Due to the escalating global pandemic outbreak of the Covid-19 coronavirus, updated Government advisories and the impending lockdown of many ports around the world, here is a wrap up of the current policies released by the cruise lines.
CMV cruise operations suspended until 24 April 2020
Cruise & Maritime Voyages has announced that it will suspend all worldwide cruise operations for embarkations taking place from today for six weeks until 24 April 2020.
The cruise line’s top and overriding priority is the health and safety of its passengers and crew, according to CEO Christian Verhounig. As such, all CMV vessels will navigate to the nearest available disembarkation port and will be assisting with the repatriation of international passengers as required. Details of this will be advised in due course.
All affected passengers will be offered a full refund or a future cruise credit of 125% of the value of their cruise. This credit can be used against the best deal of the day including the current 2021 Buy One Get One Free Offers and 2020 Late Saver deals.
Passengers who opt to transfer will also enjoy a special 20% discount against CMV’s Onboard Additions packages, plus a 10% shore excursion discount, plus a one cabin category upgrade (subject to availability). The future cruise credit can be used to purchase any published cruises featured in CMV’s 2020 & 2021 cruise programs and must be booked by 31 July 2020.
NCL response to COVID19
Norwegian Cruise Line’s response to COVID-19 has led to the voluntarily suspension of cruise voyages across the fleet, effective immediately. This action is in effect for voyages with embarkation dates from 13 March to April 11, 2020, with plans to recommence and operate with embarkations beginning April 12, 2020.
Voyages that are underway will conclude and guests will be disembarked as soon as possible and assisted with travel arrangements. Other impacted guests and travel partners will be contacted with specific details shortly. Guests will be provided with future cruise credit and refund options.
Guests who are booked on voyages with embarkation dates from March 13 to March 17, 2020 are asked to contact their travel professional or contact the cruise line for more information. Guests will receive a 150% refund of the fare paid in the form of a future cruise credit, which can be applied toward any cruise through December 31, 2022.
Guests who are booked on voyages with embarkation dates from March 18 to April 11, 2020 are asked to contact their travel professional or the cruise line for more information. Guests will receive a 125% refund of the fare paid in the form of a future cruise credit, which can be applied toward any future cruise through December 31, 2022.
Guests who do not want to avail themselves of the future cruise credit will receive a 100% refund of the fare paid reimbursed to the original form of payment within 90 days of completing the request form online, which will be made available beginning March 23, 2020. Norwegian Cruise Line asks guests to wait to contact them regarding any refund until after March 23, 2020.
PO Cruises Australia voluntary 30 day pause of cruise operations
P&O Cruises Australia has announced a voluntary 30-day pause to its cruise operations. For guests whose future voyages have been cancelled during the 30 day period, P&O is offering a full refund – or a Future Cruise Credit equal to 200% of the cost of their original cruise. The cruise line is communicating with guests directly on voyages currently sailing.
The 30-day pause takes effect immediately, until P&O’s planned resumption of cruising on April 12 2020. The pause will affect cruises on Pacific Explorer, Pacific Dawn and Pacific Aria that were scheduled to depart Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide respectively.
P&O will make direct contact with guests whose cruises have been affected to let them know of this development and to apologise for the disruption. Decisions have also been made in relation to the P&O fleet’s current cruises.
- Pacific Explorer will return to Sydney for arrival as planned on Monday.
- Pacific Aria currently on a cruise to Tasmania will now return to Adelaide on Monday.
Announcing the pause, President of P&O Cruises Australia, Sture Myrmell, said the cruise line was confident in its existing public health measures to maintain a healthy onboard environment for guests and crew.
P&O says it is doing everything possible to return each guest home with the greatest amount of care. P&O will protect travel agent commissions on bookings for cancelled cruises that were paid in full and for the total amount of the future cruise credits.
The cruise line says it looks forward to resuming normal cruise operations from 12 April with a 10-night cruise on Pacific Aria from Auckland to the South Pacific (subject to the New Zealand Government’s clearance at that time). It will be followed two days later (14 April) with Pacific Explorer departing Sydney on a 10-night cruise to the South Pacific. On 18 April, Pacific Dawn will depart Brisbane on a three-day Comedy Cruise.
If the future cruise credit option does not work for you, please contact the Customer Sales & Service on 1300 550 491 (AU) / 0800 543 177 (NZ) from 9am Monday, 16 March 2020 so they can process a refund for the cruise fare paid to P&O Cruises. Please allow approximately 8 weeks for the refund to be received. The call centre expects to experience high call volumes and wait times during this period.
Holland America Line cruise updates
Due to the continued port closures and travel restrictions surrounding COVID-19 and in an abundance of caution, 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 April 14, 2020.
Three cruises that were scheduled to depart over the weekend were cancelled. Booked guests and their travel advisors are in the process of being notified. Guests on these three cruises cancelled this weekend will receive a 100% refund and 100% Future Cruise Credit. Guests currently booked on cruises beyond this weekend that will now not be operating will receive a communication from Holland America Line in the coming days regarding their options.
To fully support guests on the cruises that were cancelled for this weekend and who are in transit, Holland America Line kindly requests that all those booked on cruises next week or later do not call reservations for assistance just yet as hold times are expected to be very long. The line will be automatically working through the bookings of all impacted guests based on departure date and will send communications in the coming week regarding their options.
Read the full statement HERE
