MIAMI — Several major cruise lines have extended their suspension of operations until at least June 30 in the wake of the CDC’s announcement earlier this week that the no-sail order for U.S.-based cruise lines could be in place until mid-July.
Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Carnival and Seabourn have all said they will push back their potential re-start dates until late June. More details on each cruise lines are below.
Meanwhile Richard Fain, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, has released a new video with a realistic, and inspiring, message for RCCL’s travel agent partners.
“Think back a few weeks – and remember, it’s only been a few weeks – to when this all began. Who understood the true significance of what we were facing? Who realized it would impact each of us so dramatically? Who fathomed the level of pain and frustration it would cause?” said Fain.
Fain added: “For all us and all of you, our economic picture is tough. No revenue is coming in. Zero. And our expenses continue. And I know that each of you, like us, are having to make decisions that bring tears to your eyes. We need to be realistic. There’s still more tough economic weather to come.”
Earlier this week The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the U.S. announced it was extending its No Sail Order for all cruise ships. The order could be in place until July 18, 2020. Only a declaration from the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services announcing that COVID-19 no longer constitutes a public health emergency, or a cancellation of the no-sail order by the CDC director based on specific public health information, would move that date up.
“The cruise suspension keeps being extended, but that’s part of the process,” said Fain. He said RCCL is working with the CDC “and taking the time to adjust its protocols, to prepare for a public that’s much more focused on health and safety than ever before.”
Realistically, says Fain, “travel and tourism will probably be at the tail end of the recovery. Everyone you know is ready to get out of the house. But it may be a while before people are focusing boarding a long flight, joining crowds at a theme park or taking a cruise. We know this.”
He invoked the words of Britain’s wartime prime minister Winston Churchill, with the quote: “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”
See below for the updated suspension of operation dates and rebooking information for Princess, Holland America, Carnival and Seabourn, with more to come no doubt in the coming days…
PRINCESS CRUISES
Princess Cruises is cancelling all voyages through June 30, 2020 in response to the recent order from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. It had previously announced a voluntary pause for two months, impacting voyages departing through to May 10.
Moreover, Princess has confirmed modifications to its Alaska season, which includes the cancellation of all Princess Alaska Gulf cruises and cruisetours. The five wilderness lodges, trains and buses operated by Princess in Alaska will not open this summer. The cruise line will continue roundtrip sailings from Seattle to Alaska on Emerald Princess and Ruby Princess.
Each ship will have a unique return to service date, based on the previously published cruise itineraries, with some modifications, departing after July 1. Details about the cancelled voyages can be found here.
Impacted guests have one of two cancellation options:
- Clients currently booked on a cancelled voyage and who have paid in full will receive a future cruise credit equivalent to 100% of the cruise fare paid and, as an added incentive, an additional 25% FCC. Guests must use their credits on a cruise that sails on or before May 1, 2022. No action is required for guests to receive this offer and they will be notified by email once the credits have been issued.
- Impacted guests can receive a full refund for all monies paid in full on their booking through this online form. Requests must be received by May 31, 2020 or they will receive the FCC option. Guests who have not yet paid in full will receive a refund of all monies paid.
Princess has also confirmed that it will protect travel advisor commissions on bookings for cancelled cruises that were paid in full.
CARNIVAL
Carnival has extended its suspension of operations through June 26, cancelling all sailings on all ships through and including that date. Carnival has also cancelled: all San Francisco sailings through all of 2020; all Carnival Sunrise sailings through and including Oct.19; all Carnival Radiance sailings through and including Nov. 1, and all Carnival Legend sailings through and including Oct. 30.
As before, clients who previously booked on these sailings and cancelled on or after March 6 will be offered: (for cruises 6+ days in length) – 100% future cruise credit plus US$600 onboard credit per stateroom for the next cruise if booked by Dec. 31, 2020 for a sailing departing by Dec. 31, 2022, or a 100% refund; and (for cruises five days or less in length) – 100% future cruise credit plus US$300 onboard credit per stateroom for the next cruise if booked by Dec. 31, 2020 for a sailing departing by Dec. 31, 2022, or a 100% refund. More details are at https://www.carnival.com/
HOLLAND AMERICA LINE
Holland America has pushed back its temporary suspension of operations from May 14 through to June 30, 2020. As such, all global cruise operations and sailings, including Alaska, Canada/New England and Europe cruises, have been paused and cancelled.
In Alaska, the cruise line is also cancelling all sailings for summer 2020 on Maasdam, Noordam, Oosterdam, Volendam and Westerdam. Plus, all Land+Sea Journeys (a cruise combined with an overland tour to Denali and the Yukon) are cancelled. The McKinley Chalet Resort, McKinley Explorer rail cars and tour motorcoaches will not operate this summer.
Holland America is assessing the future impact of the order by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control for cruises through mid-July. Additional deployment details will be shared in the near future.
Impacted guests have two options to choose from (not applicable to guests booked on charter sailings) and must make their selection by June 1, 2020:
- Defer a refund and receive a Future Cruise Credit for 125% of the base cruise fare paid plus an onboard credit of US$250 per person, which can be applied toward any future cruise(s) through Dec. 31, 2021. The credit must be applied toward this future cruise by Dec. 31, 2020. Guests who haven’t paid in full will receive a FCC for 125% of the amount paid to Holland America Line.
- A 100% refund of all monies paid to Holland America Line will be reimbursed. This includes Holland America Line’s Flight Ease air, Cancellation Protection Plan, Holland America Line pre- or post-cruise hotel packages or transfers, prepaid shore excursions and amenities purchased through Holland America, and taxes, fees and port expenses.
All bookings automatically will be cancelled through June 30. If a choice is not made by June 1, guests will be deemed to have accepted the greater value option #1.
Holland America is protecting travel agent commissions on bookings for cancelled cruises that were paid in full and for the total amount of the FCC when guests rebook.
SEABOURN
Seabourn is extending its voluntary pause of global operations for its five cruise ships scheduled to depart through June 30, 2020. It had previously announced a pause in operations from March 14-May 14, 2020.
Guests impacted by the suspension will receive a 125% refund on monies received in the form of a future cruise credit, which must be booked by Dec. 30, 2020, but can be applied toward any future cruise through Dec. 31, 2021.
Guests who opt out of the FCC will receive a 100% refund of the monies paid to Seabourn back to the original form of payment.
Guests and their travel agents will be sent details on how to manage cancellations and compensation online.
For more policy updates from all the major cruise lines, listed alphabetically and updated on a daily basis as new info comes in, go to https://www.travelweek.ca/
