WASHINGTON, D.C. — CLIA has made the extraordinary move to voluntarily and temporarily suspend ocean-going cruise ship operations from and to U.S. ports of call for 30 days.
The suspension, which went into effect on March 14, was made in response to growing concerns over COVID-19.
“We do not take this decision lightly, and we want the travelling public to know in no uncertain terms the commitment of this industry to putting people first,” said Adam Goldstein, CLIA Global Chairman. “During this time, we will continue to work with the CDC and others to prepare for resumption of sailings when it is appropriate. We know the travel industry is a huge economic engine for the United States and when our ships once again sail, our industry will be a significant contributor to fueling the economic recovery.”
Here are some updates from member cruise lines:
HOLLAND AMERICA LINE
Holland America is pausing global cruise operations of its 14 ships for 30 days, which is impacting sailings scheduled to depart through April 14. The three cruises that were scheduled to depart this past weekend were cancelled, with guests receiving a 100% refund and 100% future cruise credit. These three cancelled cruises were:
- Oosterdam, scheduled to embark March 14 in San Diego, California
- Nieuw Amsterdam, scheduled to embark March 14 in Fort Lauderdale
- Koningsdam, scheduled to embark March 15 in Fort Lauderdale
Any guests on back-to-back cruises beyond the dates above will now need to disembark the ship.
Other voyages that are currently in progress are planned to debark as follows:
- Eurodam: March 18 in San Diego, California, as scheduled
- Veendam: March 18 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as scheduled
- Zuiderdam: March 18 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as scheduled
- Maasdam: March 20 in Hilo, Hawaii. This is a change from the scheduled disembarkation in San Diego, California, on April 3
- Zaandam: March 21 in San Antonio, Chile as scheduled
- Volendam: March 22 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as scheduled
- Amsterdam: March 24 in Freemantle, Australia (this is a change from the scheduled disembarkation in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on May 12
- Rotterdam: March 27 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as scheduled
Any guests on back-to-back cruises beyond the dates above will need to disembark.
Ships now currently in service due to previous cancellations are Nieuw Statendam, Noordam and Westerdam.
Guests who’ve booked their own air should first contact their airline to make ticket changes. Holland America will rebook all guests who purchased their air through the Flight Ease program.
Holland America has also confirmed that it is protecting travel advisor commissions on bookings for cancelled cruises that were paid in full and for the total amount of the future cruise credits when guests rebook.
MSC CRUISES
MSC Cruises is temporarily stopping all its U.S.-based new cruise embarkations for 45 days, until April 30. It has also halted ship operations across all areas considered as high risk for COVID-19, in the Mediterranean, the Gulf and Asia. Ships still in operations in South America and South Africa will end their operations at the end of their current itineraries.
MSC is offering impacted guests the chance to transfer 100% of the money paid for their cancelled vacation, plus an additional credit benefit to a future cruise of their choice at any point through the end of 2021. If unused by that date, guests will receive a full refund of the cruise fare.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN
Royal Caribbean has suspended global cruise operations. All current sailings (as of March 14) will conclude as scheduled. Full service is expected to return on April 11.
CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE
Effective immediately, Carnival Cruise Line is pausing operations across its fleet of ships based in North America. Service will resume on April 10. All ships currently at sea will continue their voyages and return to their homeports as scheduled.
Passengers booked on cruises lasting six or more days will be offered a 100% future cruise credit and a US$600 onboard credit per stateroom on their next cruise if booked by Dec. 31, 2020 for sailing by Dec. 31, 2022, or a 100% refund of what they originally paid.
Passengers booked on cruises five days or less will be offered the same two options, except instead of a US$600 onboard credit they’ll receive $300.
Guests have until Dec. 31, 2020 to make a selection or they will automatically receive a 100% future cruise credit.
SEABOURN
Seabourn is voluntarily pausing global operations of its five cruise ships for 30 days, starting March 14. Current voyages that are underway will end by March 22, 2020. The cruise line is communicating these changes with all booked guests and travel agents.
Guests on impacted voyages will receive a 125% refund of the fare paid in the form of a future cruise credit, which can be applied toward any future cruise through Dec. 31, 2021. Guests who do not opt to choose the credit will be offered a 100% refund of the fare paid, which will be reimbursed to the original form of payment.
More cruise updates can be found at the following links:
https://www.travelweek.ca/news/wdw-disneyland-disney-cruise-line-to-shut-down-through-end-of-march/
https://www.travelweek.ca/news/scenic-group-and-costa-cruises-suspend-operations/
https://www.travelweek.ca/news/windstar-celestyal-amawaterways-all-announce-temporary-suspensions/
https://www.travelweek.ca/news/virgin-voyages-maiden-voyage-postponed-until-aug-7/
https://www.travelweek.ca/news/viking-temporarily-suspends-all-operations-until-may-1/
