Cruise lines announce new departure dates

The travel industry was eagerly awaiting the arrival of 2021. With the new year, it was expected to look at the first rays of the sun in the face of the chaotic panorama that lived in 2020, and to gradually leave the issue of the pandemic looking to new horizons. Hope has not been lost, but the pandemic will be talked about for a long time to come, and that is reflected in the initial announcements of the year from the cruise lines informing the new likely departure dates, extending the shutdown period they had said it would are until March 2021. With the most recent information, it is confirmed that this recess will last more than a year on most shipping lines since it began in March 2020.

Companies love Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America and Princess Cruises have already confirmed their suspension extension, while others like that of the Royal Caribbean (including Famous cruises, Silversea and Azamara, among others) and Norwegian Cruise Holdings (including Norwegian, Regent Seven Seas and Oceania), have not issued any official statements and will remain on the previously announced date, until March 31.

These are the extended cancellations announced this week:

• Carnival Cruise Line Although the company confirmed the general hiatus to March 31, it indicated it would take other ships to dry dock for refurbishment, delaying other departures. Carnival Freedom will restart tours on April 10, Carnival Miracle on September 16, Carnival Liberty on October 18, and Carnival Sunshine on November 18.
• Princess Cruises- He canceled his voyages until May 14, including such destinations as the Caribbean, the California coast, the first sailings of the season from Alaska and the Mediterranean.
• Holland America They won’t travel until April 30, but some cancellations will last until August depending on the routes, including the first trips to Alaska, a destination mostly visited from Canadian ports, which also remain closed. At the moment, trips to Canada and New England are also not being made and those to the Mediterranean will be suspended until June.

Other cruise lines, such as Virgin Voyages, indicated that their Scarlett Lady, their first ship, which has not yet been released, will depart on May 9, and Cunard for his part plans to sail in June.

These measures are in addition to those previously announced, which include that cruises over seven nights departing from a US port cannot sail until Nov. 1, as required by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The new layover that cruise lines are issuing questioned the most popular cruise seasons of the year, such as Alaska, which usually starts in May. There is still hope that some voyages can be taken if sailing is allowed before September as the season only lasts until that month, but there are many betting that this year will be the second year when it will not be possible to travel until September. called “Last Frontier”.

On the other hand, in Europe, where regions like the Mediterranean and the Baltic have the highest number of trips in summer, it is also not known whether it will be feasible to do so with international tourists, especially North Americans. which is the largest number of travelers at that destination. So news about these trips is eagerly awaited and the restrictions are being watched carefully as they not only affect cruise lines but are also responsible for injecting millions of money into airlines, hotels and attractions in that continent. .

Although MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises began voyages to the Mediterranean in late 2020, these carriers discontinued them in December due to new restrictions imposed by destinations due to the outbreak of COVID-19. MSC will continue them from January 24 and Costa Cruises will resume sailing in February.

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

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

As has been the case since the start of the pandemic, passengers with canceled travel reservations will receive a “Future Cruise Credit” (FCC) or money back. It is important to continue communicating with your travel agent or cruise line for the procedure that applies in each case.