Cruise lines announce new dates for sailing

The arrival of 2021 was eagerly awaited in the travel industry. With the new year, it was hoped to look at the first rays of the sun in the face of the chaotic landscape experienced in 2020, and to be able to gradually leave the issue of the pandemic, looking towards new horizons. Hope has not been lost, but the pandemic will be talked about for a long time to come, and this is reflected in the first announcements of the year of the cruise lines that reported the new probable dates for sailing, extending the period of cessation that they had said would be until March 2021. The latest information confirms that on most ship lines, this downturn will last more than a year, as it began in March 2020.

companies like Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America i Princess Cruises they already confirmed the extension to their suspension, while others like those in the group of Royal Caribbean (Including a Celebrity Cruises, Silversea and Azamara, among others) i Norwegian Cruise Holdings (Including Norwegian, Regent Seven Seas, and Oceania), have not issued official statements and remain on the previously announced date, until March 31st.

These are the extended cancellations, which were announced this week:

• Carnival Cruise Line- Although the company confirmed the general break until March 31, it indicated it would bring other ships to the dry dock for renovation, which would delay other departures. Carnival Freedom will resume travel on April 10, Carnival Miracle on September 16, Carnival Liberty on October 18 and Carnival Sunshine on November 18.
• Princess Cruises- He canceled his trips until May 14, including to destinations such as the Caribbean, the California coast, the first outings of the season in Alaska and the Mediterranean.
• Holland America- They will not travel until April 30, but some cancellations will be extended until August, depending on the routes and these include the first trips to Alaska, a destination you visit usually departing from Canadian ports, which they also remain closed. At the moment, trips to Canada and New England will not be made and those in the Mediterranean will not be suspended until June.

Other cruise lines, such as Virgin Voyages, have indicated that their Scarlett Lady, their first ship, which has yet to be unveiled, will begin voyages on May 9, and Cunard, meanwhile, plans to sail in June. .

These measures are in addition to those previously announced that include that cruises of more than seven nights departing from any US port, will not be able to sail at least until November 1, at the request of the Centers for Control and Prevention. Diseases (CDC).

The new suspension of trips that have been issued by cruise lines, put a question mark in the most popular cruise seasons of the year, such as Alaska, which usually begins in May. There is still hope that some trips can be made if navigation is allowed before September, as the season lasts only until this month, but many are betting that this year would be the second in which it will not be possible to travel until the so-called “Last Frontier”.

On the other hand, in Europe, where regions such as the Mediterranean and the Baltic have the highest number of summer trips, it is not known whether it will be feasible to do so with international tourists, especially Americans. which are the largest number of travelers in this destination. So we eagerly await news about these trips and look carefully at the restrictions, because these not only impact cruise lines, but are responsible for injecting millions of dollars into airlines, hotels and attractions around as well. of this continent.

Although voyages across the Mediterranean began in late 2020, with MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises, these companies stopped them in December in the face of new restrictions imposed by destinations on the resurgence of VOCID-19. MSC will continue them from the 24th of this month of January and Costa Cruises will sail again in February.

“Cruise lines have implemented extraordinary safety and health protocols, and continue to focus on innovative practices and responsible return tourism,” said Kelly Craighead, president and CEO of the International Association of Cruise Lines (CLIA). by painting an optimistic outlook for this industry in 2021, despite the resurgence of VOCID-19.

Passengers have not lost their money, they have refunds or credits

As has been the case since the pandemic began, passengers with canceled travel reservations will receive a “Credit for Future Cruise” (FCC) or a refund. It is important to keep in touch with your travel agent or cruise line for the procedure you apply in each case.