of man who died from COVID-19 sues Carnival, Princess cruise lines

But Murray said even once cruises resume it won’t be like turning on a light switch. It’ll take time for the industry to return.

VIDEO: Cruise customers grow frustrated over delayed refunds Three months after the federal government ordered cruise lines to shut down, thousands of customers can?t get their money back for canceled trips.