Carnival Corp has revealed it has returned 60,000 crew home following the halt of its operations in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
A total of 49 of US cruiseship group's vessels have travelled more than 640,000 km to repatriate its staff, but 21,000 employees are still stranded.
The Miami company expects these to be returned home by the end of June.
Carnival said it has also chartered hundreds of planes to get seafarers back to more than 130 countries.
"For those shipboard team members experiencing extended stays onboard, the company is focusing on their physical and mental health," Carnival said.
"The company is providing most shipboard team members with single occupancy cabin accommodations, many with a window or balcony."
Crew also have access to fresh air and other areas of the ship, movies and internet, and counselling is available.
Comeback on the cards
Carnival is planning a phased return of its operations as lockdowns ease, but it has not specified a date yet.
The plan focuses on collaboration with both government and health authorities, and sailings from a number of easily accessible home ports.
Delivery talks ongoing
Carnival is also pushing back deliveries of its 16 newbuildings, although it did not provide further details.
"The company previously had four ships scheduled to be delivered between May and October of 2020," the cruiseship owner said.
"The company believes Covid-19 has impacted shipyard operations and will result in delivery delays of the ships this year and is working with the shipyards on revised timing."
At least six current ships will be sold in the coming months to cut capacity.
New York and London-listed Carnival has been trying to lure passengers back on board with offers like onboard credits and reduced or refundable deposits.
Half of guests affected by cancellations have requested cash refunds, the outfit said.
"Despite substantially reduced marketing and selling spend, the company is seeing growing demand from new bookings for 2021," Carnival added.
Advanced bookings for next year are "within historical ranges", the company said.
Ships still moving to resting places
Once all vessels are in paused status, and not relocating crew, it estimates vessel operating and administrative expenses will be about $250m per month.
"The company continues to seek ways to further reduce this monthly requirement," Carnival said.
The outfit has 62 of its 106 cruise vessels in their final expected "pause" location.
The whole fleet should be in position at some point during its third quarter beginning this month.
The group has carried out layoffs and furloughs, reduced working weeks and salaries, and cut benefits in a bid to reduce costs. Hiring of new staff is frozen.
It has has slashed capital expenditure and estimates a $300m spend, excluding newbuilding costs, in the second half of this year.
On Thursday, Carnival announced a net loss of $4.4bn for the three months to 31 May.
