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Coronavirus cruise ships and companies updates

Coronavirus cruise ship companies updates

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Coronavirus Line Updates

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an ongoing pandemic disease that started with the outbreak in Wuhan China in December 2019. WHO (World Health Organization) officially classified the outbreak as a "worldwide pandemic" on March 11, 2020.

NOTE: If you want to skip the following statistical information (including financial), this link jumps down directly to CruiseMapper's table with all Coronavirus-impacted passenger liners.

For 1 year (March 15/2020-2021), on cruise ships, Coronavirus affected 3519 people (passengers plus crew, only officially confirmed cases) of whom 73 passengers died. The first epidemic outbreak occurred on Diamond Princess (February/ 712 infected, including 14 deaths). The second outbreak was on Grand Princess (February-March/ infected 132 with 7 deaths). The third/largest outbreak was on Ruby Princess (March/ 852 infected with 22 deaths). Followed a long month of altered or canceled cruises, ship quarantines/in-port lockdowns, port closures (bans on incoming vessels) - mainly in Southeast Asia, Europe, the Caribbean.

The next table shows statistics on the top-pandemic countries (confirmed cases/registered patients and deaths per million) caused by COVID-19 / SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2). FOR 1 YEAR (March 8/2020-2021) were reported TOTAL DEATHS 2,6M, TOTAL INFECTED 117,148M, TOTAL RECOVERED 66,38M. In brackets (per million) is the number of Coronavirus-related DEATHS PER MILLION (country inhabitants).

CountryInfected/COVID casesDeathsDeaths per millionTotal population
TOTAL117,148M (1,54%)2,6M0,0342%7,6B
USA29,138M523K1592328,2M
UK

4,203M

124K

1861

66,8M

Brazil11,019M266K1257211M

Russia

4,274M88K607144,4M

France

3,801M88K130567M

Spain

3,151M71K151147,1M

Italy

3,068M100K165560,3M

Germany

2,509M72K86683M

Colombia

2,277M61K120150,3M

Argentina

2,151M53K117745M

Mexico

2,129M191K1494127,6M

Poland

1,795M45K119338M

South Africa

1,521M51K86558,6M

Peru

1,365M48K146732,5M

Czechia

1,325M22K203510,7M

Holland

1,105M16K90617,3M

Canada

892K22K59337,6M

Romania

828K21K108019,4M

Portugal

811K17K161510,3M

Belgium

789K22K193811,5M

Sweden

685K13K126410,3M

Switzerland

562K10K11718,6M

Hungary

469K16K16249,8M

Annually, common flu infects ~11% of Earth's total population (~800 million), with influenza deaths varying between 0,5 million and 1,2 million (each year). The main issue with COVID-19 is its much longer incubation period (time between the infection and developing the symptoms) which is 7-14-days (compared to influenza's 1-2-days). Statistically, most Coronavirus patients (~98%) develop the symptoms within 12 days after the infection.

Coronavirus deaths vary greatly by region/country, with the mortality rates being influenced by the volume of testing and population characteristics (average age, overall health, quality of the country's healthcare system). Many countries (including Italy, Spain, Holland, Belgium, Sweden, UK, USA, Canada) report statistical data that includes deaths from suspected COVID-19 cases (including of non-tested people) which results in higher deaths in comparison to countries (like China, Russia, Germany, Japan, Ireland) that report deaths of only confirmed COVID-19 cases.

In early-May 2020, according to Johns Hopkins University (private research facility in Baltimore MD), the global average death-to-Coronavirus ratio was 7,1% (7 deaths on 100 cases treated). Nearly all Coronavirus deaths were elderly people aged 70+ (Italy's average age is 79,5) and the majority had previous health conditions. On June 5, AstraZeneca (British-Swedish biopharmaceutical, 1999-founded) announced that it started manufacturing a potential COVID vaccine. The production (~2 billion doses) was ahead of the human trial results.

Coronavirus spreads similarly to common influenza (via droplets from coughing/sneezing), with exposure-symptom onset time 2-14 days. Predominant symptoms include fever, dry cough, fatigue, sputum production (saliva+mucus), anosmia (smell blindness), breathing problems (shortness of breath), muscle/joint pains, sore throat, headache. Illness complications include pneumonia (lungs inflammation) and ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome). China successfully cures COVID-19 patients with Vitamin-C. Russia successfully treats patients with blood plasma taken from Coronavirus survivors.

The financial impact on the ship cruising industry in 2020-2021

According to UNWTO (UN's World Tourism Organization), the cruise industry's recovery could be expected by 2020-Q4 (mainly in the USA-Caribbean), but mostly in 2021-Q2. UNWTO expected for 2020 the industry's levels to drop by 70-80% (over 2019), which generally depends on the duration of intercountry travel restrictions and border closures (especially within Europe). According to UNWTO, the financial impact on the industry (projected loss) is between USD 0,85-1,1 billion. The global tourism industry was expected to lose export revenues between USD 0,91-1,2 trillion, affecting between 100-120 million jobs/employees. The cruise travel industry employs ~200,000 shipboard personnel (service staff and maintenance crew).

Between March 12-15, all major cruise shipping companies (ocean and river) suspended operations fleetwide (all vessels in the fleet remained docked/anchored and fully crewed) for periods ranging from 30 up to 60 days. All canceled cruises were fully refunded in FCC (future cruise credit).

Between March 16-30, Fincantieri (world's largest cruise shipbuilding company) suspended all activities at its shipyards and offices in Italy. For 2020-H1 (first-half), Fincantieri reported EUR 137 million (~USD 161M) net loss on EUR 2,4 billion (~USD 2,827B) revenues - compared to 2019-H1's net income EUR 47M on EUR 2,8B revenues. The suspension resulted in EUR 790M (~USD 931M) loss on revenues, or 17,5% decrease - including 13,5% from cruise shipbuilding which represented 57% of Fincantieri's revenue in 2020.

On March 16, 2020, Carnival Corporation (world's largest cruise shipowner) loaned USD 3 billion (~EUR 2,77B) with maturity in September 2020. On March 31, Carnival Corp announced plans to issue $6B (~EUR 5,49B) in stock and debt - $1,25B (in CCL shares), $3B (in secured notes due 2023, assets-backed loan) and $1,75B (in convertible notes due 2023/debt that converts into equity).

  • As of 2020, Carnival's employees in the USA were ~0,5 million.
  • On April 2, were issued CCL common stocks for USD 0,5 billion (reduced from the announced $1,25B) or a total of 62,5 million ordinary shares at $8 per share.
  • In mid-May, to further strengthen its liquidity, Carnival Corporation announced a combination of (company-wide / including senior management) furloughs, layoffs, reduced workweeks, salary reductions. The moves resulted in hundreds of millions in cash conservation.
  • On June 30, Carnival UK laid off 1/3 of its shore-based staff.
  • For 2020-H1, Carnival reported revenues (USD 5,5B, with losses USD 5,2 billion), cash ($6,9B - compared to 2019-H1's $518M), total assets ($49,8B), current liabilities/short-term financial obligations ($11,9B), long-term debt ($4,9B).
  • In mid-August, Carnival Corporation reported in a regulatory filing that as of July 31 it had USD 7,9B (~EUR 6,671B) in cash and cash equivalents, with average monthly cash burn rate (2020-H2) ~USD 650M (~EUR 550M). This allows ~12 months of cash (with no-sailing ships) to be spent on vessel operations, administrative expenses, capital expenditures/export credit facilities, loans' interests.
  • For 2020-Q3 (ending Aug 31) Carnival reported GAAP net loss USD 2,9B (including $900M non-cash charges), adjusted net loss $1,7B, $8,2B cash and cash equivalents, average monthly cash burn rate USD 770M (~$17K per minute). A total of 19 older vessels left the 9-brand fleet (~13% of Carnival's total passenger capacity).
  • For 2020-Q4 Carnival reported GAAP net loss USD 2,2B, adjusted net loss $1,9B, cash and cash equivalents $9,5B, monthly cash burn rate ~$500M (~16 months of cash), customer deposits balance $2,2B (mainly FCCs).
  • On Feb 10-16, 2021, Carnival priced private offerings in Senior Unsecured Notes for USD 3,5B (annual interest 5,75%) beginning September 1, 2021, and maturing March 1, 2027.
  • For 2021-Q1, Carnival reported GAAP net loss USD 2B, cash and short-term investments USD 11,5B, 90% higher booking volumes (over 2020-Q1), cash burn rate ~USD 600M.

On March 23, 2020, RCG-Royal Caribbean Group (world's 2nd-largest cruise shipowner) loaned USD 2,2 billion (~EUR 2,03B) with maturity in March 2021 and an optional extension for 364 more days (till March 2022). With the new financing, RCG had USD 3,6+ billion of liquidity (cash deposits plus undrawn credit facilities). The money was secured term-loaned from 3 US banks (JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America Corporation, Goldman Sachs Group) plus the French banking group BNP Paribas.

  • In mid-April, RCG announced that ~26% of its USA-based employees (~1300 Americans, out of 5000+) will be permanently laid off or 90-day furloughed (with paid benefits). In early-June, RCG issued Senior Notes (due 2023, fully unconditionally guaranteed) to aggregate up to USD 1B.
  • In early-August, RCG amended a USD 1,55B unsecured revolving loan (due 2022) with Nordea Bank Abp, $1,925B unsecured revolving loan (due 2024) with Scotiabank, and $1B unsecured loan (3-year) with Bank of America Corporation.
  • As of June 30, RCG had liquidity ~USD 4,1B (cash and cash equivalents) considered enough to survive until the end of 2021 without any income. On August 12, RCG secured a USD 700M term loan from Morgan Stanley (investment bank) at 3,75% interest and maturing on Aug 12, 2021. The loan was guaranteed by RCI Holdings LLC (RCG's subsidiary that owns all vessels).
  • For 2020-Q3, RCG reported Adjusted Net Loss USD 1,2B, Adjusted Net Income $896,8M, ship expenses $308,6M (down from $680,4M for 2020-Q2), average monthly cash burn ~USD 270M (~EUR 230M - loan interests, ships-administrative expenses, hedging costs, capital expenditures, but excluding cash refunds of cruise deposits, cash inflows from bookings, agent commissions, debt obligations). As of September 30, 2020, RCG had liquid assets ~USD 3,7B ($3B in cash and cash equivalents).
  • In late-August 2020, Awilhelmsen AS (Norwegian investment company) sold 2 million RCL shares (~USD 126,91M). Awilhelmsen still owns ~18 million RCL shares.
  • Between December 3-31, 2020, RCG exhausted its entire USD 1 billion ATM (at-the-market) offering (~13M RCL stocks/average sale price $76,65 per share) diluting the company by ~5,8%. ATM is when a company raises money through gradual stock exchange sales instead of selling at once large blocks of stock to big investors (usually at a discount).
  • In mid-January 2021, RCG sold the Azamara brand to Sycamore Partners (US private equity firm) for USD 201M (~EUR 166M / ~GBP 148M).
  • After selling 8 ships - 3x Pullmantur (Horizon, Monarch, Sovereign), 3x Azamara (Quest, Journey, Pursuit), 2x RCI (Empress, Monarch), RCG's global fleet capacity decreased by 12316 berths (5984+2138+4194).
  • RCG's 2020-Q4 financial report revealed US GAAP Net Loss of USD 5,8B (EUR 4,774B, or US$27,05 per share) and Adjusted Net Loss of USD 3,9B (EUR 3,21B, or $18,31 per share). In 2020, RCG raised ~USD 9,3B (~EUR 7,655B) through bond issuances, loans, public common stocks) and as of Dec 31 had liquidity ~USD 4,4B (EUR 3,62B, including $3,7B in cash-cash equivalents plus $0,7B from a year loan).
  • For 2021-Q1, RCG reported Adjusted Net Loss USD 1,1B (EUR 907M), monthly cash burn ~USD 300M.

On March 12, 2020, NCLH (world's 3rd-largest cruise shipowner) borrowed USD 1,55 billion (~EUR 1,43B) via two loans - $675M (final payment Mar 2021) and $875M (maturity in Jan 2024). On May 6, NCLH successfully secured USD 2,225B of additional liquidity. The capital transactions (by Goldman Sachs) consisted of $400M (public offering of common equity/shareholders at 5,375%), $750M (exchangeable senior notes/bonds), $675M (senior secured notes/debt at 10.25%) and $400M (private investment from L Catterton/USA-based equity capital investment company).

  • For 2020-Q3, NCLH reported USD 1,5B gross proceeds ($288M public offering of common equity, $450M exchangeable senior notes, $750M senior secured notes), GAAP net loss $677,4M, Adjusted Net Loss USD 638,7M, Revenue $6,5M ($1,9B in 2019), Interest expenses $139,7M ($60,2M in 2019)
  • NCLH's average monthly cash burn rate was lowered to ~USD 190M/~EUR 150M (2020-Q4) and ~USD 160M (2020-H2) - excluding debts.
  • In mid-November 2020, NCLH issued 40 million common stocks ($20,80 per share) to raise USD 800M (5-month no-sail operations capital).
  • In December 2020, NCLH offered senior notes (5,875%, due 2026) for USD 850M, to be used for general corporate purposes.
  • For FY2020, NCLH reported total debt USD 11,8B (EUR 9,66B), liquidity ~$3,3B (EUR 2,7B/cash and cash equivalents), GAAP Net Loss $4B (EUR 3,275B), Adjusted Net Loss $2,2B (EUR 1,8B), Revenue USD 1,3B (80,2% decrease over 2019's $6,5B), 53,8% decrease in operating expenses (over FY2019), fuel expenses $264,7M, interest expenses $482,3M.
  • For 2021-Q1, NCLH reported total debt USD 12,2B, cash and cash equivalents $3,5 billion, average monthly cash burn ~$190M, GAAP net loss $1,4B (Earnings Per Share $4,16), Adjusted Net Loss $668,6M, 79,8% decrease in operating expenses (over 2020-Q1), interest expense $824,4M (US$68,9M in 2020).

On March 27, 2020, TUI AG (owner of 3 cruise companies - TUI, Marella UK, Hapag-Lloyd) loaned from KfW Bank (state-owned, Germany's 3rd-largest) EUR 1,8B (~USD 2,01B) to its existing credit - to total EUR 3,1B (cash and Revolving Credit Facility). Besides its cruise shipping services, TUI AG also temporarily suspended its flight-hotel- tour divisions' operations.

On April 9, 2020, CDC announced that 20 cruise liners currently docked/anchored in the USA have confirmed or suspected COVID crew cases. In the same statement, CDC extended its "No Sail Order" (officially CSO-"Conditional Sailing Order" regarding departures from the USA) through July 24 (including). Eventually, CSO was extended through August 2021, affecting the Alaskan season. Currently, CDC requires COVID vaccination for all passengers and crew but wearing masks is not mandatory now.

  • Carnival Corporation spends/burns monthly on no-sail operations ~USD 650 million. Carnival's global fleet includes the brands/subsidiaries AIDA, CCL-Carnival, Costa, Cunard, HAL-Holland America, P&O UK, P&O Australia, Princess, Seabourn.
  • RCG-Royal Caribbean spends/burns ~USD 250-290 million monthly on fleetwide no-sail operations. These expenses (operating plus administrative) were reduced from ~$400M after employment reduction (shipboard and ashore). RCG's global fleet includes the brands/subsidiaries RCI, Celebrity, Marella, Pullmantur, Silversea, TUI.
  • NCLH-Norwegian spends/burns ~USD 160 million monthly on fleetwide no-sail operations. NCLH's global fleet includes the brands/subsidiaries NCL-Norwegian, NCL America, Oceania, RSSC-Regent Seven Seas.
  • An MSC's no-sail month costs ~USD 180 million.
 

During the lay-up period, on the passenger-free cruise liners, the crew was allowed to use all public areas (including bars and restaurants) and also provided with free and unlimited Internet (available 24 hours).

  • "Cold lay-up" is shutting down the ship's onboard operations in order to cut costs. The non-employed vessel (out of service) is moored/anchored at a safe place (sheltered from bad weather) and awaiting new employment or charter.
  • "Worm/Hot lay-up" is when the out-of-service vessel can restart operations/reenter service at a short notice.

In 2020 (February 9 through December) to The Philippines were repatriated (via charter flights and marine vessels) a total of 95974 Filipino crew (29,3% of all the 327511 overseas working Filipinos).

For the period March 13, 2020, through February 28, 2022 (2 years!), Canada banned from its seaports all foreign-flagged passenger ships with passenger+crew capacity 100+. The ban affected both New England USA-Canada and Alaskan seasons for two years (!) as all non-USA-flagged cruise vessels are required (by USA's cabotage laws) to visit a foreign port along the itinerary.

  • In April 2021, Alaska State filed a lawsuit against CDC's CSO (no-sail order). In May, the lawsuit was joined by Florida and Texas. The lawsuit's purpose was for CSO to be dropped immediately, allowing companies to restart operations in the USA.
  • On May 13, 2021, the US Senate unanimously passed the bill HR1318 (Alaska Tourism Recovery Act) that allows foreign-flagged (large) ships to cruise out of Washington and stop at Alaskan ports bypassing the Canadian ports. The Bill was introduced on February 24 (by the Alaskan Congressman Don Young), unanimously passed by the US House of Representatives (Congress' lower house) on May 19, and signed into law by President Biden on May 24.
  • Since February 2021, Canada requires foreigners to self-quarantine for up to 3 days (at their own expense in Gov-designated hotels) while waiting for their COVID test results. The cost (~CAD 2000 pp) includes the hotel, meals, PCR test, security, hotel's cost to keep its staff safe.
  • Australia requires foreigners to self-quarantine at Gov-approved hotels for 14 days (AUD 2800 pp/AUD 4620 per 4-person family).
  • CLIA stats for 2019 (over 2016) showed the industry generated USD 4,25 billion (~CAD 5,405B) in economic activity in Canada (33% increase), supported ~29,000 Canadian jobs (26% increase) and paid USD 1,43B (~CAD 1,82B) in wages (43% increase).

New Zealand banned cruise vessels through May 29, 2021. Australia banned ships with capacity 100+ passengers through June 17, 2021. Norway banned Norwegian coastal and Svalbard cruises through May 1, 2021.

CLIA member companies (all major cruise brands) suspended departures from US ports initially through Sept 15, then through October 31, November 20, and eventually through December 31. According to CLIA stats, in 2018 the industry generated ~USD 53+ billion (economic activities), supported 421,000+ jobs in the USA, with every 30th cruiser (from US ports) supporting 1 American job. CLIA's stats for 2019 show that the industry sustained ~1,166 million jobs equaling USD 50,53 billion (wages and salaries) and USD 154,5 billion total output worldwide. According to CLIA, one day of cruise suspension in the USA results in a loss of ~USD 110 million (in economic activities) and ~1000 American jobs. The March-November cruise pause resulted in USD 25+ billion loss (economic activities) and 164,000+ lost American jobs.

Due to canceled homeporting between March-September 2020, Florida reportedly lost ~USD 3,2 billion (~EUR 2,73B) in economic activities, ~49500 jobs, ~USD 2,3 billion (EUR 1,96B) in wages. Florida has some of the world's largest cruise ports (Miami, Port Everglades, Port Canaveral, Tampa). On July 1, 2021, takes effect Florida's "Senate Bill 2006", that also prohibits state-based businesses, schools and Gov agencies to require COVID vaccine passports from customers/employees.

In June 2020, Pullmantur Cruceros (joint-venture owned by Cruises Investment Holding and RCG-Royal Caribbean) filed for a supervised reorganization/bankruptcy under Spain's insolvency laws. According to unofficial information, Pullmantur's 3 liners will be dismantled at Aliaga Ship Breaking Yard (Turkey).

In May 2020, Carnival Corporation announced plans to sell (including for scrapping) 6 "less efficient ships" in 2020. In July, the number grew to 13 (~9% reduction in fleet's passenger capacity), in September - to 18 (12% fleet reduction). Between 2006-2018, Carnival sold/exited 28 liners. Carnival expected only 5 of all 9 newbuilds (2020-2021) to be delivered as planned, and also delayed deliveries of all scheduled for 2022-2023 newbuilds.

In July 2020, Carnival Corporation reported operating costs reduction by USD 7+ billion, capital expenditures reduction by $5+ billion (2020-Q2 through FY2021), additional liquidity $10+ billion, $1,3B savings for FY2020 (from reduced administrative expenses and non-newbuild expenditures) and newbuild capital expenditures (FY2020) reduction by $600+ million. Officially, Carnival reported an average monthly cash burn (for 2020-H2) of ~$650 million. In June 2020, ~60% of the global fleet's 2021 bookings were new, with the remaining ~40% being rebooking with FCCs (credits from canceled voyages).

In late-July 2020, FT Group (German travel company) announced shutting down its branch FTI Cruises (MS Berlin ship) effectively on November 1.

On July 3, 2020, Kleven Verft AS (shipbuilding yard in Ulsteinvik Norway) filed for bankruptcy protection. Due to financial difficulties, in 2017 the shipyard was sold to Hurtigruten (Norway), then in January 2020 to DIV Group (Croatia).

On July 6, 2020, the Eckero Line (Finland)-owned subsidiary Birka Cruises was shut down. The brand's only cruise ship Birka Stockholm (2004-built) operated the Sweden-Finland route Stockholm-Mariehamn Aland. ~500 employees (mainly crew) lost their jobs. Birka Stockholm is planned for drydock conversion.

On July 20, 2020, CMV's parent company SQTL (South Quay Travel & Leisure Ltd) filed for bankruptcy. The UK-based SQTL traded as "Cruise and Maritime Voyages" (trademarked brand). In June, SQTL-CMV entered into emergency talks with potential investors and lenders but failed to secure funding. In October, all the 5x CMV ships (SQTL-owned) were sold at an auction in London.

As of July 31, 2020, GHK-Genting Hong Kong Ltd reported USD 3,4 billion in cash and cash equivalents. As of April 3, the Malaysian-Chinese billionaire Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay owned 69% of GHK. GHK (1965-founded) is a Hong Kong China-based holding company that operates cruise, shipbuilding and resort businesses, and also owns Dream Cruises, Star Cruises, Crystal Cruises, MV Werften's shipyards in Germany (Papenburg, Rostock) and Finland (Meyer Turku).

On August 20, 2020, GHK suspended all payments to creditors, triggering a 58% drop in its shares. For 2020-H1, GHK reported a net loss of USD 687,1 million ($55,2M for 2019-H1) after suspending cruise shipping (March-December) and shipbuilding (March-October) operations due to the Coronavirus crisis. GHK applied for long-term funding from Germany's Federal Government (Economic Stabilization Fund) and started seeking an equity partner (private equity firm/investment management company) or debt funding (by private investors) for a stake in Crystal Cruises (ultra-luxury brand). In early-October was announced that GHK will receive EUR 193M (~USD 227M) from the German Government as a bailout for the MV Werften shipyards.

In mid-October 2020, Jalesh Cruises India (2019-founded with one-ship/MS Karnika) went bankrupt.

In early-November 2020, AIDA Cruises applied for a EUR 400 million loan from WSF/Wirtschaftsstablisierungsfonds (German Government's Economic Stabilisation Fund).

In Europe, several intercountry ferry routes were suspended and major seaports closed through July. Large ferry companies announced job redundancies (shipboard and offshore job furloughs) due to drop in Baltic Sea's passenger shipping traffic.

Eventually, all cruise shipping companies canceled their remaining 2020 schedules. New ships under construction (planned for deliveries in 2020-2021) were delayed due to shipyard closures and reduced staff. Those included Odyssey OTS, Wonder OTS, P&O Iona, Carnival Mardi Gras, Enchanted Princess, Celebrity Apex, Costa Firenze, Crystal Endeavor. Shipbuilding orders were postponed or canceled. Older (30+ years of age) vessels were retired from the fleets - most were sold to smaller and new companies, many were scrapped. Companies' shore-based staff was largely reduced (RIF/laid-off), the majority of ship crew contracts were terminated and the crew repatriated.

On May 19, 2021, the European Union reopened its borders to vaccinated non-EU tourists.

New shipboard safety rules

On July 2, 2020, was released the European Union's 49-page document "Interim Guidance for Restarting Cruise Operations". It recommends new safety protocols (approved by CLIA) including:

  • EU Monitoring (worldwide epidemiological situation, rules, travel restrictions)
  • approved contingency (COVID-19 outbreak management) plan, adequate onboard testing capacity and crew training
  • arrangements for onboard medical treatments and ashore ambulance services
  • arrangements (repatriation, onboard quarantine of close contacts, onboard isolation of asymptomatic passengers)
  • reporting to the next scheduled cruise port of any possible cases
  • reduced ship capacity (passengers and crew), no indoor swimming pools, no self-service buffet dining
  • onboard physician (resident doctor and nurse on the ship)

Using face masks is required (by both pax and crew) on buses, during boarding, in the ship's Casino, Infirmary, elevators, hallways/corridors.

Forced social/physical distancing (at least 5 ft / 1,5 m from each other) to be maintained during boarding, at waiting areas and transport stations. Enhanced shipboard hygiene measures include handwashing with soap or alcohol-based liquids (containing min 60% ethanol or 70% Isopropyl alcohol/isopropanol).

In early-August 2020, MSC released a video about its new health and safety protocols.

 

In late-January 2021, Saga Cruises became the world's first passenger shipping company to require COVID vaccination (done at least 14 days prior departure) for all customers.

Coronavirus cruise ship outbreaks 2020

Note: If even one crew on a cruise liner is tested Coronavirus-positive, on the vessel are immediately implemented the following emergency safety rules.

  • All staff-crew are transferred from their cabins (usually with double-quad occupancy) to passenger staterooms (cabins located on decks above the crew deck) and accommodated one person per room.
  • Only on-duty crew are allowed to leave the staterooms - the rest must remain isolated.
  • Smoking anywhere on the ship is forbidden.
  • Food, water, linens and toilet paper are delivered to the staterooms upon request. Food-beverage items are ordered from a menu via cabin TV's infotainment system.
  • The Infirmary (served by a nurse on 24-hour duty) must be called immediately after experiencing flu-like symptoms (dry coughing, high fever, breathing difficulties).
  • Temperature screenings are conducted twice daily (in the staterooms).

According to a USCG/Coast Guard report issued on April 4th, in or near the USA's territorial waters were a total of 114 cruise ships carrying mainly crew (~93,000). Another 41 liners (with ~41000 crew) were en-route and close to the USA. On April 6, 2021, CDC updated its regulations for disembarked cruise passenger transportation - those without (or experience only mild) symptoms should be disembarked in the USA as quickly as possible and immediately repatriated (via chartered flights) or bussed back home (via private transportation). Using commercial flights and public transportation is not allowed anymore.

According to CDC's July-issued "No-Sail Order" (20-page document), between March 1 and July 10, 80% of the cruise ships in the CDC jurisdiction were affected by COVID-19, with ~3000 cases (suspected and confirmed) and 34 deaths on cruise vessels in the USA's territorial waters.

(Cruise Line) Ship(Dates) ItinerarySick Passengers-Crew

(SeaDream Yachts) SeaDream 1

(November) 7-day Caribbean roundtrip from Bridgetown Barbados

7 passengers (out of 53), 2 crew (out of 66)

(Nicko Cruises) MS Frederic Chopin

(October) Havel River cruise roundtrip from Potsdam

10 crew

(Ponant) Le Jacques Cartier

(Oct-Nov) 7-day Mediterranean roundtrip from Marseille France

3 passengers (out of 73), 10 crew (out of 92)

(Scylla Cruises) Swiss Crystal

(October 10-17, music-themed) 7-night Danube and Main river cruise from Passau to Frankfurt

60 passengers (out of 92)

(Costa Cruises) Costa Diadema

(October) 7-day Mediterranean from Genoa

7 passengers

(Aranui Cruises) Aranui 5

(September) 12-day French Polynesia roundtrip from Papeete Tahiti

7 crew (out of 64)

(CroisiEurope) Vasco de Gama

(September) 7-day Douro River cruise from Oporto, Portugal

5 crew (out of 20), 2 passengers (out of 67)

(Hurtigruten) Roald Amundsen

(July) 7-day Svalbard cruise from Tromso Norway

42 crew (out of 162), 29 passengers (out of 170)

(TUI) Mein Schiff 1

(July) 3-day "Blue Cruise" / cruise to nowhere from Kiel Germany

5 crew

(Royal Caribbean) Adventure Of The Seas

(May) in Falmouth Jamaica, while repatriating RCI's Caribbean crew

19 crew out of 1044

(TUI) Mein Schiff 3

(May) while docked in Cuxhaven, Germany

9 crew out of 2899!

(NCL) Norwegian Gem

(April) while anchored off Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas

2 crew deaths

(Costa Asia) Costa Atlantica

(April) while docked in Nagasaki Japan

149 crew (out of 623)

(Celebrity Cruises Galapagos) Celebrity Flora

(April) while anchored off Seymour Island (Galapagos Islands, Ecuador)

48 crew (out of 69)

(Costa Cruises) Costa Fascinosa

(April) while docked in Santos Brazil

43 crew (out of 764), including 3 deaths

(Fred Olsen) Black Watch

(April) while anchored in Firth of Forth, Scotland

10 crew

(Marella Cruises) Marella Explorer 2

(March-April) while in the Caribbean

19 passengers, 4 crew, 1 passenger death

(NCL America) Pride of America

(April) while docked at homeport Honolulu Hawaii

7 crew

(Aurora Expeditions) Greg Mortimer

(March 14 - April 5) 21day South Georgia and Antarctica roundtrip from Ushuaia Argentina

128 passengers (incl 1 death), 37 crew

(Pullmantur) Horizon

(April 4) while quarantined/docked in Dubai, with 250 staff-crew, no passengers

~125 crew (50% of all)

(Princess Cruises) Coral Princess

(March 31) while docked in Bridgetown Barbados

15 (5 crew, 10 passengers, incl 3 deaths), another 67 (29 passengers + 38 crew) remained quarantined onboard

(Disney Cruise Line) Disney Wonder

(March 6-20) 14day Panama Canal from NOLA to San Diego

1 passenger, 46 crew (unofficially ~200 crew, 3 passenger deaths)

(Celebrity Cruises) Celebrity Solstice

(March 20) debarkation in Sydney NSW

20 passengers (including 1 death)

(Royal Caribbean) Voyager Of The Seas

(March 31) while anchored off Kembla (NSW Australia)

5 crew, 35 passengers (including 1 death)

(Celebrity Cruises) Celebrity Eclipse

(March 31) upon debarkation in San Diego CA

5 passengers, 63 crew, including 3 passenger deaths

(Royal Caribbean) Symphony Of The Seas

(March-April) while anchored off Coco Cay, Bahamas

32 crew, including 1 death

(Royal Caribbean) Oasis Of The Seas

(March-April) while anchored at Coco Cay Island, Bahamas

17 crew, including 3 crew deaths

(Celebrity Cruises) Celebrity Apex

(March-April) the newbuild ship was docked at Chantiers de l'Atlantique Shipyard (Saint-Nazaire, France) with 1407 crew onboard

224 crew

(Phoenix Reisen) Artania

(March 28) debarkation in Fremantle Australia

89 (crew+pax), including 1 crew death and 3 passenger deaths

(Celebrity Cruises) Celebrity Infinity

(March 23) two days after debarkation in Tampa Florida

3 crew (incl 1 death)

(Royal Caribbean) Ovation Of The Seas

(March 11-18) 7day New Zealand from Sydney Australia

32 passengers, plus 79 (after debarkation)

(Holland America) Zaandam

(March 7-21) 14day South America (Argentina-Chile) from Buenos Aires to San Antonio

4 passenger deaths, plus 14 confirmed cases (13 passengers + 1 crew), 250 non-confirmed cases (107 passengers + 143 crew / with flu-like symptoms)

(MSC Cruises) MSC Opera

Since March 10, the liner is quarantined in Port Genoa (Italy).

8 crew

(Princess Cruises) Ruby Princess

(March 8-21) 14day New Zealand from Sydney NSW

852 (passengers plus crew), including 22 passenger deaths, ship quarantine in Australia

(Costa Cruises) Costa Magica

(March 13-20) 7day Caribbean from Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe

3 passengers, 7 crew

(Costa Cruises) Costa Favolosa

(March 9-16) 7day Caribbean from La Romana, Dominican Republic

3 passengers, 10 crew (incl 1 death)

(Silversea) Silver Shadow

(March 7-27) 20day South America and Caribbean from Rio de Janeiro to Fort Lauderdale

2 passengers (incl 1 death), ship quarantine in Recife Brazil

(Costa Cruises) Costa Luminosa

(March 5-22) 17day Caribbean and Transatlantic from Fort Lauderdale to Naples

46 passengers (incl 2 deaths), 48 crew (incl 1 death)

(Princess) Grand Princess

(Feb 21 - Mar 7) 15day Hawaii and Mexico from San Francisco CA

132 (including 7 deaths), ship quarantine off San Francisco

(Princess) Diamond Princess

(February) 8day Japan and Taiwan cruises from Yokohama-Tokyo

outbreak with 712 infected (including 14 deaths), ship quarantine in Port Yokohama

(GHK-Dream Cruises) World Dream

(January 19-24) 5day China to Vietnam, roundtrip from Nansha-Guangzhou

12 passengers, ship quarantine in Hong Kong

On March 19, Carnival Corporation, in a press release, offered its permanently docked at ports cruise liners (during the lockdown period) to be used as hospitals for treating non-Coronavirus patients (not as quarantine facilities). These large liners have a minimum cabin capacity of 1000 (per vessel). Each stateroom has an en-suite bathroom (shower-washbasin-toilet) and can be quickly fitted with various medical and remote monitoring equipment (cardiac, respiratory, oxygen saturation, CCTV). All onboard operations (machinery maintenance, food and beverages, cleaning services) are provided by the staff and crew already on the vessel. Carnival stated that the monthly cost per vessel is ~USD 1 million (prolonged ship layup) and ~USD 2-3 million (warm ship layup). "Prolonged layup" means the vessel is manned by a reduced crew, which lowers operational costs but adds time (1-2 weeks at least) to restart service. "Warm layup" means the vessel remains fully crewed and operational.

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Coronavirus Line Updates

AIDA Cruises

AIDA Cruises suspended its entire fleet's passenger shipping operations (all liners) canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 14, 2020, through late-April 2021. Operations temporarily resumed on October 17 with AIDAblu (7-day Mediterranean from Civitavecchia-Rome, through Nov 28) and fleetwide on November 1. However, on Oct 29, due to Germany's imposed public life and travel restrictions, AIDA canceled all voyages through Nov 30. AIDAperla and AIDAmar were scheduled for 7-day ex-Gran Canaria roundtrips (in the Canaries) starting December 5, but the program was canceled. AIDAprima's Dubai 2021 winter program was canceled.

Initially, as exceptions were announced the ships Perla (Aug 12, from Hamburg), Diva (Aug 15, from Warnemunde-Rostock) and Prima (Aug 15, from Kiel). However, these departures were canceled as the flag-state (Italy) delayed its approval for the restart. Eventually, AIDA extended its passenger shipping pause through May 2021 (fleetwide thru July).

Next are listed all AIDA shps and their first departure dates/regions in 2021 - AIDAperla (Mar 20/Canaries), AIDAnova (July 10/Baltic from Kiel), AIDAsol (May 22/cruises to nowhere from Kiel), AIDAmar (July 8/Baltic from Warnemunde), AIDAblu (May 30/Greece from Corfu), AIDAluna (July 22/Iceland-Norway from Kiel), AIDAstella (July 29/Mediterranean from Palma de Majorca), AIDAprima (July 10/cruises to nowhere from Kiel), AIDAaura (July 10/Iceland-Greenland from Bremerhaven), AIDAcara (October 23/repositioning Dubai to Singapore), AIDAdiva (July 10/Baltic from Warnemunde), AIDAvita (July 15/Baltic from Warnemunde), AIDAmira (August 6/Mediterranean from Heraklion Crete), AIDAbella (July 11/Norway from Kiel), AIDAcosma (December 22/repositioning Hamburg to Las Palmas, Canaries/Maiden Voyage).

  • In early-June 2020 AIDA canceled all Canada and USA voyages scheduled for 2020. The latest cancellation affected 2 liners - AIDAluna (homeported in NYC) and AIDAdiva (departures from NYC and Montreal).
  • On July 9, 2020, AIDA announced that will restart operations with three liners and "cruises to nowhere" - roundtrips from Germany on Baltic Sea itineraries that don't have transit/call ports. In the meantime, if some seaports reopen for cruise vessels, these destinations could be eventually included in the itinerary. These "nowhere cruise ships" are AIDAperla (August 12 / 3-nights from Hamburg), AIDAmar (August 12, from Warnemunde) and AIDAblu (August 16 / 4-nights from Kiel). Bookings were opened on July 9.
  • In late-November 2020 AIDA canceled all departures on AIDAprima (from Dubai) and AIDAstella (from Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Spain) planned for December 1, 2020, through January 26, 2021.
  • In June 2021 was canceled AIDAcosma's Arabian season (Dubai homeporting) and replaced with Canary Islands/7-day roundtrips from Tenerife and Gran Canaria).

All affected bookings received full refunds, including on prepurchased through AIDA packages and services. For the period, all the company's employees had the options to either remain onboard or leave the vessel and return home (without terminating the job contract with AIDA Kreuzfahrten). All affected bookings received 110% refund in FCC (future cruise credit). The FCC can be used for rebooking on any cruise ship / itinerary (fleetwide) with departure through December 31, 2021. The FCC is redeemable for MyAIDA (pre-purchasing shore excursions, onboard specialty dining and wellness services) or can be transferred to OBC (onboard credit).

AmaWaterways

APT River Cruises suspended its entire fleet's passenger shipping operations (all boats of the brands AMAwaterways and TravelMarvel) canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 14, 2020, through early-July 2021. Operations were planned to resume on November 1, 2020, excepting the AmaStella boat (July 2020), but in mid-October was canceled the entire 2020 season.

All affected bookings received 115% refund (with rebooking) or 100% monetary refund. AMAwaterways offers (for a limited time) special provisions which allow guests with new or existing bookings to purchase "AmaWaterways Travel Waiver Plus" which provides cancellation for any reason, up to 24 hours prior to the start of the booked services (cruise, land extensions, hotels, flights, etc).

The affected APT Tours (River or Ocean cruises) bookings can be rebooked up to 14 days prior departure, with refunds in FCC (Future Cruise Credit). The FCC can be used in either 2020, 2021 or 2022, with a change fee of GBP 125 per person.

In May 2021, AMA announced that the company's operations start on July 3 (AmaDouro boat/Douro River Portugal), July 21 (AmaMagna/Danube River), July 22 in France (AmaKristina on Rhone River, and AmaLyra on Seine River), July 27 (AmaVida/Douro River) and July 29 (AmaDolce on Garonne River France, and AmaSiena on Rhine River). Fleetwide operations are currently planned to restart in August 2021.

PROMO OFFER: In mid-May, 2020, AmaWaterways announced a promotional campaign by offering complimentary river cruises to frontline personnel (first responders, medical, essential service employees). The offer is via free FCC (Future Cruise Certificate/Credit) that can be used on any European or Asian itinerary with departure through December 31, 2021. For making these FCC reservations are needed only valid ID and one paying passenger (in the same stateroom). Promo bookings also must be made within 90 days prior departure.

American Cruise Lines

ACL-American Cruise Lines suspended its entire fleet's passenger shipping operations (all vessels) canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 14, 2020, through May 2021.

Fleetwide operations are planned to resume on the following dates (by ship) in 2021.

  • MS Independence (May 1 from Charleston SC)
  • MS America (May 4 from New Orleans)
  • Queen of the Mississippi (May 1 from Memphis TN)
  • Queen of the West (May 15 from Clarkston WA)
  • American Star (May 8 from Charleston SC)
  • American Song (May 9 from Clarkston MI)
  • American Pride (May 1 from Portland OR)
  • American Constellation (May 7/Alaska from Seattle WA)
  • American Constitution (May 10 from Boston)
  • American Spirit (May 8/Alaska from Seattle WA)
  • American Harmony (May 1 from New Orleans)
  • American Jazz (May 2 from New Orleans)

ACL boats initially operate with reduced (75% of the max) passenger capacity. All affected bookings were fully refunded (100% monetary refund). With rebooking is offered 125% FCC (Future Cruise Credit) based on the fares paid for the canceled cruises. The FCC must be used before December 31, 2021.

American Queen Steamboat Company

AQSC suspended its entire fleet's passenger shipping operations (all riverboats) by canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 14, 2020, through May 2021. Fleet operations are currently planned to resume on the following dates in 2021 (by ship).

  • American Duchess (May 3 from Louisville)
  • American Empress (May 4 from Clarkston)
  • American Countess (May 14 from Memphis)
  • American Queen (May 23 from Memphis)
  • (Victory Cruise Lines ships) Victory I and Victory II (May 1)

Previously, passenger shipping operations were planned to resume on August 2 (American Empress), August 8 (American Countess, American Queen) and August 16 (American Duchess). All affected bookings received a full refund (100% cash) or 125% refund as FCC (future cruise credit) with rebooking. Any booking may move to another departure date in 2020 and their current cancellation penalty applies to the new departure date. The new booking must be of equal or greater value and the customer is responsible for any increase in fare. AQSC covers flight change fees for all immediately rebooking customers.

The AQSC-owned company "Victory Cruise Lines" also suspended passenger shipping operations. The Victory 1 ship cruises were initially cancelled through June 30, 2020 (planned to resume on July 5), while the Victory 2 ship cruises scheduled for 2020 were all cancelled. In late-May, AQSC also cancelled the entire 2020 program of Victory 1. Victory Cruise Line's suspension was due to Canadia's travel restrictions. All affected bookings received a full monetary refund (100%) or 125% refund as FCC with rebooking.

Arosa Cruises

A-Rosa Cruises suspended its entire fleet's passenger shipping operations (all riverboats) by canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 14, 2020, through early-July 2021.

Operations were planned to resume in 2020 on Rhine River (June 17), Danube River (June 20), French rivers (July 11) and Douro River (October 28). Eventually, all river cruises (Douro-Danube-Rhine) scheduled for 2020 were canceled. Two riverboats (Luna and Viva) were canceled thru March 2022.

All affected bookings received full refunds, including on prepurchased through A-ROSA Flusskreuzfahrten packages and services. With rebooking were offered EUR 50 pp in OBC (onboard credit) plus 30% discount on a future Arosa cruise booking.

 

Avalon Waterways

Avalon Waterways suspended its entire fleet's passenger shipping operations (all riverboats) by canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 14, 2020, through early-July 2021. Operations were planned to resume on October 1, 2020, but the fleet's pause was eventually extended through 2021 July (Europe and Asia).

All affected Avalon river cruise and cruisetour bookings received a full (100%) monetary refund, including on prepurchased through Avalon Waterways packages and services.

Azamara Cruises

Azamara canceled all cruises with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 13, 2020, through September 2021. Operations are currently planned to resume in 2021 with the ships PURSUIT (Sept 28/Greek Islands from Piraeus-Athens), QUEST (Oct 9/Mediterranean from Civitavecchia-Rome), JOURNEY (Oct 13/Greece from Piraeus-Athens).

All affected bookings received full refunds (100%), including on prepurchased through Azamara cruise packages and services. With rebooking are offered 125% refunds in FCC (future cruise credit) to be used on itineraries that depart up to Sept 30, 2022. The FCC must be redeemed by April 30, 2022. Changing the FCC to a monetary refund (100%) must be done by May 20, 2021. Azamara's Cancellation Policy was extended to allow penalty-free cancellations up to 48 hours prior departure (all officially canceled itineraries) and receive an FCC.

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line suspended its fleet's passenger shipping operations (both vessels) by canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures between March 15, 2020, and May 31, 2021.

Grand Classica ship was planned to restart mini-cruises to Grand Bahama Island (Freeport) on December 18, 2020. Grand Celebration ship was scheduled to restart voyages to Bahamas (Nassau) on March 3, 2021. However, these plans were canceled and both vessels remain out of service, and later Grand Celebration was scrapped. Bahamas Paradise ships were intended to operate at 60% max passenger capacity, by closing two cabin decks on each liner.

The company currently plans to resume the USA-Bahamas service on June 2, 2021, with Grand Classica.

All affected bookings received a full (100%) monetary refund, including on prepurchased through the company packages and services. A 125% refund in FCC (future cruise credit) was given with rebooking.

Carnival Cruise Line

CCL-Carnival Cruise Line suspended its fleet's passenger shipping operations by canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 13, 2020, through June 30, 2021. Cruise shipping services are currently planned to resume on July 1, 2021.

Next are listed CCL-Carnival's first departure dates by ship/homeport in 2021 - MARDI GRAS (Aug 7/Port Canaveral/Maiden Voyage), PANORAMA (Aug 7/Long Beach LA), HORIZON (July 4/Miami), VISTA (July 3/Galveston Texas), BREEZE (July 15/Galveston Texas), MAGIC (Nov 6/Port Canaveral), DREAM (Aug 8/Galveston), SPLENDOR (Sept 25/Sydney Australia), FREEDOM (Oct 15/Miami), LIBERTY (Aug 2/Port Canaveral), VALOR (Nov 1/NOLA New Orleans), MIRACLE (July 27/Alaska from Seattle), GLORY (Aug 1/NOLA New Orleans), LEGEND (Nov 14/Baltimore to Bermuda), CONQUEST (Aug 2/Miami), SPIRIT (Sept 19/Brisbane Australia), PRIDE (Aug 1/Baltimore to Caribbean), RADIANCE (Nov 5/Long Beach LA), SUNRISE (Aug 5/Miami), ELATION (Aug 2/Port Canaveral), PARADISE (Nov 2/Tampa), SUNSHINE (Aug 2/Charleston SC), SENSATION (Aug 2/Mobile Alabama), ECSTASY (Aug 5/Jacksonville FL).

The 2020-built Mardi Gras ship's inaugural cruise (Caribbean from Port Canaveral) was rescheduled from April 24 to May 29, then June 5, July 3, Oct 2. Carnival Legend's Europe 2021 program (May 17 - October 31/Mediterranean from Barcelona) was canceled. Carnival's 2021 Alaska from Seattle (Freedom) and Alaska from San Francisco (Miracle) programs were both canceled. All Carnival ship relocation voyages (RepositionCruises.com) in 2021 were canceled.

Carnival Radiance (fka Carnival Victory) restarts from Long Beach (3-4-night Catalina Island and Ensenada) on November 5.

Carnival Australia ships restart cruises on July 8 (Splendor/from Sydney NSW) and Sept 19 (Spirit/from Brisbane QLD). CCL's newest boat (Carnival Celebration) has a Maiden Voyage scheduled for Nov 6, 2022 (Transatlantic from Southampton to Miami).

Due to scheduled drydock refurbishments, the ships Magic (from Port Canaveral), Paradise (from Tampa) and Valor (from NOLA-New Orleans) start voyages on November 6.

  • Carnival Magic's cruises from Miami (March-May), from Norfolk VA (to Bermuda and Caribbean/May-June and September-November) and from NYC (Canada New England and Eastern Caribbean/June-September) were canceled.
  • Carnival Paradise's Western Caribbean roundtrips from Tampa (March 19 through November 1) were all canceled.
  • Carnival Valor's Western Caribbean roundtrips from NOLA (April 29 through November 1) were all canceled.

All affected bookings received full monetary refunds (100%), including on prepurchased through CCL packages and services. With rebooking (must be made by May 31, 2021), refunds are in FCC (future cruise credit) transferred to the new booking. Cruises 5-day or shorter receive a full monetary refund or a 100% refund in FCC plus USD 300 in OBC (onboard credit) per stateroom. Cruises 6-day and longer receive a full monetary refund or a 100% FCC plus USD 600 in OBC per stateroom.  Booking cancelations prior to the final payment are penalty-free - unless the booking was on a specific promo offer with a non-refundable deposit and/or cruise fare.

Celebrity Cruises

RCG-Royal Caribbean Group (shipowner) suspended its entire fleet's passenger shipping operations (RCI-Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity, Silversea, Azamara) worldwide by canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 13, 2020, through June 30, 2021. Fleetwide operations are planned to resume on July 1, 2021, including Celebrity Galapagos cruises.

Next are listed all Celebrity ships and their first scheduled departure dates/regions in 2021 - APEX (June 19/Mediterranean), BEYOND (April 27, 2022/Maiden Voyage-Europe), CONSTELLATION (Nov 7/Caribbean), ECLIPSE (October 18/Australia-New Zealand from Sydney), EDGE (June 26/Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale), EQUINOX (July 4/Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale), INFINITY (Aug 2/Mediterranean), MILLENNIUM (June 5/Caribbean from Philipsburg St Maarten), REFLECTION (Aug 11/Europe-Baltic from Amsterdam), SILHOUETTE (Sept 4/Europe-Baltic from Southampton), SOLSTICE (September 26/Asia-Japan from Yokohama), SUMMIT (July 23/Alaska to Seattle). Celebrity Cruises Galapagos ships and their restart dates in 2021 are Flora (July 4), Xpedition (July 24), Xploration (Sept 18).

Celebrity's Australia and New Zealand 2020-2021 winter program was canceled (affected ships Eclipse and Solstice, both homeported in Sydney NSW and Auckland NZ). All Celebrity repositioning cruises in 2021 (Alaska, Panama Canal, Transatlantic) were canceled. The ships Edge and Constellation's European schedules (May-November 2021) were canceled. Celebrity's Alaskan program (ships Eclipse from Vancouver, Solstice from Seattle) was canceled.

All affected bookings received full refunds (100%), including on prepurchased through Celebrity Cruises packages and services. The refunds were in FCC (Future Cruise Credit) to be used on itineraries that depart up to April 30, 2022. The FCC must be redeemed by December 31, 2021. Changing the FCC to a monetary refund (100%) must be done by December 31, 2020. Celebrity's Cancellation Policy was extended to allow penalty-free cancellations up to 48 hours prior departure (all itineraries departing up until September 1, 2020 / initially through July 31) and receive an FCC.

Celestyal Cruises

Celestyal Cruises suspended its fleet's passenger shipping operations (all vessels) by canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures for the period March 14, 2020, through late-May 2021. Operations were planned to start on July 31 (Celestyal Olympia ship). In late-June, Celestyal canceled its entire 2020 program and planned the restart for March 6, 2021 (Celestyal Crystal ship). The company currently plans to restart cruises on May 29, 2021, with Celestyal Crystal. Celestyal Olympia ship is scheduled to restart on June 28, Celestyal Experience - on September 3.

All affected bookings received full refunds (100% cash), including on prepurchased through Celestyal packages and services. With rebooking is offered 120% refund in FCC (future cruise credit) transferred to the new booking. The FCC is redeemable until December 31, 2021. For rebooking are open all Celestyal Cruises itineraries scheduled through December 31, 2023. The FCC voucher is sent directly to the customer or the travel agency. If the FCC is not redeemed, upon the voucher's expiration date (December 31, 2021) the customer automatically receives a 100% cash refund.

The company also extended its cancellation policy to allow any Celestyal cruise booking made between March 9 and June 30, 2020 (all 2020-2021 itineraries) to be canceled up to 7 days prior departure without penalty fees. As a promo offer, all bookings made between October 19 and November 30 (2020) received complimentary travel insurance (Allianz Global Assistance). The insurance included coverage of all medical expenses (also Coronavirus-associated), transportation cost (to the nearest hospital), travel costs (to the next call port), return to home travel expenses, reimbursement for any unused portion of the voyage. Cancellation coverage is optional (at extra cost).

Costa Cruises

Costa Cruises suspended its fleet's passenger shipping operations by canceling all Italy-visiting voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 9 through October 1, 2020. Operations were planned to resume on August 21 (ship Pacifica), with 5x ships only. In early-December was canceled the remaining 2020 program. Fleetwide passenger shipping is currently planned to resume in early-June 2021.

Next are listed Costa Cruises' first scheduled departure dates by ship/destination in 2021 - Smeralda (May 1/Mediterranean), Luminosa (May 16/Mediterranean-Trieste), Deliziosa (June 26/Mediterranean-Venice-Bari), Pacifica (Sept 20/Mediterranean-Cagliari Sardinia), Favolosa (Oct 1/Mediterranean-Savona), Magica (Oct 15/Mediterranean-Savona), Diadema (Sept 22/Mediterranean-Savona), Fascinosa (Sept 23/Mediterranean-Savona), Fortuna (Oct 9/Mediterranean-Savona), Firenze (July 4/Inaugural Cruise/Mediterranean), Venezia (July 3/Asia-Tianjin China), Serena (July 30/Asia-Japan), Mediterranea (Nov 13/Asia-Singapore), Toscana (Dec 26/Inaugural Cruise/South Amrica-Santos Brazil). Costa's Baltic 2021 program (ships Diadema, Fascinosa, Favolosa, Fortuna) was canceled.

With rebooking, all affected bookings received full refunds (100%) in FCC (future cruise credit), including on prepurchased through Costa Cruises packages and services.

On August 13, Costa announced that its cruise operations start in September 2020 with two ships - Costa Deliziosa (Sept 6, from Trieste) and Costa Diadema (Sept 21, from Genoa). These voyages were for Italian citizens-only and 7-day roundtrips visiting only ports in Italy - Deliziosa (to Bari, Brindisi, Corigliano-Rossano and Sicily - Siracusa and Catania) and Diadema (to Civitavecchia-Rome, Naples, Cagliari Sardinia, Palermo Sicily, La Spezia). A 3rd liner (Costa Smeralda, departure October 10) was added with 7-day roundtrips from Savona to Genoa, La Spezia, Cagliari Sardinia, Naples, Messina Sicily and Civitavecchia-Rome.

In early-September was cancelled Costa's South America 2020-2021 (November-April) deployment (Fascinosa, Luminosa, Pacifica). Costa's South America 2021-2022 program (December-April) is based on two ships/homeports - Costa Favolosa (out of Santos) and Costa Pacifica (from Rio de Janeiro). In late-October 2020 was cancelled Favolosa's Caribbean 2020-2021 program based on homeporting in Pointe-a-Pitre (Guadeloupe).

In mid-June 2020, Carnival Corporation (shipowner) sold Costa Victoria to San Giorgio del Porto (shipyard in Genoa Italy). The new shipowner soon sold the vessel for scrapping (in Piombino Italy).

CroisiEurope

CroisiEurope suspended its entire fleet's passenger shipping operations (all vessels - ocean and riverboats) by canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 14, 2020, through late-June 2021.

Operations were planned to resume in July-August 2020, with the following restarting dates - July 13 (Seine River), July 16 (Rhone River, Burgundy Canal barges), July 20 (Rhine River), July 26 (Mediterranean / Corsica Island via CroisiMer), July 31 (Loire River, Danube River), August 3 (Elbe River), August 7 (Douro River Portugal), August 13 (Croatia Adriatic Sea cruises via CroisiMer), August 26 (Gironde River). However, in October, all November-December 2020 departures fleetwide (Europe-Asia-Africa) were canceled.

All affected bookings received a full (100%) monetary refund. For new bookings, CroisiEurope allows penalty-free cancellation up to 30 days prior departure - excluding booking fees and any ancillary charges.

Cruise and Maritime Voyages

IMPORTANT: On July 20, 2020, the CMV's parent company SQTL (South Quay Travel & Leisure Ltd) was placed into administration / filed for bankruptcy. The UK-based company traded as "Cruise and Maritime Voyages" (trademarked brand).

  • SQTL-CMV's cruisetour packages are protected by ABTA (number V9945). SQTL-CMV's fly-cruise packages are protected by ATOL (number 4619). All CMV cruise bookings (fleetwide/all ships) are effectively cancelled.
  • In June, SQTL-CMV entered into emergency talks with potential investors and lenders. Unfortunately, the company's efforts to secure funding and stay afloat during the Coronavirus crisis failed. The future of the CMV ships (some SQTL-owned, some chartered) remained unknown.
  • (CRUISE SHIPS FOR SALE) All CMV ships were placed on the secondhand market and open for sale. In October the vessels were auctioned via the London UK-based company CW Kellock & Co Ltd (Ship Auctioneers, Brokers and Valuers). Biddings (deadline in brackets) opened for Vasco Da Gama (Oct 8), Columbus (Oct 12), Astor (Oct 15), Magellan (Oct 19) and Marco Polo (Oct 22).
  • Vasco Da Gama was sold to Mystic Invest (Portugal).

CMV suspended its entire fleet's passenger shipping operations (all vessels) by cancelling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures between March 13 and August 25, 2020. Operations were planned to resume on August 26 (with CMV Magellan). Previously, the restart was planned for July 1. All affected bookings received full refunds (processed within 60-90 days), including on prepurchased through CMV packages and services.

With rebooking was offered a 125% refund as FCC (Future Cruise Credit). The FCC was also used for booking promo deals (including Buy-One-Get-One-Free and "last minute" offers) for all itineraries 2020-2021. All rebookings (made by March 31 2021) additionally received a 20% discount on beverage packages plus a 10% discount on shore excursion plus free cabin upgrade (1 category up, subject to availability).

Crystal Cruises

Crystal Cruises suspended its ocean fleet's passenger shipping operations by canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 14, 2020, through early-June 2021. Crystal River Cruises are currently planned to resume in late-August 2021. Crystal Yacht Cruises restart in 2021 on June 6 (Crystal Esprit) and September 15 (Crystal Endeavor/inaugural cruise)​. Crystal Ocean Cruises restart on July 3 (Serenity/Caribbean from Nassau and Bailey Town on North Bimini Island) and August 5 (Symphony/Caribbean from homeport St Johns Antigua).

All affected bookings received full monetary refunds including on prepurchased through Crystal Cruises packages and services. With rebooking, all fully-paid reservations received 125% refund in FCC (future cruise credit) of the fare paid, plus a full monetary refund of prepaid port charges, Gov taxes-fees, any flight and hotel packages (if prebooked through Crystal Cruises). Not fully-paid reservations received FCCs based on the deposits. All FCCs are valid on any Crystal cruise (Ocean, Yacht, Expedition, River) with departure through December 31, 2023.

Cunard

Cunard Line cancelled all cruises with pre-scheduled departures between March 14, 2020, and September 2021. Operations were planned to resume in June 2021 with mini-cruises from Southampton, but Cunard eventually cancelled all itineraries and currently plans to resume passenger shipping in September-October 2021 with the liners Queen Elizabeth (Oct 18/relocation from Europe to Australia/Barcelona to Singapore), Queen Mary 2 (Nov 14/Transatlantic Southampton-NYC), Queen Victoria (Sept 10/Norway Fjords).

Cunard Line now has an expanded cancellation policy. All affected bookings were given the option to cancel up to 48 hours (prior departure) without penalties. All affected bookings received a 125% refund in FCC (future cruise credit) transferred to a booking made before December 31, 2021.

Disney Cruise Line

DCL-Disney Cruise Line suspended its entire fleet's passenger shipping operations (all the 4 liners) by canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 14, 2020, through June 30, 2021. DCL cruise operations are currently planned to resume in July 2021 with the ships Disney MAGIC (July 15/UK cruises to nowhere from Southampton), Disney DREAM (Aug 2/Bahamas from Port Canaveral), Disney FANTASY (Aug 7/Eastern Caribbean from Port Canaveral), Disney WONDER (Sept 17/Baja Mexico from San Diego).

  • DCL's Alaska 2021 program (Disney Wonder from Vancouver) was canceled. DCL's Europe 2021 program (Disney Magic) was canceled.
  • Disney Magic was scheduled for a mini-season in Europe-UK (Around Britain itineraries for UK residents only).

All affected bookings received full monetary refunds, including on prepurchased through Walt Disney packages and services. With rebooking is offered 125% refund in FCC (future cruise credit) transferred to the new booking which must be made within 15 months of the canceled voyage's departure date. Without rebooking is provided full (100%) monetary refund.

Dream Cruises

Genting Cruise Lines (shipowner) didn't suspend its fleet's passenger shipping operations. Instead, the company (parent of Dream Cruises and Star Cruises) expanded its cancellation policy with "Cruise As You Wish". It allows all existing and new bookings made before or on October 30, 2020 (initially July 31), to be cancelled penalty-free up to 48 hours (prior departure). These bookings are fully refunded (100%) via FCC (future cruise credit). With rebooking, the amount of the fare paid is automatically transferred to any Star Cruises or Dream Cruises itinerary starting before or on March 31, 2021 (initially December 31 2020).

On March 25, Dream Cruises announced the cancellation of the company's entire Australia-New Zealand schedule for 2020-2021. The Explorer Dream ship had voyages in the region with planned departures between October 8, 2020, and February 21, 2021. All affected bookings received penalty-free cancellations with a full refund (100%) transferred as FCC (future cruise credit) plus of AUD 250 per cabin in OBC (onboard credit) with rebooking. The refund includes fares paid, port fees, gratuities, pre-purchased (if any) shore excursions. For rebooking were opened all Dream Cruises itineraries through December 31, 2021. Cancellations without rebooking received a full monetary refund (fare paid, port fees, gratuities, shore excursions).

Dream Cruises is currently planned to restart operations with voyages from Singapore on November 6, 2020. The 2- and 3-night cruises to nowhere (marketed as "Super Seacation") are for Singaporean residents only and scheduled for the ship MS World Dream.

Emerald Cruises

Scenic Group (shipowner) is the parent company of three travel brands - Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Evergreen Cruises & Tours, Emerald Cruises (Emerald Waterways, Emerald Yacht Cruises). All Scenic Group travel entities have suspended passenger operations (land tours, yacht and river cruises) by canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 14, 2020, through late-July 2021. Scenic Group's fleetwide travel operations are planned to resume on August 1, 2021, including the riverboats in Europe, Asia (ship Harmony) and Egypt (ship Movenpick MS Hamees).

With rebooking, Scenic Group provides an FTC (Future Travel Credit) for all canceled departures. To each of the canceled cruise bookings (river or ocean itineraries) is provided 110% FTC (for the booking's full value), to rebook and travel by December 31, 2022. To all booked land tours (including Egypt cruisetours) during the suspension period is provided 100% FTC (for the booking's full value), to rebook and travel by December 31, 2022.

Scenic's FTC is valid for travel departures through to December 31, 2022. The FTC can be applied to any existing booking within the Scenic Group travel companies (Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Emerald Cruises, Evergreen Cruises & Tours) and also when rebooking future travel. The FTC is fully transferrable to another customer.

Upon the expiry of the Scenic FTC voucher (on December 31, 2022), unable to travel customers may request a cash refund equal to the amount paid. All customers with a booking that departs from July 1, 2020, and customers considering a booking after July 1st, have the option to transfer their booking (up to 30 days prior departure) to an alternate date without a fee. Scenic will waive all cancellation fees with the booking value applied as an FTC and we will review the timing for the full payment when rebooking. Please note, if you choose to cancel there may be third-party fees applicable, which will be at the customer's own expense. This policy applies to all Scenic Group's travel brands.

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines suspended the entire fleet's passenger shipping operations (all vessels - ocean and riverboats) by cancelling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 14, 2020, through June 30, 2021. River- and ocean fleets operations were planned to resume on October 24 but were eventually cancelled. Ocean cruises are currently planned to resume in 2021 on July 1 (Balmoral, from Rosyth-Edinburgh), July 2 (Bolette, from Dover), July 2 (Borealis, from Liverpool). The ship Braemar restarts voyages in 2022 (on May 26, from Rosyth).

All affected bookings were fully refunded, including on prepurchased through the cruise company packages and services. All bookings on Fred Olsen cruises 2020 (any itinerary) are allowed to cancel penalty-free (up to 14 days prior departure) and rebook any Fred Olsen 2021 cruise (river or ocean).

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises suspended its entire fleet's passenger shipping operations (all liners) by canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 18, 2020, through May 2021. HL cruise operations are currently planned to resume in 2021 on May 24 (Hanseatic Inspiration/Baltic), June 17 (MS Europa/Baltic from Hamburg), June 27 (Europa 2/UK from Hamburg), July 19 (Hanseatic Nature/Norway), October 2 (Hanseatic Spirit/Asia-Japan).

 All affected bookings received full refunds, including on prepurchased through HL packages and services.

In early-April 2020, Hapag-Lloyd (part of TUI Cruises) announced that its ships are planned to resume operations on April 30 (EUROPA, from New York), April 30 (HANSEATIC Inspiration, from Belem Brazil), April 30 (MS EUROPA 2, from Lisbon), May 23 (BREMEN, from Otaru Japan), May 19 (HANSEATIC Nature, from Ponta Delgada Azores). In late-April was announced that HL's cruising operations are expected to resume in mid- or late-June (without specific departure dates given).

Holland America

Holland America Line (HAL) suspended its entire fleet's passenger shipping operations (all the 14 liners) canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 13, 2020, through June 30, 2021. Operations are currently planned to resume in July 2021.

Next are listed the HAL's first departures by ship (homeport/destination): Rotterdam (Sept 26/Maiden Voyage, Baltic from Amsterdam), Nieuw Amsterdam (July 24/Alaska from Seattle), Koningsdam (Oct 24/San Diego to Mexican Riviera), Eurodam (Aug 15/Greek Isles from Piraeus-Athens), Noordam (Oct 11/Yokohama Japan), Oosterdam (Nov 20/Sydney Australia), Zuiderdam (Oct 30/San Diego to Mexico), Zaandam (Dec 20/Fort Lauderdale-Caribbean), Volendam (Sept 11/Mediterranean-Venice), Westerdam (Nov 13/Fort Lauderdale), Nieuw Statendam (Sept 3/Europe-Baltic).

  • All HAL Alaska cruises and Alaskan cruisetours (Land+Sea Journeys) in 2020-2021 were canceled, but in 2021 Nieuw Amsterdam was rescheduled for Alaskan roundtrips from Seattle (July 24 thru Oct 2).
  • Due to Canada's extended (through 2022) ban on cruise ships, HAL's Canada and New England cruises 2021 were all canceled.
  • MS Amsterdam's 79-day World Cruise (Grand Africa Voyage 2020) from Boston to Fort Lauderdale (October 3 through December 21, 2020) was canceled.
  • All ship relocation itineraries (through November 1, 2021) visiting ports in the USA-Canada were canceled.
  • MS Noordam's Asia 2021 program (from Hong Kong-Singapore-Yokohama), MS Oosterdam's Australia-New Zealand 2021 program (from Sydney and Auckland) and MS Zuiderdam's Caribbean-Mediterranean 2021 programs (from Fort Lauderdale and Barcelona-Venice-Rome) were also canceled.
  • HAL's European schedule 2021 (ships Nieuw Statendam and Volendam) was canceled
  • Nieuw Rotterdam's maiden voyage was rescheduled from August 1 to September 26, despite the on-schedule delivery from Fincantieri (July 30).

To all affected bookings were offered 2 options. The first offer is rebooking with 125% refund in FCC (future cruise credit) plus USD 250 pp in OBC (onboard credit) on any itinerary through Dec. 31, 2022. The second offer is cancelling with a full (100% monetary) refund including on prepurchased through HAL packages and services.

HAL's cruise cancellation policy was expanded to allow penalty-free cancellation of cruises departing through December 31, 2020. Fully refunded (100%) were all prepurchased through HAL packages and services. HAL also reimbursed cancellation fees for flights and other travel arrangements to and from the ports of the cancelled voyage.

Hurtigruten

Despite the global Coronavirus crisis, Hurtigruten didn't suspend its Norwegian Coastal fleet's passenger shipping (ferry) operations but boarding was allowed only for passengers who haven't been outside Norway at least 14 days prior departure. In mid-October 2020 was canceled the 2020-2021 Antarctica cruise program (October-March) which affected Hurtigruten Expedition's ships Fridtjof Nansen, Roald Amundsen, Spitsbergen, Fram. Hurtigruten currently plans to restart Norwegian Coastal cruises with all its 7 ships in July 2021.

If made by April 30, 2020, all Hurtigruten deals (cruise and cruiseferry) on itineraries departing between March 12 through September 30, 2020, were allowed to be rebooked without any fee. For rebooking are opened all Hurtigruten voyages leaving between July 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021.

On May 11, 2020, Hurtigruten officially announced plans to "gradually restart" the Norwegian ferry services (Norwegian Coastal Express Route / Bergen-Kirkenes) in mid-June. The first was scheduled for MS Otto Sverdrup (fka Finnmarken) leaving on June 16th out of Bergen. With Otto Sverdrup, Hurtigruten became the world's first cruise company to resume operations. Two cruiseferries (MS Richard With and MS Vesteralen) remained operational but passenger-free, transporting only goods (including medical supplies and provisions) to Norwegian destinations affected by travel restrictions.

Following the Coronavirus outbreak on MS Roald Amundsen, on August 3, Hurtigruten temporarily suspended all expedition cruises (on 3 ships - Roald Amundsen, Fridtjof Nansen, Spitsbergen) until further notice. The decision didn't impact Hurtigruten’s Norwegian coastal service.

In mid-October 2020 was canceled the 2020-2021 Antarctica cruise program (October-March) which affected Hurtigruten Expedition's ships Fridtjof Nansen, Roald Amundsen, Spitsbergen, Fram.

Lindblad Expeditions

Lindblad Expeditions (National Geographic Cruises) suspended the entire fleet's passenger shipping operations (all Lindblad-owned vessels) by canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 16, 2020, through June 2021. Fleetwide operations are currently planned to resume in early-June 2021. Lindblad's Antarctica 2020-2021 winter program was canceled (affected ships Explorer and Endurance).

Next are listed the Lindblad-National Geographic ships and their first departures in 2021 - NatGeo Explorer (June 13/UK-Baltic), NatGeo Endurance (June 9/Arctic Norway/Maiden Voyage), NatGeo Endeavour 2 (June 4/Galapagos), NatGeo Islander (June 5/Galapagos), NatGeo Sea Lion (June 5/Alaska), NatGeo Quest (July 3/Alaska), NatGeo Venture (June 6/Alaska), NatGeo Orion (June 10/Alaska). The Scotland-based Lord of the Glens ship resumes service on July 7, 2021. Nat Geo Sea Bird ship starts Baja Mexico cruises in 2022 (January 18).

All affected bookings were fully refunded (100%) in FCC (future cruise credit), including on prepurchased through the Lindblad Expeditions packages and services.

Luftner-Amadeus River Cruises

Amadeus River Cruises (Luftner-owned brand) suspended its entire fleet's passenger shipping operations (all boats) by canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 14, 2020, through early-June 2021.

All affected Lueftner-Amadeus cruise bookings received 115% refund with rebooking - transferred as FCC (Future Cruise Credit). For rebooking (up to 24 months / through December 31, 2021) are available all voyages scheduled for 2021-2022.

Marella Cruises

Marella Cruises suspended its entire fleet's passenger shipping operations (all liners) by cancelling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 14, 2020, through early-July, 2021.

Next are listed all Marella ships and their first departure dates/regions/homeports in 2021 - Marella Discovery (July 6/Mediterranean from Palma de Mallorca), Marella Discovery 2 (July 2/Adriatic-Mediterranean from Corfu Greece), Marella Explorer (June 25/UK from Southampton), Marella Explorer 2 (July 10/UK from Newcastle). Marella's Caribbean 2021 program was cancelled, which affected the ships Discovery (from Montego Bay Jamaica) and Explorer 2 (from Bridgetown Barbados).

Two Marella ships (Celebration, Dream) were sold and left the fleet. Marella Dream was originally planned to restart voyages on May 4, 2021. Marella Dream was originally planned to restart voyages on May 4, 2021.

All affected bookings received full refunds (100% monetary) or 110% in FCC (future cruise credit), including on prepurchased through Marella (TUI UK) packages and services. With rebooking, the fare paid is transferred to FCCs (110%). Holiday package bookings (cruise and land vacations) receive 120% refund (in FCC) or 100% cash refund. All refunds are received within 4 weeks prior to the original departure date.

MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises suspended its North American fleet's passenger shipping operations (all US-homeported liners) by canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 14, 2020, through early-June 2021. European operations resumed in 2020 on August 16 (Grandiosa) and October 19 (Magnifica) but all voyages were eventually canceled (ex-USA through July 1, 2021). MSC currently plans to resume cruises fleetwide in July 2021. MSC USA's pause (ex-Florida cancellations) affected 3 ships - Meraviglia and Armonia (from Miami) and Divina (from Port Canaveral). MSC's 2021 South America (Preziosa, Seaview) and Dubai (Fantasia) programs were canceled.

Next are listed MSC ships' first scheduled departure dates in 2021 - Virtuosa (May 20/UK from Southampton), Grandiosa (June 26/Mediterranean-Barcelona), Seashore (Aug 1/Med-Civitavecchia-Rome), Bellissima (Nov 28/Asia from Yokohama Japan), Meraviglia (July 3/Caribbean from Miami USA), Divina (July 4/Bahamas from Port Canaveral USA), Armonia (July 2/Caribbean from Miami), Seaside (July 2/Med-Rome), Opera (Oct 25/Dubai), Seaview (July 3/Baltic from Kiel), Sinfonia (Nov 20/South America), Preziosa (July 21/Baltic-Norway from Hamburg), Magnifica (July 4/Med-Venice), Musica (Oct 24/repositioning from Venice to Durban South Africa), Orchestra (July 3/Med-Venice), Splendida (July 3/Med-Trieste), Poesia (Oct 28/Med-Rome), Fantasia (Nov 7/Med-Genoa).

  • In early-January, MSC planned to start Mediterranean cruises in 2021 (with Grandiosa) scheduled between January 24 and March 21. The 7-day itinerary (leaving on Sundays from Genoa) visits Civitavecchia, Palermo, Naples and Valletta (Malta), with embarkation available in all the Italian ports.
  • MSC Lirica's Mediterranean 2021 season (7-day roundtrips from Ancona and Venice) was canceled and the liner restarts operations in 2022 (April 10/Med-Adriatic from Venice).

All affected bookings received full refunds in FCC (future cruise credit), including on prepurchased through MSC packages and services. With rebooking (made by December 31, 2021) is offered a 125% refund in FCC (future cruise credit). Available for rebooking were all departures through April 30, 2022. Optionally, the customers could request a 100% monetary refund.

 

Mystic Cruises

Both Mystic Cruises-owned river cruise brands Nicko (Germany) and DouroAzul (Portugal) canceled all pre-scheduled departures in the period March 15, 2020, through early-July 2021.

However, Nicko's first ocean cruise ship World Voyager became the brand's first vessel to start operations in 2021 - with the Maiden Voyage on May 21 (7-day Canary Islands itinerary roundtrip from Tenerife).

Norwegian Cruise Line

NCLH's entire fleet (all vessels of the brands NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line, RSSC-Regent, Oceania) is with an expanded cancellation policy. All bookings on pre-scheduled itineraries (departures March 14, 2020, through April 30, 2021) were given the option to cancel (up to 48 hours prior departure) without penalties.

Eventually, NCLH canceled all NCL cruises leaving between March 14, 2020, and July 2021. Operations are currently planned to resume in late-July 2021.

  • In late-March 2021, NCL canceled through October-November all voyages scheduled for the ships Encore (Alaska from Seattle), Jewel (Alaska from Vancouver-Seward), Sun (Alaska from Seattle), Bliss (Alaska from Seattle), Jade (Europe-Baltic-Mediterranean), Joy (Bermuda from New York), Gem (Bermuda from Boston, and Canada New England from Boston-Quebec).
  • In early-April 2021, NCL announced new schedules for the ships Jade (7-day Mediterranean-Greek Islands from Athens/starting July 25), Joy (7-day Caribbean from Montego Bay Jamaica/starting August 15) and Gem (7-day Caribbean from La Romana-Punta Cana Dominican Republic/starting August 15). Previously the boats were planned to restart as follows - Joy (October 19, 2021/Caribbean from Miami), Gem (Oct 29, 2021/Bermuda from NYC), and Jade (January 2, 2022/South Africa from Cape Town). JOY's ex-Greece program was canceled in May. GEM's ex-Dominicana program was canceled in June.
  • In late-May 2021 were canceled Norwegian Joy's Caribbean roundtrips from Montego Bay Jamaica (Aug 7 thru Oct 9) and Norwegian Bliss' Alaskan program from Seattle (Aug-Oct).

Next are listed all NCL ships and their scheduled first departure dates/homeports in 2021 - BLISS (Oct 24/Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles), BREAKAWAY (Sept 26/Bermuda from NYC), DAWN (Oct 3/Mediterranean-Venice), ENCORE (Aug 7/Alaska from Seattle), EPIC (Sept 5/Mediterranean-Barcelona), ESCAPE (Nov 13/Port Canaveral), GEM (Aug 15/Caribbean from La Romana Dominican Republic), GETAWAY (Sept 2/Mediterranean-Rome), JADE (July 25/Mediterranean-Athens), JEWEL (Jan 20, 2022/Panama Canal roundtrips from Panama City), JOY (Oct 19/Miami), PEARL (Dec 23/Miami), SKY (Sept 5/Miami), SPIRIT (Feb 9, 2022/Australia-New Zealand from Sydney and Auckland), STAR (Oct 3/Europe from Southampton), SUN (Jan 28, 2022/Japan from Hong Kong), PRIDE OF AMERICA (Nov 6/Hawaii from Honolulu).

All affected bookings receive 125% refund in FCC (future cruise credit) transferred to a booking (any itinerary, fleetwide) for voyages departing through and on December 31, 2022. All canceled bookings 2020 (August 13 through October 18) received a 100% monetary refund (reimbursed to the original form of payment).

Oceania Cruises

NCLH's entire fleet (all vessels of the brands NCL-Norwegian, RSSC-Regent and Oceania) is with an expanded cancellation policy. All bookings on pre-scheduled itineraries (departures March 15, 2020, through May 31, 2021) were given the option to cancel (up to 48 hours prior departure) without penalties.

Eventually, NCLH canceled all Oceania cruise itineraries leaving between March 14, 2020, and September 2021. Operations are currently planned to resume in 2021 with the ships MARINA (August 29/Baltic), REGATTA (Oct 2/"World Cruise 2021" from Los Angeles to Sydney Australia), NAUTICA (Oct 6/Mediterranean), RIVIERA (Oct 28/Mediterranean), INSIGNIA (Dec 21, 2021/"World Cruise 2022" from Miami), SIRENA (Jan 22, 2022/Miami to Panama City).

All affected bookings received a full refund (100%) transferred as FCC (future cruise credit) with rebooking made within 1 year (any itinerary, fleetwide) departing between March 17, 2020, and December 31, 2022.

In early-May 2020, Oceania Cruises launched "The Ultimate Sale" promotion, with significant booking price reductions (~70% lower than the brand's regular rates). Promo's fares per person started at USD 999 (inside cabin) and USD 1399 (balcony cabin).

P&O Cruises

P&O Cruises' entire fleet (all UK- and Australia-based liners) is with an expanded cancellation policy. All bookings on pre-scheduled itineraries (departures in the period March 14 through August 31, 2020) were given the option to cancel up to 48 hours (prior departure) without penalties. All affected bookings received a 125% refund in FCC (future cruise credit) transferred to a booking made before December 31, 2021. With the FCCs customers can also pay for cabin upgrades or book a second stateroom (on existing bookings). FCCs can be also gifted or transferred (options offered through December 31, 2021).

P&O UK cancelled all voyages departing between March 14, 2020, and late-June 2021. P&O UK planned to resume operations in early-February 2021 (Caribbean fly-cruises from Bridgetown Barbados and Castries St Lucia) and in mid-March 2021 (roundtrips out of Southampton England). P&O UK's World Cruises 2021 (ships Arcadia and Aurora) were both cancelled. Next are listed P&O UK's ships and their first departure dates - Azura (Sept 2), Ventura (Sept 5), Britannia (Sept 25), Aurora (Oct 2), Arcadia (Oct 9), Iona (Sept 25/Maiden Voyage). P&O UK's Caribbean winter 2020-2021 fly-cruise program from Barbados (ships Britannia and Azura) was cancelled. In early-March 2021 P&O UK announced major itinerary changes with only Britain coastal mini-cruises and 7-day roundtrips from Southampton.

P&O Australia cancelled all departures between March 14, 2020, and September 17, 2021. P&O Australia resumes operations in 2021 with the ships Pacific Pacific Explorer (Sept 20), Pacific Encounter (October 2), Adventure (Oct 4).

Pandaw River Cruises

Pandaw River Cruises suspended its entire fleet's passenger shipping operations (all riverboats deployed in Asia and India) by cancelling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 15, 2020, through July 2021.

All affected bookings received 125% refund as FCC (future cruise credit with rebooking) or 100% monetary refund. To receive the 125% FCC, rebooking must be made within 12 months. The offer includes all itineraries planned for 2021-2022.

Phoenix Reisen

Phoenix Reisen suspended its entire fleet's passenger shipping operations (riverboats and ocean liners) by canceling voyages with pre-scheduled departures between March 15, 2020, and late-June 2021. Operations were planned to resume in 2020 September (river cruises) and October (ocean cruises - ships Amera (Oct 15/Mediterranean), Amadea (Oct 20/Caribbean) and Artania (Oct 28/Mediterranean).

Eventually, the company's entire program was canceled through 2021, with currently scheduled first departure dates/by ship June 22 (Deutschland/Amadea from Bremerhaven), June 25 (Amera from Bremerhaven), June 27 (Artania from Bremerhaven/UK-Iberia), and July 9 (Deutschland from Bremerhaven). All Phoenix Reisen River Cruises (Europe, Asia, Egypt) were canceled through June 2021. All affected bookings received 110% refunds transferred as FCC (future cruise credit) with rebooking.

All affected bookings received 110% refunds transferred as FCC (future cruise credit) with rebooking.

Ponant Cruises

Ponant Cruises suspended its entire fleet's passenger shipping operations (all vessels, including MS Paul Gauguin) by canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 15, 2020, through late-April 2021. Operations were planned to restart on October 27, 2020 (Mediterranean) but instead were offered French coastal mini-cruises on select ships only. All affected bookings were fully refunded in FCC (future cruise credit), including on prepurchased packages and services.

Next are listed all Ponant ships, their scheduled first departure dates (in 2021) and operational regions.

  • Le Dumont D'Urville (July 28) Iceland from Reykjavik
  • Le Lyrial (June 4) Mediterranean
  • Le Soleal (June 14) Alaska from Vancouver
  • L'Austral (June 5) Arctic-Norway from Longyearbyen Spitzbergen
  • Le Laperouse (July 17) Australia from Darwin
  • Le Bellot (June 8) Kimberley Australia from Broome WA
  • Le Champlain (July 15) Europe-Baltic-Iceland-Greenland
  • Le Boreal (July 2) Arctic-Norway from Longyearbyen Spitzbergen
  • Le Bougainville (July 2) Mediterranean from Piraeus-Athens
  • Le Jacques Cartier (June 7) Adriatic-Mediterranean from Venice and Athens
  • Ponant's brand Paul Gauguin Cruises planned for March 15 through December 18, 2020, were canceled and rescheduled to restart on June 16, 2021.

Since March 9, 2020, Ponant's WORRY-FREE BOOKING policy allows penalty-free cancellation for any booking (fully refundable up to 90 days after confirmation). For booking any of the scheduled in 2020 itineraries, Ponant requires 10% deposit and final payment due 30 days prior departure. Also fully refundable are cancellations up to 30 days prior departure.

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises suspended its entire fleet's passenger shipping operations (all the 18 vessels) canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 12, 2020, through May 14, 2021. Fleet's operations are currently planned to resume in July 2021.

Next are listed Princess Cruises' first departures by ship/homeport - CARIBBEAN (Aug 28/NYC New York to Canada-New England), CORAL (Oct 29/Sydney Australia), CROWN (Nov 6/Panama Canal from Fort Lauderdale), DIAMOND (Dec 1/Los Angeles), DISCOVERY (April 29, 2022/Maiden Voyage/Los Angeles to Vancouver), EMERALD (Nov 12/Sydney Australia), ENCHANTED (Nov 30, 2021/Maiden Voyage/Fort Lauderdale), GRAND (Sept 25/Los Angeles), ISLAND (Oct 5/Southampton UK to Norway), MAJESTIC (July 25/Alaska), REGAL (July 31/Southampton UK cruises to nowhere), ROYAL (Oct 15/repositioning from Singapore to Brisbane), RUBY (Aug 28/Los Angeles), SAPPHIRE (Oct 17/Sydney Australia), SKY (Aug 30/Southampton UK cruises to nowhere).

  • Diamond ship's 2021 Korea and Japan program (roundtrips from Yokohama) was canceled.
  • Majestic ship's 2021 Alaska program (from Seattle) was first canceled then scheduled again (July 25 thru Sept 26).
  • The 2021-built Enchanted Princess ship's entire inaugural Mediterranean 2021 season (July 3 thru Nov 15/departures from Barcelona and Rome, including the Transatlantic crossing Europe-USA) was canceled.
  • The 2021-built Discovery Princess ship's maiden voyage (Nov 3, 2021, Mediterranean from Rome) was rescheduled for March 1, 2022 (Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles).
  • Due to Canada's extended (through 2022) ban on cruise liners, Princess Alaska 2021 program was entirely canceled, affecting the schedules of 6 ships (Grand, Majestic, Royal, Crown, Coral, Emerald).
  • The Princess-operated Alaskan wilderness lodges and transportation (trains and buses) remained closed in 2020 and 2021. Because of Canada's extended travel restrictions, Princess canceled all Alaskan, West Coast USA and Hawaii cruises leaving from Vancouver, Seattle and San Francisco.
  • Due to port closures and international travel uncertainties, Princess's Australia-New Zealand program was canceled through May 31, 2021. Through November 1, 2021, were canceled all 8-day and longer voyages, Diamond Princess's Japan 2021 program (Kobe roundtrips/April 2-June 25) and Sapphire Princess' Alaska 2021 program (Vancouver-Whittier/June 16-September 15). Also were canceled "World Cruise 2021" (Island Princess) and "Circle South America Cruise 2021" (Pacific Princess). Travel agents' commissions on all canceled bookings were paid in full.
  • Princess Cruises UK 2021 summer program (Southampton roundtrips planned for 3 ships /Island, Regal, Sky) was canceled through early-October.

All affected bookings were automatically canceled and received 125% refunds in FCC (future cruise credit) with rebooking, including full (100%) refund on prepurchased through Princess Cruises packages and services. With rebooking, all the money is transferred to FCCs, any itinerary choice (through December 31, 2022). The rebooking bonus is an additional 25% FCC (applied to the fare automatically) that can be used on any itinerary booked by May 1, 2022. A full (100%) monetary refund was offered to all cancellations made by March 31, 2021. All bookings can be canceled up to 48 hours prior departure (previously 72 hours). You will continue to receive FCC for the amount of your cancellation fee.

The FCC is non-refundable, eligible for the revised cancellation terms and can't be used on the same sailing as the original booking. FCCs are automatically be applied to your Captain's Circle profile on the canceled bookings. FCCs are not available instantly (may take up to 30 business days to be processed).

Pullmantur

Pullmantur Cruises suspended its entire fleet's passenger shipping operations (all the 4 liners) by cancelling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 15 through November 15, 2020. Operations were planned to resume on November 20 (Monarch, Sovereign) and November 28 (Horizon). All affected bookings were 125% refunded in FCC (future cruise credit) transferred with rebooking.

IMPORTANT: In mid-June 2020, Pullmantur Cruceros' owners (Cruises Investment Holding + RCCL-Royal Caribbean) filed for a supervised reorganization/bankruptcy under Spain's insolvency laws' terms. This could be the end of Pullmantur as cruise brand.

Reportedly, the crew is currently dismantling and removing machinery, various equipment, furniture and artworks from both vessels (Monarch and Sovereign) while they are berthed in Port Naples Italy (at Stazione Marittima di Napoli cruise terminal / Naples' Maritime Station). All the company's employees have been notified of the management's decision - explained with the Coronavirus pandemic's economic impact. Booked Pullmantur cruise customers are offered the option to rebook on other RCCL-owned companies.

NEWS: In late-November 2020 were published documents according to which (as part of the company's restructuring plan) Pullmantur could resume operations in December 2021 with a fleet of two (transferred from Celebrity Cruises) Millennium-class ships (names to be announced). Celebrity's Millennium-Class liners are 4 (Constellation, Infinity, Millennium, Summit). The financing deal with Royal Caribbean Group (owner of 49% Pullmantur shares) includes a revised business plan and is based on all the rebookings (with FCC) of former Pullmantur customers.

Quark Expeditions

Quark Expeditions suspended passenger shipping operations by canceling all voyages in the period March 15, 2020, through early-June, 2021. Operations are currently planned to resume in 2021 on June 2 (Ocean Adventurer/Svalbard Norway), June 25 (Ultramarine/Spitsbergen), November 3 (World Explorer/Antarctica), November 25 (Ocean Diamond/Antarctica-South Georgia-Falkland Islands).

All affected bookings received full refunds (100%) in FCC (future cruise credit), including on prepurchased through the company packages and services.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

NCLH's entire fleet (all vessels of the brands NCL-Norwegian, Oceania and RSSC-Regent Seven Seas) is with an expanded cancellation policy. All bookings on pre-scheduled itineraries (departures March 14, 2020, through May 31, 2021) were given the option to cancel (up to 48 hours prior departure) without penalties.

Eventually, NCLH canceled all RSSC cruises leaving between March 14, 2020, and mid-September 2021. Operations are currently planned to resume in 2021 with the ships Seven Seas SPLENDOR (Sept 11/Around Britain from Southampton UK, follows a Mediterranean mini-season), Seven Seas EXPLORER (Oct 16/Mediterranean from Venice), Seven Seas NAVIGATOR (Jan 6, 2022/Caribbean from Miami and Barbados), Seven Seas MARINER (Dec 18/Panama Canal from Miami to San Francisco), Seven Seas VOYAGER (Feb 15, 2022/Mediterranean from Barcelona).

All affected bookings received a full refund (100%) in FCC (future cruise credit) transferred to a booking made within 1 year (any itinerary, fleetwide) from the canceled departure date. RSSC's Regent Reassurance policy was expanded to offer penalty-free cancellations (for any reason) up to 15 days prior departure with full refunds (100%) in FCC.

Royal Caribbean

RCCL-Royal Caribbean Group (shipowner) suspended its entire fleet's passenger shipping operations (RCI-Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity, Silversea) worldwide by canceling all voyages in the period March 15, 2020, through early-July 2021. All RCI repositioning cruises 2021 (Transatlantic, Asia-Australia-Hawaii-Alaska) were canceled.

Next are listed all RCI ships and their first departure dates/regions/homeports in 2021 - ADVENTURE OTS (June 12/Caribbean from Nassau Bahamas), ALLURE OTS (Aug 8/Port Canaveral), ANTHEM OTS (July 7/Europe-UK from Southampton), BRILLIANCE OTS (Sept 4/Tampa), ENCHANTMENT OTS (Sept 4/Bermuda from Baltimore), EXPLORER OTS (Sept 27/Galveston), FREEDOM OTS (July 2/Miami), GRANDEUR OTS (Dec 5/Caribbean from Bridgetown Barbados), HARMONY OTS (Aug 15/Mediterranean from Barcelona), INDEPENDENCE OTS (Aug 15/Galveston), JEWEL OTS (July 10/Mediterranean from Limassol Cyprus), LIBERTY OTS (Sept 26/Galveston), MARINER OTS (Aug 23/Port Canaveral), NAVIGATOR OTS (Nov 19/Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles), OASIS OTS (Sept 5/Florida-Bahamas from NYC), ODYSSEY OTS (July 3/Fort Lauderdale), OVATION OTS (Aug 13/Alaska from Seattle), QUANTUM OTS (Dec 1, 2020/cruises to nowhere from Singapore), RADIANCE OTS (Oct 24/Miami), RHAPSODY OTS (Dec 14/Tampa), SERENADE OTS (July 19/Alaska from Seattle), SPECTRUM OTS (July 30/cruises to nowhere from Hong Kong China), SYMPHONY OTS (Aug 14/Miami), VISION OTS (Sept 5/Caribbean from San Juan Puerto Rico), VOYAGER OTS (Aug 1/Asia-Japan from Tianjin China), WONDER OTS (March 26, 2022/Maiden Voyage/Japan from Tianjin China).

  • ODYSSEY OTS was scheduled to start on June 2nd Eastern Mediterranean roundtrips from Haifa Israel. However, due to "unrest in Israel and the region", this Cyprus and Greece program was canceled in May.
  • VISION OTS was scheduled to start on June 26th Bahamas roundtrips from Bermuda (King's Wharf), but the program was canceled.

All affected bookings received full refunds (100%), including on prepurchased through RCI cruise packages and services. With rebooking are offered 125% refunds in FCC (future cruise credit) to be used on itineraries that depart up to September 30, 2022. The FCC must be redeemed by December 31, 2021. Full cash refund or changing the FCC to a monetary refund (100%) must be done by March 31, 2021. Within 45 days (from the cancellation date), all taxes, port fees and pre-purchased (if any) packages-amenities are automatically refunded to the original form of payment.

RCI's Cancellation Policy (Cruise with Confidence) was extended to allow penalty-free cancellations up to 48 hours prior departure (all itineraries) and receive an FCC. The policy was also enhanced with two new rebooking options - "Best Price Guarantee" (you can change the price and promo offers on the booking up to 48 hours prior departure) and "Lift and Shift" (you can rebook the same itinerary departing within 1 month from the cancelled date, with protected original price and promo offer and keeping the same cabin category).

IMPORTANT: RCI covers up to USD 20,000 per person for Coronavirus-related costs. The money is for shipboard medical treatments and safe quarantine plus providing safe return to home travel arrangements. If a passenger test positive for COVID-19 while on the ship, RCI also provides a full monetary refund (100% of the cruise price) for the infected and his/her travel companions.

Saga Cruises

Saga Ocean Cruises suspended its fleet's passenger shipping operations by cancelling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 15, 2020, through early-July 2021. Operations are currently planned to resume in 2021 with Spirit of Discovery (June 27) and Spirit of Adventure (July 26/Maiden Voyage).

Saga UK requires all passengers to have had both doses of the COVID vaccine before boarding the ships.

All affected bookings received full monetary refund (100% of the fare paid) or 125% refund in FCC (future cruise credit) with rebooking made within 24 months. Saga UK's "Cruise Price Promise" allows penalty-free cancellation up to 14 days prior departure.

Scenic Cruises

Scenic Group (shipowner) is the parent company of three travel brands - Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Evergreen Cruises & Tours, Emerald Cruises (Emerald Waterways, Emerald Yacht Cruises). All Scenic Group travel entities have suspended passenger operations (land tours, yacht and river cruises) by canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 14, 2020, through late-July 2021. Scenic Group's fleetwide travel operations are planned to resume on August 1, 2021, including the riverboats in Europe, Asia, and the Scenic Eclipse yacht.

With rebooking, Scenic Group provides an FTC (Future Travel Credit) for all canceled departures. To each of the canceled cruise bookings (river or ocean itineraries) is provided 110% FTC (for the booking's full value), to rebook and travel by December 31, 2022. To all booked land tours (including Egypt cruisetours) during the suspension period is provided 100% FTC (for the booking's full value), to rebook and travel by December 31, 2022.

Scenic's FTC is valid for travel departures through to December 31, 2022. The FTC can be applied to any existing booking within the Scenic Group travel companies (Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Evergreen Cruises & Tours, Emerald Cruises/Emerald Waterways) and also when rebooking future travel. The FTC is fully transferrable to another customer.

Upon the expiry of the Scenic FTC voucher (on December 31, 2022), unable to travel customers may request a cash refund equal to the amount paid. All customers with a booking that departs from July 1, 2020, and customers considering a booking after July 1st, have the option to transfer their booking (up to 30 days prior departure) to an alternate date without a fee. Scenic will waive all cancellation fees with the booking value applied as an FTC and we will review the timing for the full payment when rebooking. Please note, if you choose to cancel there may be third-party fees applicable, which will be at the customer's own expense. This policy applies to all Scenic Group's travel brands.

Scylla Cruises

Scylla Cruises is a shipowner that charters its riverboats to major river cruise operators (travel agencies), including Riviera Travel UK, Tauck Travel USA, Thurgau Travel Switzerland.

Scylla's main boat charterer - Riviera Travel UK - suspended fleetwide its passenger shipping operations between March 15, 2020, and early-July 2021. Tauck Travel canceled all river cruises and tours with departures through August 31, Thurgau Travel - through July 31.

All affected bookings received a full refund in FCC (future cruise credit / Refund Credit Notes), including on prepurchased through the company packages and services. The cruise rebooking must be made before December 31, 2020.

Seabourn Cruises

Seabourn Cruises expanded its cancellation policy fleetwide (all vessels) with penalty-free cancellation of voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 14, 2020, through June 30, 2021. Operations are currently planned to resume in early-July 2021 with the ships Ovation (July 3/Mediterranean-Greek Islands from Athens), Encore (July 3/Europe-Mediterranean from Barcelona), Sojourn (July 3/Europe-Baltic from Copenhagen), Odyssey (Odyssey (July 18/Caribbean from Bridgetown Barbados), Quest (Nov 7/South America-Panama Canal from Miami), Venture (Dec 11/Maiden Voyage from London-Greenwich to Norway).

Sojourn ship's "Seabourn World Cruise 2021" was canceled (141-day from Miami to Barcelona). The newbuild Seabourn Venture's delivery was delayed (due to T. Mariotti shipyard closures) and the inaugural cruise rescheduled from July 5 (Antarctica) to December 11, 2021 (Baltic-Norway). Seabourn canceled planned 2021 itineraries in the Caribbean (from Barbados), Alaska-BC Canada (from Vancouver and Juneau), Asia (from Hong Kong and Singapore) and Australia New Zealand (from Sydney and Auckland).

All prepurchased through Seabourn packages and services were fully refunded in FCC (future cruise credit). All cancelled bookings received 125% refund in FCC (based on the fares paid) with rebooking. Customers receiving an FCC can rebook until January 31, 2021, any currently scheduled Seabourn cruises with departures prior December 31, 2021. All booked 2020 itineraries, plus bookings on departures through December 31, 2021, can be cancelled up to 30 days prior departure ("Book with Confidence") with full refunds (100% of the fare paid in FCC) valid for 12 months. Seabourn's "Book with Confidence" policy was enhanced in late-May. Now to all departures in 2021 is offered “Best Fare Guarantee” that allows customers to request the lowest pricing offered for their voyage - even if the fares drop after booking.

SeaDream

SeaDream Yacht Club suspended its passenger shipping operations in the period March 18, 2020, through May 2021. Operations were planned to resume on September 7, 2020, but SeaDream started a mini-cruise program in Norway (June-September 2020) with 12-day Norwegian coastal itineraries between Oslo and Tromso on the superyacht SeaDream 1. SeaDream 1 starts cruises on June 26 (Mediterranean from Seville). SeaDream 2 starts voyages on June 16 (Mediterranean from Venice).

In early-November 2020, following a Coronavirus outbreak on SeaDream 1, the company cancelled the Caribbean 2020 winter program. All affected bookings received full refunds transferred as FCC (future cruise credit) with rebooking.

In August 2020, SeaDream introduced the "Ultimate Booking Assurance". The new policy guarantees a full monetary refund or 120% FCC for all bookings on voyages departing between July 22, 2020, and June 30, 2021, in case that the cruise is affected by travel restrictions from the customer's country of origin. Rebooking SeaDream cruises with rescheduling the initial booking is allowed even for not affected by travel restrictions voyages.

Silversea Cruises

RCG-Royal Caribbean Group (shipowner) suspended its entire fleet's passenger shipping operations (RCI-Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity, Silversea, Azamara) worldwide by canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 13, 2020, through June 30, 2021. Fleetwide operations are currently planned to resume on July 1. Silversea's Galapagos-based ship Silver Origin starts with an inaugural cruise on June 12. Silversea Alaska 2021 program (Silver Muse from Seattle) starts on July 29.

Next are listed Silversea's first departure dates in 2021 by ship/destination - Origin (June 12/Maiden Voyage, Galapagos), Moon (June 18/Europe-Mediterranean), Shadow (Sept 8/Europe-Mediterranean), Spirit (July 6/UK-Baltic), Cloud (Nov 14/Antarctica), Whisper (July 4/Iceland from Reykjavik), Explorer (Sept 10/Australia-New Zealand), Muse (July 29/Alaska from Seattle), Wind (Nov 20/South America-Antarctica).

All affected bookings received full refunds (100%), including on prepurchased through Silversea cruise packages and services. With rebooking are offered 125% refunds in FCC (future cruise credit) to be used on itineraries that depart up to April 30, 2022. The FCC must be redeemed by January 1, 2021. Changing the FCC to a monetary refund (100%) must be done by December 31, 2020. Silversea's Cancellation Policy was extended to allow penalty-free cancellations up to 48 hours prior departure (all itineraries departing up until December 1, 2020, and receive an FCC.

Star Clippers

Star Clippers canceled all Asian cruises with pre-scheduled departures in 2020 March 21, 2020, through August 2021. Operations are currently planned to restart in 2021 on August 3 (Royal Clipper/Mediterranean from Piraeus-Athens), August 7 (Star Flyer/Mediterranean from Athens), and November 20 (Star Clipper/Southeast Asia).

All affected bookings received full refunds in FCC (future cruise credit) available for rebooking.

Star Cruises

Genting Cruise Lines (shipowner) didn't suspend its fleet's passenger shipping operations. Instead, the company (parent of Dream Cruises and Star Cruises) expanded its cancellation policy with "Cruise As You Wish". It allows all existing and new bookings made before or on October 30, 2020 (initially July 31), to be cancelled penalty-free up to 48 hours (prior departure). These bookings are fully refunded (100%) via FCC (future cruise credit). With rebooking, the amount of the fare paid is automatically transferred to any Dream Cruises or Star Cruises itinerary starting before or on March 31, 2021 (initially December 31 2020).

TUI Cruises

TUI River Cruises suspended passenger shipping operations by canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures March 15 through November 1, 2020. TUI Cruises Germany ("Mein Schiff" fleet) suspended operations on March 23 and restarted on August 21 with Schiff 1 (7-night Norwegian Fjords roundtrip from Kiel) and Schiff 2 (7-night Norway from Hamburg). Schiff 6 started cruising on September 13 (through November 7) with 7-night roundtrips from Heraklion (Crete) to Piraeus-Athens and Kerkyra-Corfu Island). TUI River Cruises were planned to resume on November 26 (Christmas and New Year itineraries) but were eventually canceled through late-June 2021. TUI River voyages start on June 28 (TUI Skyla from Budapest), followed by TUI Maya (July 2, from Budapest)

Next are listed all TUI liners and their first departure dates/homeports/regions in 2021 - Schiff 3 (May 10/Norway from Bremerhaven), Schiff 4 (Apr 23/UK-Baltic from Hamburg), Schiff 5 (May 13/Mediterranean from Heraklion Crete), Schiff 6 (May 9/Mediterranean from Palma de Mallorca), Schiff Herz (Apr 23/Mediterranean from Heraklion Crete). Schiff 1 and Schiff 2 started Canary Islands cruises in January, with 7-day and 14-day roundtrips from Gran Canaria. The latest cancellations affected Schiff 5's Asian program (Hong Kong) and Schiff 6's Arabian Gulf program (from Dubai).

All affected bookings were automatically canceled and fully refunded in FCC (future cruise credit) notes for the full cost of the cruise. The FCCs can be used for paying a new voyage (with rebooking) or fully refunded (100%) in cash after 12 months.

UnCruise Adventures

On March 23, 2020, UnCruise Adventures announced that suspends operations (due to the USA-imposed travel restrictions) in the regions Central America (Panama and Costa Rica), Baja Mexico, Hawaii, Pacific Northwest and Alaska (roundtrips from Juneau on 7-night "Glacier Bay" itinerary). Eventually, the company's entire 2020 program plus all voyages through May 2021 were canceled.

All booked customers received emails within rebooking instructions.

Next are listed all UnCruise ships and their first departures (dates/deployments/regions) in 2021:

  • Safari Endeavour (BAJA MEXICO / ALASKA) - restarts on May 29, leaving from Sitka and Juneau.
  • Safari Quest (PACIFIC NORTHWEST / ALASKA) - restarts on May 28, leaving from Juneau AK.
  • Safari Voyager (PANAMA / COSTA RICA) - restarts on October 1, leaving from Puerto Caldera (Costa Rica).
  • Safari Explorer (ALASKA) - restarts on May 29, leaving from Juneau AK.
  • (ALASKA) cruises restart in 2021 with Wilderness Discoverer (May 16), Wilderness Adventurer (June 4), Wilderness Legacy (May 10), Wilderness Explorer (May 30).

UnCruise Adventures is among the not-so-many cruise companies whose vessels are USA-flagged, which allows them to operate cruises with itineraries that are not mandatory to include foreign (non-US) ports.

Viking Cruises

Viking Cruises suspended passenger shipping operations fleetwide (ocean ships and riverboats worldwide / Europe-Asia-Africa) by canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 12, 2020, through July 2021. Fleetwide operations were planned to resume on October 1, 2020. However, due to ongoing travel restrictions in Europe and the USA, as well as Canada's and Australia's ban on cruise shipping, Viking canceled the entire 2020 program (river+ocean) in mid-August.

  • VIKING OCEAN restarted operations on May 22, 2021, with Viking Venus (UK from Portsmouth England).
  • VIKING RIVER (European boats) are currently scheduled to start cruises in early-July 2021 (Rhine-Douro-France rivers). VIKING's Egypt boats (Ra, Osiris) start operations in August 2021.
  • In March-April 2021, Viking Ocean announced that plans to restart operations with Viking Venus ("England's Scenic Shores" UK coastal itineraries roundtrip from Liverpool and Portsmouth/since May 22), Viking Orion ("Bermuda Escape" 8-day itinerary roundtrip from homeport Hamilton/since June 15) and Viking Sky ("Iceland's Natural Beauty" 8-day itinerary roundtrip from homeport Reykjavik/since June 26). All these voyages were open for booking to UK residents only. In May were added July-October departures (11-day roundtrips from Valletta Malta) for the ships Viking Sea and Viking Venus.

All affected bookings received a 125% refund in FCC (future cruise credit) with rebooking or 100% monetary refund. Fully refunded (100% in FCC) were also all prepurchased through Viking packages and services. The FCC is valid for 24 months (after cancellation), for any Viking cruise itinerary (river-ocean-expedition) and fully transferable.

All bookings made by April 30, 2020, received Risk-Free Guarantee that allows penalty-free cruise cancellation up to 24 hours prior departure. The cancellations and rebooking promos affected both Viking Cruises-owned subsidiary companies and travel brands - "Viking Ocean Cruises" and "Viking River Cruises".

Virgin Voyages

In March 2020, Virgin Voyages postponed the brand's inauguration (Scarlet Lady ship's Showcase Tour / media event in PortMiami) for July 15th (4-day "Richard's Birthday Bash"), with the inaugural cruise departing on August 7th from Miami. The ship's originally planned maiden voyage was on March 29, 2020 (3-day "Sneak-A-Peek Cruise").

All the scheduled between March 26-August 7th (a total of 29) departures were cancelled. In mid-May 2020 were cancelled 15 additional departures (through October 15). The 4-night "Richard Branson's 70th Birthday Cruise" (originally planned for July 15, 2020) was rescheduled for July 14, 2021. In late-September 2020 were cancelled all Scarlet Lady's November itineraries, and in late-October - the remaining (December 2020) departures. The brand's inauguration was rescheduled for January 3, 2021. In mid-December were cancelled more itineraries. The brand's inauguration is currently scheduled for August 6, 2021 (Scarlet Lady's maiden voyage from Miami). Valiant Lady ship's program was also revised. Instead of in Europe, the company's second liner is currently scheduled for Inaugural Cruise (November 14, 2021) in the Caribbean (Miami-roundtrip).

All affected bookings were provided with the options to cancel with a 125% refund (100% monetary refund) plus 25% in FCC (future cruise credit) or rebook with 200% refund in FCC. As a promo offer, all bookings made by June 30, 2020, received up to USD 500 per person in OBC (onboard credit). A full (100%) monetary refund was optional for cancellations made between May 21-December 31, 2020.

After the May-announced Virgin cruise cancellations, all rebookings made with the 200% FCC were fully refunded (200%) and additionally received 25% in FCC (to be used on another booking). Virgin Voyages also introduced the "Smooth Sailing Program" which allows for itineraries in 2020 (through December 16) the final payment dates to be moved to 60 days (previously 120 days) prior departure. Smooth Sailing also allows cancellations up to 48 hours (prior departure) with receiving a full (100%) refund in FCC.

Windstar Cruises

Windstar canceled all cruises with pre-scheduled departures between March 14, 2020, through June 2021. Operations are currently planned to resume in 2021 on June 19 (Star Breeze/Caribbean and Wind Star/Mediterranean-Greek Islands), July 15 (Wind Spirit/Tahiti), August 8 (Wind Surf/Europe-Mediterranean-Adriatic), September 4 (Star Legend/UK-British Isles). Star Pride ship restarts in 2022 (on April 1/Mediterranean from Lisbon). Star Pride's Caribbean 2021 program (roundtrips from Puerto Rico) was canceled.

All affected bookings received 125% refunds in FCC (future cruise credit) with rebooking or cash refund (100%) without rebooking. The FCC was transferred to a new booking of any Windstar itinerary departing through December 31, 2021. Rebookings must be made up to 15 days prior departure.

Windstar also changed its cancellation policy (Travel Assurance Booking Policy) to allow cancellations up to 15 days prior departure and receive a full refund (100%) in FCC. The FCC can be used on all itineraries through December 31, 2021. The company's travel agent commission policy (Star Promise) was expanded to pay commissions on all FCCs. For travel agencies (Travel Advisors), on May 18th is reintroduced Windstar's popular travel agent promotion "Sell 3, Sail Free". If the agent sells 3 staterooms (fully deposited), the agent (or a customer) sails for free on a Windstar cruise departing by April 30, 2021, paying only taxes, fees, port charges and gratuities.

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