More News

Three RCCL brands extend Cruise With Confidence policy to April 2022

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 May 2020 07 May 2020

To provide peace of mind in vacation planning, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises extend their "Cruise with Confidence" cancellation policy to sailings through April 2022, parent company Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd (RCCL) said in a statement.

For new and existing bookings created by August 1, 2020, guests have the flexibility to cancel their cruise up to 48 hours prior to sailing and receive a full credit of the cruise fare for a future cruise through April 2022. The cruise company has also enhanced "Cruise with Confidence" with new rebooking options. The updates now available to travelers and their travel advisors include:

Guests can choose to change the price and promotional offer on their reservation up to 48 hours before their cruise.

For ease and as close as 48 hours prior to sailing, travelers have the option to simply "lift and shift" their cruise to the same itinerary departing on a future date. The original price and promotional offer on the reservation will be protected, along with the length of the cruise and stateroom category.

"Guests are reacting positively to our Cruise with Confidence policy," said RCCL chairman and CEO Richard Fain, "because it enables them to make informed decisions and to better manage complicated travel plans during this unprecedented time of uncertainty."

"Cruise with Confidence" applies to both existing cruise bookings and those made by August 1, 2020. In addition to easing concerns of booked guests, Fain says the policy enhances consumer confidence to schedule new bookings, knowing last-minute travel adjustments are allowed.

"We want our guests to feel they can safely keep their existing cruise bookings or schedule new sailings," said Fain, "because this policy gives them more freedom and flexibility."

Princess Cruises extends pause of global ship operations for remaining 2020 summer season

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 06 May 2020 06 May 2020

Due to reduced air flight availability, the closure of cruise ports in regions around the world and other factors impacting international travel, Princess Cruises is extending its pause of global ship operations and has therefore made the extremely difficult decision to cancel select cruises through the end of the 2020 summer season, including the following cruises and associated cruisetours:

– All remaining Alaska cruises on Emerald Princess and Ruby Princess
– All remaining Europe and Transatlantic cruises on Enchanted Princess, Regal Princess, Sky Princess, Crown Princess and Island Princess
– Summer Caribbean cruises and all Canada & New England cruises on Caribbean Princess and Sky Princess
– Summer to Fall cruises departing from Japan on Diamond Princess
– Australia-based cruises on Sapphire Princess and Sea Princess through August
– July cruises sailing from Taiwan on Majestic Princess
– Fall cruises sailing to Hawaii and French Polynesia on Pacific Princess through November

"As the world is still preparing to resume travel, it is with much disappointment that we announce an extension of our pause of global ship operations and the cancellation of cruise vacations for our loyal guests," said Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises. "Among other disruptions, airlines have limited their flight availability and many popular cruise ports are closed. It saddens us to think about the impact on the livelihood of our teammates, business partners and the communities we visit."

Guests currently booked on these canceled voyages, who have paid Princess in full, will have the option to receive a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) equivalent to 100% of the cruise fare paid plus an additional bonus FCC equal to 25% of the cruise fare.

For guests who have not paid in full, Princess will Double the Deposit, providing a refundable FCC for the money currently on deposit plus a matching bonus FCC that can be used on any voyage through May 1, 2022. The matching bonus FCC will not exceed the base cruise fare amount of the currently booked cruise and will have a minimum value of $100 per person.

In order to receive the above FCC no action is required.

Alternatively, guests can request a full refund for all monies paid on their booking through this online form. Requests must be received by June 15, 2020, or they will receive the refundable Future Cruise Credit option.

Princess will protect travel advisor commissions on bookings for cancelled cruises that were paid in full, in recognition of the critical role they play in the cruise line’s business and success.

Holland America cancels all 2020 Alaska, Europe and Canada/New England sailings

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 06 May 2020 06 May 2020

With travel restrictions continuing for the near future due to global health concerns, Holland America Line has decided to extend its pause of global cruise operations and cancel all Alaska, Europe and Canada/New England cruises for 2020.

In addition, Amsterdam will not operate the 79-day Grand Africa Voyage from Boston, Massachusetts, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, that was scheduled to depart on Oct. 3, 2020. Holland America Line had previously cancelled all 2020 Land+Sea Journeys, which combine an Alaska cruise with an overland tour to Denali and the Yukon.

“As we continue to navigate through these unprecedented and challenging times, the best decision right now is to extend our pause in cruise operations into the fall,” said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. “While this is very disappointing and we never want to let our guests down, as soon as it makes sense we will be back cruising again, giving our guests the memorable travel experiences they continue to dream about.”

All guests, or their travel advisors, will automatically be notified if their cruise departure has been cancelled.

Guests automatically receive future cruise credit

Those with impacted cruises will automatically be cancelled, and all guests will receive a Future Cruise Credit per person as follows:

– Paid in Full: Those who had paid in full will receive 125% Future Cruise Credit of the base cruise fare paid to Holland America Line.

– Not Paid in Full: Those with bookings not paid in full will receive a Future Cruise Credit of double the amount of the deposit paid for the cruise. The minimum Future Cruise Credit is $100 and the maximum will be an amount up to the base cruise fare paid.

The Future Cruise Credit is valid for 12 months from the date of issue and may be used to book sailings departing through Dec. 31, 2022. All other funds paid to Holland America Line may be transferred to a new booking or will automatically be refunded via the method of payment used to purchase the services.

Full refund option also available

Guests who prefer a 100% refund of monies paid to Holland America Line can visit the Cancellation Preferences form to indicate this preference no later than June 15, 2020. This includes Holland America Line’s Flight Ease air, Cancellation Protection Plan, Holland America Line pre- or post-cruise hotel packages or transfers, prepaid shore excursions and amenities purchased through Holland America Line, and taxes, fees and port expenses.

Due to the unprecedented volume of bookings impacted by cancellations, Holland America Line asks for guests’ patience and understanding regarding the time needed to work through processing refunds and FCCs.

The above options are not applicable to guests booked on a charter sailing. Other booking and cancellation conditions and policies may apply if the cruise was not booked through Holland America Line. See the terms and conditions at the Cancellation Preferences form for all details.

Recognizing the vital role travel advisors play in the success of the cruise industry, Holland America Line will protect travel advisor commissions on bookings for cancelled cruises that were paid in full and for the total amount of the Future Cruise Credits when their clients rebook.

Holland America Line will continue to monitor the global health situation and evaluate the best time to begin sailing again. Additional details will be shared as they are available.

P&O Cruises Australia extends operational pause until 31 August

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 05 May 2020 05 May 2020

P&O Cruises Australia, part of Carnival Corporation & plc, has extended its voluntary pause in operations in Australia and New Zealand until 31 August, in response to continuing travel restrictions owing to the impact of Covid-19, it said in a statement.

The decision will affect passengers booked on departures after 16 June.

“Australia and New Zealand have led the world in flattening the COVID-19 curve, which adds to our optimism for the future. However, we also recognise that a further extension is the prudent and responsible course,” said P&O Cruises Australia president Sture Myrmel.

Passengers whose cruises had been impacted by the extended pause in operations were eligible for a full refund or a future cruise credit equal to the cost of their original cruise plus an onboard credit offer, the company said.

UK consumer sentiment for cruising cools

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 05 May 2020 05 May 2020

The proportion of British consumers that are vey likely or likely go for a cruise in the next two years has decreased in the aftermath of the coronavirus crisis, CLIA UK & Ireland research shows.

Among consumers who have never cruised before, 61% would be very likely or likely to take a cruise in the next two years, a drop of 10 percentage points since last autumn.

“Of those who had cruised before, 75% said they were very likely or likely to take a cruise in the next two years when asked last month, compared to 79% who said the same last autumn,” CLIA UK & Ireland said in a statement.

The survey was based on views of 500 respondents who have taken an international holiday in the last two years.

Commenting on the figures, Andy Harmer, CLIA UK & Ireland director, said in the statement" Our findings show a remarkably small divergence in responses between these times and suggest a very modest shift in sentiment. This could be largely due to cruise guests understanding the industry’s commitment to their health and safety. We will continue to work to earn that trust as we work through this global crisis, putting public health and safety at the heart of our response.”