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As cruise lines cancel cruises, where will ships go?

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 12 March 2020 12 March 2020

Diamond Princess in Yokohama before the crisis (Photo credit: Princess Cruises)

On Wednesday, March 11, during an evening press conference, U.S. President Donald J. Trump announced a vaguely worded 30-day travel ban from the Schengen countries in Europe to America. The ensuing chaos that has resulted has already caused two cruise lines to beach their fleets.

Viking will halt operation of its entire 79 strong fleet of ocean vessels and river boats until May 1. Princess Cruises will suspend the operations of all 18 of its cruise ships for a 60-day period. Other lines are canceling individual voyages, and still others are considering the approach taken by Princess and Viking.

If Wednesday was a very bad day for cruise lines, it's just the latest in a spate of challenging news from the global pandemic of Covid-19, or coronavirus, that has caused unprecedented change. Over the past few months, cruise lines began reacting to the spread of the disease in China, which then began affecting other Asian countries. Scared ports of call are closing to any cruise ship visits. Italy is experiencing a tragic spread of the disease and has closed the country to cruise traffic. Just this afternoon, Spain announced it, too, would close, and industry watchers are keeping a close eye on the Netherlands, France and Germany as well.

But it's last night's presidential announcement that's thrown the cruise industry's state of affairs into even starker challenges. Fllghts from the Schengen countries will halt as of Friday (except for England and Ireland, which are not included in the 30 day travel ban as they are not part of Schengen). As the first transatlantic cruises towards Europe have already departed, this could cause drastic consequences for returning U.S. cruise passengers who would face a mandatory 14-day quarantine in the U.S. upon their return. Viking's Sky, for one, recently set off for Barcelona; it is turning back and returning to Miami.

Beyond disruptions, this unprecedented cancellation of cruises, for up to 60 days in the future, has created another challenge: Where will the empty ships wait it out? And what will happen with existing sailings, particularly world cruises, that are in the middle of their itineraries?

Currently we have taken a look at cruise ship positionings around the world, via Marinetraffic.com, and here is what we have learner for now:

– Viking Sun is currently in the Indonesia waters during its 245-day World Cruise.
– Sapphire Princess, which will skip its summer program in China is currently at the Sembawang Shipyard in Singapore and after docking will head to Australia. Sister ship Diamond Princess is still moored at Yokohama, Japan after its coronavirus outbreak and evacuation.
– Costa, the largest cruise operator in Asian waters, has ships out of service in various ports: Costa Atlantica, Costa Serena and Costa Venezia papers to be docked at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries facility out of Nagasaki, Japan.
– Dream Cruises, which is among hardest hits cruise lines during the outbreak and operates two newish vessels, has suspended all is cruises. Normally sailing out from Singapore and various ports in Hong Kong and China, the company had docked Genting Dream in Langkawi, Malaysia. Sister ship World Dream departed today from Salalah, Oman and is heading towards the Red Sea.
– Crystal Cruises, part of Genting Hong Kong, will end its World Cruise early in Fremantle, Australia as all ports on its itinerary after Australia are closed or closing.
– Royal Caribbean International canceled the China program on its newest vessel Spectrum of the Seas and redeployed it in Australia.

Don’t go on cruise if over 70 and with serious health condition – British Prime Minister

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 12 March 2020 12 March 2020

People over the age of 70 that have serious health conditions should not go on a cruise as the coronavirus epidemic is expected to spread significantly in the near future, the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.

"We advise all those over 70 with serious medical conditions against going on cruises and we advise against international school trips," he said in a webcast speech in which he announced the next steps in the government’s efforts to fight the outbreak.

Virgin Voyages postpones Scarlet Lady launch until July 15

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 12 March 2020 12 March 2020

Virgin Voyages has release the following statement:

"The current global health crisis is understandably making many people rethink upcoming travel plans. While there have been no health concerns on our ship Scarlet Lady, the Virgin Voyages team has engaged future sailors and travel partners as we all navigate this challenging moment together.

Based on feedback from these conversations, we made the proactive decision to postpone the Showcase Tour inaugural season of Scarlet Lady until July 15, 2020, with our Maiden Voyage taking place on August 7, 2020.

Virgin Voyages is committed to making this change to your plans as convenient and fair as possible, and are offering a range of options from a full refund and a voyage credit to bonus offerings for future sailings.

Additional information below:

– 200% in Future Voyage Credit which can be applied to another sailing, rather than a refund. This is double the value of a Sailor’s existing booking.
– Sailors can also receive up to $500 in onboard credit,* if you re-book before June 30, 2020.
– If a Sailor prefers to get a 100% refund** on a voyage fare for an impacted sailing, Virgin Voyages will issue one plus offer a 25% Future Voyage Credit on the value paid to use for a future booking.

While timing isn’t right to launch our first ship right now, we look forward to welcoming everyone on Scarlet Lady later this year.

Princess Cruises suspends cruises of all 18 ships for 60 days

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 12 March 2020 12 March 2020

Princess Cruises, which is part of Carnival Corporation & plc, said it would suspend cruises of all its 18 vessels for 60 days.

The move comes a day after Viking, which operates both ocean and river cruise vessels, made a similar kind of decision.

“In proactive response to the unpredictable circumstances evolving from the global spread of COVID-19 and in an abundance of caution, Princess Cruises announced that it will voluntarily pause global operations of its 18 cruise ships for two months (60 days), impacting voyages departing March 12 to May 10,’ the company said in a statement.

“Princess Cruises is a global vacation company that serves more than 50,000 guests daily from 70 countries as part of our diverse business, and it is widely known that we have been managing the implications of COVID-19 on two continents,” said Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises. 

“By taking this bold action of voluntarily pausing the operations of our ships, it is our intention to reassure our loyal guests, team members and global stakeholders of our commitment to the health, safety and well-being of all who sail with us, as well as those who do business with us, and the countries and communities we visit around the world,” added Swartz.

The company called this is a difficult business decision, we firmly believe it is the right one and is in alignment with our company’s core values. “Rest assured the long-serving and dedicated professionals at our company will make best use of this time to prepare Princess Cruises’ fleet of cruise ships for a successful return to operation to serve our guests by delivering an exceptional vacation experience,” it said.

Those currently onboard a cruise that will end in the next five days will continue to sail as expected through the end of the itinerary so that onward travel arrangements are not disrupted. Current voyages that are underway and extend beyond March 17 will be ended at the most convenient location for guests, factoring in operational requirements. Princess will do everything possible to return each guest home with the greatest amount of care possible. During this time, our operations and medical teams across the fleet will remain vigilant in their care and service for guests and crew onboard.

For those who are impacted by this business decision, Princess is offering guests the opportunity to transfer 100% of the money paid for their cancelled cruise to a future cruise of their choice. To add a bonus incentive for guests to accept this offer, the company will add an additional generous future cruise credit benefit which can be applied to the cruise fare or onboard expenses.  In addition, Princess will honor this offer for those guests who had made final payment and cancelled their booking on or after February 4, 2020. The future cruise credit can be used on any voyage departing through May 1, 2022.

Princess 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, in recognition of the critical role they play in the cruise line’s business and success.

If the future cruise credit option does not work for some guests, they will be able to complete an electronic form on Princess.com to request a cash refund. Princess asks guests not to call the Reservation Call Center due to the possibility of high call volumes and the potential of long on-hold wait times due to this unprecedented action. Guests and their travel advisors will be sent communications on how to manage cancellations and desired compensation. Information and instructions for requesting a refund are available online.

In a video posted on YouTube, Jan Swartz shares that “while this is a difficult business decision, we firmly believe it is the right one and is in alignment with our company’s core values. Rest assured the long-serving and dedicated professionals at our company will make best use of this time to prepare Princess Cruises’ fleet of cruise ships for a successful return to operation to serve our guests by delivering an exceptional vacation experience.”

Loyal guests, employees, travel advisor partners and business partners around the world have asked what they can do support Princess Cruises and its more than 35,000 team members in these challenging times. The answer is simple – book a cruise with Princess and bring your family and friends along.  The company offers over 180 itineraries to popular and exotic destinations around the globe.