Several cruise lines are monitoring the situation after Russia’s attack on Ukraine earlier this week, with one line already saying that it will drop scheduled calls at St Petersburg.

Atlas Ocean Voyages said on 24 February  that, as a result of current regional tensions, it would adjust two late-summer 2022, Baltic itineraries. “On both the Hamburg-to-Kiel itinerary, departing August 26, 2022, and Kiel-roundtrip itineraries, departing September 7, World Navigator will drop St. Petersburg, Russia, and now call at Kotka and Mariehamn, Finland,” the company said in a statement.

The August 26 voyage includes transit of the Kiel Canal, while the September 7 departure will now also add Saaremaa, Estonia, where World Navigator will dock in the city center, adjacent to the Medieval Castle of Kuressaare, the company said.

Meanwhile, Carnival Corporation & plc group units P&O Cruises and Cunard said they would monitor the situation. “In light of the current situation evolving in Ukraine we will continue to monitor very closely and will amend itineraries as necessary following guidance. The safety and wellbeing of guests and crew is of the highest priority and we will advise guests of any changes,” they were quoted by Travel Weekly as saying.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) CEO Frank del Rio said according to the same source that the company would keep its vessels in the Baltic as scheduled, but added that it may remove St Petersburg from the list of ports of call.

“Our Baltic ships will stay in the Baltic. If we can’t go to St Petersburg there are many other ports in surrounding countries they can visit,” he was quoted by Travel Weekly as saying. The group will have about 5% of its capacity employed in the Baltic during the season that will start in May.

Photo: Throne Room, Winter Palace, St Petersburg, Russia