TUI UK's Marella Cruises extends fleet suspension through October 31

   June 20, 2020 ,   Cruise Industry

Marella Cruises UK's parent company TUI announced it would be extending Marella's passenger shipping cancellations up to July 30.

On Friday, June 16, Marella announced that due to the ongoing travel restrictions forced by the pandemic, the company extends its cruise cancellations (for the 4th time) through August 27.

This also means that Marella Discovery ship's entire summer season was canceled, with all scheduled departures from homeport Palma de Mallorca (Majorca Island, Balearic Spain) having been canceled - up to October 31, 2020. The vessel will also no longer operate Caribbean winter cruises (December-January) roundtrip from homeport Montego Bay Jamaica. The ship restarts operations on February 3, 2021, with a Transatlantic repositioning cruise from Spain to Jamaica (Malaga-Montego Bay) prior to continuing with the Caribbean roundtrip Jamaica schedule on February 16.

The 3-day mini-cruise (themed "90s v 00s Electric Sunsets" on Marella Explorer 2 from Newcastle upon Tyne to Southampton (September 5-8) is canceled. The itinerary included visits to IJmuiden Holland and Zeebrugge Belgium.

All affected bookings receive a 110% refund in FCC (future cruise credit) inclusive of 10% bonus (of the booking's total value) or a full (100%) cash refund. All clients should have their refund credit and booking incentive within 4 weeks of receiving the cancellation email.

The UK-based Marella Cruises is also extending its free amends policy so clients sailing in September-October on Marella Explorer or Marella Explorer 2 have the chance to amend their sailing for free before July 31, meaning they do not have to pay until closer to the new departure date.