In the wake of the ongoing coronavirus (covid-19) outbreak, cruise lines are easing their payment and cancellation policies to give passengers greater flexibility when booking their cruises.
Some cruise lines have suspended sailings. For more information, visit here
CrosiEurope
CrosiEurope has postponed all cruises through to 15 April 2020 inclusive.
Our passengers who are impacted by these changes will receive full credit and be able to apply this credit to a cruise at a future date and, in addition, receive a voucher for £150 per person for a future cruise (booked on individual basis).
For all new bookings made between 16 March and 1 May 2020 for all departures until 31 August 2020, our passengers may cancel free of charge up to 30 days from their departure date (excluding booking fees and any ancillary charges.)
Marella Cruises
Marella Cruises has cancelled all sailings for the next two weeks.
All guests impacted by the cancellation of sailings between 14 and 28 March 2020 will be notified and issued a full refund.
CMV
Cruise and Maritime Voyages (CMV) has announced the suspension of all embarkations taking place until 24 April 2020.
All CMV ships will be returning to their disembarkation home ports in the UK & Germany with the repatriation of international passengers as required.
All affected passengers will be offered a full refund or a future cruise credit of 125 per cent of the value of their cruise.
Passengers who use the future cruise credit will also be offered a 20 per cent discount of onboard additions beverage packages plus a 10 per cent shore excursion discount and one cabin category upgrade subject to availability.
The future cruise must be booked by 31 July 2020.
Tui River Cruises
Tui has postponed the launch of Tui river cruises and cancelled all sailings until 2 May 2020.
Customers booked on to departures up to and including 2 May 2020 will be entitled to a full refund or can re-book onto any other available sailing until 31 October.
If they choose to amend to a later sailing and the new cruise is more expensive the difference in cost will be covered. And if it costs less than the original booking they will be refunded the difference.
In a statement, the company said that they are contacting customers directly, prioritising those with the most immediate sailings.
Uniworld
Uniworld has announced the suspension of all European itineraries until April 23. It is offering guests the opportunity to rebook travel dates o any 2020 or 2021 cruise or receive a future cruise credit eligible to be used during the next 24 months.
Full details can be found on the Uniworld website.
AmaWaterways
AmaWaterways has delayed the start of its European sailing season until 26 April 2020.
It has updated its cancellation policy applicable to the cancelled sailings so guests can cruise in the future. Passengers booked on a cruise that is being cancelled have the option of receiving a future cruise credit equal to 115 per cent of the value of all services purchased through AmaWaterways or receiving a full refund.
The future cruise credit is applicable on all European or Mekong river cruise sailings any time before 31 December 2022.
Additionally, the company will fully protect the commission of travel agents whose clients opt for a future cruise credit, as well as pay an additional 10 per cent commission on the value of the future booking. Plus the company will pay full commission on the fare difference, if applicable.
Windstar
Windstar Cruises announced the company will temporarily suspend operations worldwide for cruises embarking 14 March through 30 April 2020.
Travellers on canceled cruises can choose a future cruise credit valued at 125 per cent of all monies paid to Windstar or a refund equal to the amount paid on the Windstar booking. They will have 24 months to book and embark on any available cruise using the credit.
Travel agent commissions are also protected.
Avalon Waterways
Avalon Waterways is suspending travel through to April 30.
Avalon introduced a new ‘Peace of Mind Plan’ for travelers whose trips are impacted. This allows them to move travel dates without incurring cancellation fees, land or airline penalties. It also gives a bonus credit of $200 per person for a new reservation, redeemable for any future 2020, 2021 or 2022 vacation.
Travellers who cancel will get a refund but must advise the company by March 31.
Disney Cruise Lines
Disney Cruise Line’s four-ship fleet will suspend new departures starting Saturday through the end of March. No information has been given yet on refunds.
Saga
Saga said it would temporarily suspend its cruises for six weeks until 1 May 2020. It will be offering customers a full refund or credit for future sailings.
In a statement this morning, the group explained: “The health and safety of customers and colleagues is our number one priority.”
Seabourn
Seabourn has updated its ‘Book with Confidence’ cancellation policy, providing travellers with the option to cancel their booking up to 48 hours prior to departure.
For existing and new bookings made through to 31 July 2020, guests may cancel up to 48 hours prior to departure and receive a 100 per cent future cruise credit of any payment already made to Seabourn and currently within cancellation fees. Guests receiving a future cruise credit will have until 31 December 2020 to book for any published voyages departing prior to 31 December 2021.
“We know travellers have lots of questions right now but we also know they are still eager to get out and see the world,” said Seabourn’s senior vice president of global marketing & sales, Chris Austin.
“This revision to our ‘Book with Confidence’ policy gives any traveller or travel advisor peace of mind, knowing they can keep their booking, monitor current events, and cancel much closer to departure if unexpected issues arise.”
In addition, for bookings departing between 1 August 2020 and 15 October 2020, the original Book with Confidence policy is still valid, where clients are able to cancel up to 30 days prior to sailing and receive a 100 per cent future cruise credit of any monies paid to Seabourn and currently within cancellation fees.
Oceania Cruises
NCL joined Royal Caribbean as one of the latest US cruise lines to suspend sailings amid the outbreak.
Guests who are currently booked on voyages with embarkation dates from 13 March to 11 April 2020 on NCL, Oceania Cruises or Regent Seven Seas have been asked to contact their travel agent or cruise line.
Oceania Cruises has announced a traveller’s assurance policy, effective immediately for all existing and new bookings made by 30 April 2020.
Guests may cancel up to 48 hours prior to departure and will receive a Future Cruise Credit equal to 100 per cent of the cruise fare paid.
In addition, up to the day of sailing, should there be another applicable public promotion that offers better value through amenities or price, guests may take advantage of that promotional offer and/or price.
Celestyal Cruises
Celestyal Cruises has temporarily suspended cruise operations until 1 May 2020.
It plans to recommence on 1 May with a three-night Iconic Aegean cruise on Celestyal Olympia. All named and fully-paid guests will be offered the choice of either a future cruise credit valued at 120 per cent of original booking value or a refund of original amount paid.
Guests will have until the end of December 2021 to use their future cruise credit against any of the line’s itineraries.
For anyone who has not used their future cruise credit within the specified period will automatically receive a refund equal to the original amount paid.
Affected sailings are:
- Seven-night Three Continents: 4, 21 and 28 March 2020
- Seven-night Eclectic Aegean: 4, 11, 18 and 25 April 2020
- Three- and four-night Iconic Aegean: 16 March until 30 April 2020
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
NCL joined Royal Caribbean as one of the latest US cruise lines to suspend sailings amid the outbreak.
Guests who are currently booked on voyages with embarkation dates from 13 March to 11 April 2020 on NCL, Oceania Cruises or Regent Seven Seas have been asked to contact their travel agent or cruise line.
Regent Seven Seas has become the latest cruise line to announce a temporary change to its cancellation policy due to coronavirus, allowing guests to cancel up to 48 hours before departure.
Called ‘Regent Reassurance’, it will include all voyages embarking from 10 March through to 30 September and is applicable to all existing and new reservations made by 30 April 2020.
President and chief executive officer of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Jason Montague, said: “At Regent, our extended family of guests is always at the centre of everything we do. With so much information coming from around the world very quickly regarding the global health environment, we understand our guests may feel uneasy about travelling.
“Regent Reassurance is designed to provide our guests with maximum flexibility and give them the confidence to tae a Regent voyage on the most luxurious fleet in the cruise industry.”
If guests choose to cancel, they will receive a 100 per cent future cruise credit for the cruise portion of their cancelled sailing.
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival has updated its policy to provide options and flexibility to reschedule any cruise booked between 6 March and 31 May 2020.
The line is also offering incentives for those passengers that opt to go ahead with their cruise vacation. Guests who choose to keep their booking as currently scheduled will receive the following onboard credit amounts:
- $100 per cabin for three- and four-day cruises
- $150 per cabin for five-day cruises
- $200 per cabin for six-day and longer cruises
Carnival will automatically apply the onboard credit to your sail and sign if you opt to sail.
Cunard
Cunard has announced the suspension of sailings until 11 April 2020.
All guests impacted directly by this temporary suspension are being contacted regarding their voyage and their options.
In a statement, the line said that Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria will be returning to Southampton and they are reviewing Queen Elizabeth’s planned itineraries
The new cancellation interim policy applies to all guests with bookings departing prior to 31 August 2020
· All guests with existing and new bookings on holidays departing before 31 August 2020 may now cancel up to 48 hours prior to departure.
· Cancelled bookings will receive a Future Cruise Credit equivalent to the cancellation fees and refunds will be given on any remaining monies paid.
· The Future Cruise Credit may be redeemed against any sailing until the end of March 2022 (bookings to be made before December 31, 2021).
· The Future Cruise Credit is non-refundable, but may be used on multiple sailings.
Guests booked to travel with either P&O Cruises and Cunard before August this year will receive additional money to spend on board. The extra credit only applies to bookings made before 11 March 2020 and differs between the cruise lines.
On Cunard, those sailing one to three nights will get $150, four to seven will get $300, eight to 14 $600 and 15 nights plus receiving $900.
Additional amendments include guests who cancelled bookings between 1 February 2020 and 11 March 2020 for sailings before the end of August 2020, but who did not opt to convert their cancellation charge into a Future Cruise Credit, will have this automatically credited to their account for use on a future cruise.
Guests travelling after August 2020 are also able to transfer free of charge to any alternative cruise date, prior to paying the balance of their holiday.
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has launched a ‘Booking Reassurance Guarantee’ for passengers who are concerned, allowing them to cancel their cruise in return for a future cruise voucher, penalty-free, within the same year of departure.
The new guarantee applies to all new cruise bookings made between 4 March and 5 May 2020, and guests can move their cruise once only.
All passengers who book a Fred Olsen ocean or Brabant river cruise for 2020 will be able to cancel their cruise in return for a future cruise voucher for the entirety of the monies paid to date, when giving at least two weeks’ notice of the cancellation. The future cruise voucher can then be used on another 2020 sailing.
The guarantee also applies to the line’s newly launched 2021/22 itineraries when cancelled no later than 90 days prior to departure.
MSC Cruises
MSC has adapted its cancellation policy to allow cruisers to cancel their existing reservation for sailings on or before 31 July 2020 up to 48 hours prior to departure and receive a future cruise credit for the amount paid. The FCC can be applied to any future cruise of their choice departing on or before December 31, 2021. This policy applies to new bookings for sailings on or before 31 July 2020.
Final and full payment must be made on a cruise departing prior to 31 July 2020 to qualify for the Cruise Assurance program.
Norwegian Cruise Line
NCL joined Royal Caribbean as one of the latest US cruise lines to suspend sailings amid the outbreak.
Guests who are currently booked on voyages with embarkation dates from 13 March to 11 April 2020 on NCL, Oceania Cruises or Regent Seven Seas have been asked to contact their travel agent or cruise line.
All guests on impacted voyages will receive a 125 per cent refund of the fare paid in the form of a future cruise credit, which can be applied toward any future cruise through 31 December 2022.
Guests who do not wish to have the credit can instead choose to have a 100 per cent fare refund, which they will receive within 90 days of making the request. Travel partner commissions on cancelled cruises will be protected, the line also confirmed.
Norwegian is offering a short-term ‘Peace of Mind; policy, which gives anyone who books a Norwegian Cruise Line sailing through 30 September 2020 the ability to cancel up to 48 hours prior to the sail date and receive a 100 per cent future cruise credit for use on any sailings through 31 December 2022. This new policy also applies to existing bookings for any voyages beginning 10 March 2020 or later.
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises, which has had two ships quarantined because of the coronavirus has suspended its sailings for 60 days.
The company has paused global operations of its 18 ships for voyages departing from 12 March to 10 May.
For those who are impacted, the line is offering guests the opportunity to transfer 100 per cent of the money paid for their cancelled cruise to a future cruise of their choice.
The company is also adding an additional future cruise credit benefit that can be applied to the cruise fare or on-board expenses.
In addition, Princess Cruises will honour this offer for those guests who had made final payment and cancelled their booking on or after 4 February 2020. The future cruise credit can be used on any voyage departing through 1 May 2022.
Princess will also protect travel agent commissions on bookings for cancelled cruises that were paid in full and for the total amount of the future cruise credits.
Royal Caribbean Group
Royal Caribbean group has adopted a new ‘Cruise with Confidence’ policy, allowing guests to cancel sailings up to 48 hours before departure in light of the coronavirus.
For bookings, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara and Silversea guests can cancel and receive full cruise credit for their fare, usable on any future sailing in 202o or 2021.
The policy applies to both new and existing cruise bookings.
Viking
Viking has suspended all river and ocean sailings in light of the outbreak.
The measure affects all sailings from today (Thursday) until 30 April. The line will then resume operations from 1 May.
For those guests whose cruise falls within the window of suspended operations, Viking is offering the choice of a future cruise voucher, valued at 125 per cent of all money paid, or a refund equal to the amount paid.
Guests will have 24 months to use their future cruise voucher to make a new booking on any river, ocean or expedition itinerary.
P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises is suspending any new cruises until 11 April 2020.
For all guests impacted by this temporary suspension, P&O Cruises will provide a 125 per cent Future Cruise Credit.
This Future Cruise Credit will be applied automatically to their guest account for use on a P&O Cruises holiday departing before the end of March 2022.
For all guests with bookings departing prior to 31 August 2020 it has provided a new cancellation policy.
The policy includes:
· All guests with existing and new bookings on holidays departing before 31 August 2020 may now cancel up to 48 hours prior to departure.
· Cancelled bookings will receive a Future Cruise Credit equivalent to the cancellation fees and refunds will be given on any remaining monies paid.
· The Future Cruise Credit may be redeemed against any sailing until the end of March 2022 (bookings to be made before December 31, 2021).
· The Future Cruise Credit is non-refundable, but may be used on multiple sailings.
Guests booked to travel with either P&O Cruises and Cunard before August this year will receive additional money to spend on board. The extra credit only applies to bookings made before 11 March 2020 and differs between the cruise lines.
On P&O Cruises, those guests sailing one to three-night itineraries can get £100, four to seven £200, eight to 14 getting £400 and those sailing 15-night plus itineraries receiving £600.
Additional amendments include guests who cancelled bookings between 1 February 2020 and 11 March 2020 for sailings before the end of August 2020, but who did not opt to convert their cancellation charge into a Future Cruise Credit, will have this automatically credited to their account for use on a future cruise.
Guests travelling after August 2020 are also able to transfer free of charge to any alternative cruise date, prior to paying the balance of their holiday.
The Future Cruise Credit given to P&O Cruises guests following Arcadia’s itinerary changes will now be extended until the end of December 2021.
Holland America Line
Holland America Line has made the decision to voluntarily pause global cruise operations of its 14 ships for 30 days, impacting sailings scheduled to depart through 14 April 2020.
Three cruises that were scheduled to depart this weekend are now cancelled. Booked guests and their travel agents are in the process of being notified. Guests on these three cruises cancelled this weekend will receive a 100 per cent refund and 100 per cent Future Cruise Credit.
With Holland America Line’s new ‘Book with Confidence’ policy, customers can now cancel for any reason (some restrictions do apply) and receive a Future Cruise Credit in the amount of their cancellation fees.
Bookings must meet all the eligibility criteria below:
• Cruise is booked in March or April 2020
• Cruise embarks between 1 April 2020 – 15 October 2020
• Cruise is cancelled no less than 30 days prior to sailing
If your booking meets the eligibility criteria, please ensure you perform the following steps to receive a Future Cruise Credit:
1. Cancel your booking through your travel agent or by calling Holland America Line.
2. Submit Book with Confidence Form to request your Future Cruise Credit no less than 30 days prior to sailing.
3. Receive email notification that your Future Cruise Credit has been applied in approximately two weeks.
Once the Future Cruise Credit has been applied to a customer’s account, they will have 90 days to redeem the credit, and will need to call their travel agent or Holland America Line to redeem.
Virgin Voyages
Virgin Voyages has postponed the inaugural season of Scarlet Lady until 15 July 2020, with the maiden voyage now taking place on 7 August 2020.
Guests can receive:
- 200 per cent in future voyage credit, which can be applied to another sailing, rather than a refund. This is double the value of an existing booking
- Guests can also receive up to $500 in on-board credit, if they re-book before 30 June 2020
- If a guest prefers to get a 100 per cent refund on a voyage for an impacted sailing, Virgin Voyages will issue one plus offer a 25 per cent future voyage credit on the value paid to use for a future booking
This article will be updated as more lines announce their policies.
For the latest advice on coronavirus, visit gov.uk.
Our view
The cruise industry is facing an unprecedented and ever-changing situation, and we are committed to keeping you informed with the most up-to-date news. However, we firmly believe that the cruise industry will bounce back. When it does, we’ll be on hand to help you get back to selling the cruises that people love.
