MSN has partnered with The Points Guy for our coverage of credit card products. MSN and The Points Guy may receive a commission from card issuers.
Add Royal Caribbean and sister brands Celebrity Cruises and Azamara to the list of cruise lines canceling all sailings into June.
Citing the continuing coronavirus pandemic, the three lines late Thursday canceled departures across their fleets through June 11.
The lines join Princess Cruises, Holland America, Carnival Cruise Line and several other major brands in canceling trips for at least the next eight weeks.
For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
Princess and Holland America on Tuesday canceled all sailings through June 30. Carnival on Monday canceled all departures through June 26.
Both lines also canceled the majority of their cruises in Alaska for all of 2020, and said none of their lodges in Alaska would open this year, nor would they operate any of their sightseeing trains or buses.
Princess also delayed the debut of its newest ship, Enchanted Princess, until Aug. 1, and canceled sailings of two more ships — Diamond Princess and Sun Princess — through Aug. 4 and Sept. 4, respectively.
Until this week, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara only had canceled departures on most ships through May 11. The new cancellations extend their fleet-wide shutdowns by a month.
More cancellations are likely coming. Late last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an extended “no-sail” order for cruise ships operating out of U.S. ports. The “no-sail” order could remain in effect through July 24.
Nearly all cruise lines around the world suspended operations the week of March 9 as coronavirus cases surged around the globe. Initially, most lines said they planned to resume sailing after 30 days. But with the pandemic showing few signs of slowing, many lines later extended their shutdowns to mid-May.
This week’s announcements will affect hundreds of thousands of travelers with bookings in the coming months. Carnival alone accounts for nearly one of every five cruises taken worldwide.
All the lines said passengers on affected sailings could choose between a full refund or a credit for a future cruise. They all offered incentives to encourage customers to take the credits.
Carnival, for instance, offered customers who chose a credit an additional $300 to $600 per cabin in onboard credit, depending on the length of the trip. To get the additional credit, cruisers must rebook by Dec. 31.
Giving out future cruise credits instead of cash refunds allows the lines to preserve cash. In a regulatory filing earlier this month, Carnival’s parent company, Carnival Corp., said it was burning through $1 billion a month.
Carnival Corp. is the parent company of Carnival, Princess Cruises, Holland America and Seabourn as well as five other major cruise brands.
This week’s announcements are the latest evidence that cruising worldwide is unlikely to resume in a meaningful way until at least the summer.
A handful of lines such as Viking already had canceled all sailings through late June, and some lines are starting to go even further with cancellations for specific itineraries and specific ships. On Monday, for instance, Norwegian Cruise Line canceled all scheduled sailings on one of its 17 ships, Norwegian Sun, through October. The ship, currently docked in Jacksonville, Florida, had been scheduled to spend the summer in Alaska.
Norwegian said Norwegian Sun would reposition to Port Canaveral, Florida, to sail a mix of three- to five-day itineraries to the Bahamas and Florida as well as the Western Caribbean once the line’s coronavirus-caused shutdown to cruise operations was over.
Carnival also has canceled sailings on some ships into the fall. On Monday, the line canceled all sailings on its 2,984-passenger Carnival Sunrise through Oct. 19. The ship had been scheduled to sail out of New York over the summer.
Carnival also has canceled sailings on its 2,680-passenger Carnival Legend and 3,873-passenger Carnival Radiance through Oct. 30 and Nov. 1, respectively. The ships had been scheduled to be in Europe this year.
Here’s a look at the current status of operations at more than three dozen river, ocean and expedition cruise brands that market to North Americans:
Adventure Canada has canceled all 2020 departures.
AmaWaterways has canceled all sailings through May 31.
American Cruise Lines has canceled all sailings through May 17.
American Queen Steamboat Company has canceled all sailings through May 16.
Avalon Waterways has canceled all sailings through June 30.
Azamara has canceled all sailings through June 11.
Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line has canceled all sailings through May 6.
Carnival Cruise Line has canceled all sailings through June 26. Sailings on some ships have been canceled into the fall.
Celebrity Cruises has canceled all sailings through June 11. Sailings in Alaska have been canceled through the end of June.
Celestyal Cruises has canceled all sailings through June 28.
Costa Cruises has canceled all sailings through May 30.
Cunard Line has canceled all sailings through May 15.
Crystal Cruises has canceled all sailings through the end of May. The line also has delayed to debut of its new expedition ship, Crystal Endeavor, until Nov. 14.
Disney Cruise Line has canceled all sailings through May 17. The line also has canceled all Alaska sailings through the end of June.
Emerald Waterways has canceled all sailings through June 30.
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has canceled sailings into May with ships scheduled to resume service at varying dates. The current plan is for Europa and Europa 2 to resume sailing on May 9 and May 13, respectively. Hanseatic Inspiration, Bremen and Hanseatic Nature are scheduled to return to service of May 18, May 23 and May 30, respectively.
Holland America has canceled all sailings worldwide through June 30. The line also has canceled all Alaska sailings for 2020 on Maasdam, Noordam, Oosterdam, Volendam and Westerdam.
Hurtigruten has canceled its international expedition sailings through May 12. The line has canceled its coastal sailings in Norway through May 20. In addition, cruises in Alaska have been canceled through July 1.
MSC Cruises has canceled all sailings through May 29.
Norwegian Cruise Line has canceled all sailings through May 14. Voyages on Norwegian Sun have been canceled through Oct. 18.
Oceania Cruises has canceled all sailings through May 10.
Paul Gauguin Cruises has canceled all sailings through May 7.
Ponant has suspended operations until further notice.
Princess Cruises has canceled all sailings worldwide through June 30. The line also has canceled all Alaska sailings for 2020 on Coral Princess, Grand Princess, Pacific Princess, Royal Princess, Star Princess and Golden Princess. Sailings on Enchanted Princess have been canceled through July 31. Sailings on Diamond Princess and Sun Princess have been canceled through Aug. 4 and Sept. 4, respectively.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises has canceled all sailings through May 14.
Royal Caribbean has canceled all sailings through June 11.
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours has canceled all sailings through June 30.
Seabourn has canceled all sailings through June 30.
SeaDream Yacht Club has canceled all sailings through May 7.
Silversea has canceled all sailings through mid-May. The line’s ships now are scheduled to resume service on various dates between May 13 and July 2.
Tauck has canceled all sailings through May 15.
UnCruise Adventures has canceled departures in April and a handful of early May sailings.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection has canceled all European sailings through April 23. The river cruise specialist has canceled Egypt sailings through May 1.
Victory Cruise Lines has canceled all sailings through May 16.
Viking has canceled all sailings through the end of June.
Virgin Voyages has postponed its inaugural voyage until Aug. 7.
Windstar Cruises has canceled all sailings through May 21.
Additional resources for cruisers during the coronavirus outbreak:
- Why you shouldn’t take a voucher if your cruise is canceled
- How to cancel or postpone a cruise due to coronavirus
- 21 ships where passengers may have been exposed to coronavirus
- Guide to traveling during the coronavirus outbreak
Featured image courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line.
SPONSORED: While travel is limited right now due to COVID-19, you need your everyday purchases to give you flexible, forever useful cash. In general, TPG gives preference to transferable points and using your points to travel, but on some days, cash is king.
—
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Related video: CDC Extends ‘No Sail’ Order for Cruise Ships for at Least 100 Days (Provided by Travel + Leisure)
Earn frequent flyer miles during COVID-19 without flying
Has COVID-19 halted your travel and stunted the growth of your frequent flyer mile account? Here’s how to keep earning miles without getting on an airplane. Buzz60’s TC Newman has more.
Buzz60This is what the CDC 'no sail order' means for the cruise ship industry
The CDC's "no sail order" has left about 100 cruise ships in the Atlantic, Pacific or Gulf of Mexico idle, either in port or wallowing at anchor.
USA TODAYHow to get refunded when your flight is cancelled by the airline
The DOT warning comes as travelers have blasted United and other airlines skirting its policies on cash refunds for canceled flights.
USA TODAY
Source: Read Full Article