Despite previously announcing it would welcome passengers aboard a few liners on October 1, Royal Caribbean Group said they would be postponing the resumption of cruises until November 1. The sailings were to originate from Australia & New Zealand.
In a statement, the company explains the reason behind the decision:
“The health and safety of our guests, crew and the communities we visit is our top priority. As we work with health and government authorities toward this shared goal, Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises will be extending the suspension of sailings to include those departing from Australia and New Zealand on or before October 31, 2020.”
Australia has a ban that prevents cruise ships from sailing in their waters. Originally issued in March 2020, the order had been extended in May and is now extending through September 17.
The announcement of the Group comes as several Carnival Corporation divisions also announced their Australian cancellations. Both Princess Cruises and P&O Cruises Australia are extending the suspension of operations from the area until early December.
Passengers who were due to sail on the cancelled voyages have the option of a full refund or a 125% future cruise credit (FCC). They can also take advantage of Royal Caribbean’s “Lift & Shift” option, which allows them to move the existing reservation to the next year while protecting the original fare.