Cruise Lines Announce Suspensions, Credits, and Updated Policies

by  Donna Heiderstadt | Updated on Jan 13, 2021

Most ocean and river cruise lines have now extended the temporary suspension of all sailings into Spring and early Summer 2021 in response to the novel coronavirus COVID-19 global pandemic. 

All cruise lines continue to offer future cruise credits or full refunds to passengers booked on affected cruises. Many have also issued temporary cancellation policies, several allowing cancellation on sailings as late as 48 hours before embarkation for a future cruise credit. Be sure to check individual cruise line’s websites for specifics, but here are the newest suspension dates announced by the major cruise lines. Check back for updates as they are announced.

Read More: How the Travel Industry is Making it Easier to Book Trips Right Now

What Cruise Lines Have Suspended Sailings?

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line has temporarily suspended all cruises through March 31, 2021.

Guests who had an active reservation on a suspended cruise on Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Escape, and Norwegian Joy through March 2021 will automatically receive a refund of their cruise fare in the original form of payment for the amount paid by February 2, 2021. Additionally, a 10% off coupon will be automatically added to the guest's account which is valid for one year from date of issue, and can be used for any Norwegian Cruise Line voyage embarking through 2022 and is combinable with any FCCs and all future promotions at time of booking.

Guests who had an active reservation on a suspended cruise on Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Sky, Norwegian Sun, and Pride of America through March 2021 will automatically receive a refund of their cruise fare in the original form of payment for the amount paid by January 7, 2021. Discount Future Cruise Credits have already been delivered.

Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises has extended its cruise suspensions to include all voyage departures aboard Regatta, Nautica, Marina, Riviera, and Sirena through March 31, 2021, as well as select voyages in early April 2021. Oceania has also canceled all Insignia voyages through April 26, 2021. Guests booked on canceled voyages and paid in full will automatically receive a Future Cruise Credit worth 125% of the fare paid. This FCC will be issued automatically and may be applied to any Oceania voyage through December 31, 2022. Guests with deposits who have not paid in full, will receive refunds. Any paid-in-full guest wishing to receive a refund can ask for a full refund of the cruise fare paid. 

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises, the third brand in the Norwegian portfolio, has suspended all cruises departing through March 31, 2021 on Seven Seas Splendor,  Seven Seas Explorer,  Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Navigator, as well as the previously suspended cruises departing though April 2021 aboard Seven Seas Mariner. In addition, Regent has suspended its Full 2021 World Cruise. Guests who have paid in full will receive 100% Future Cruise Credit plus a bonus 25% Future Cruise Credit, or 100% refund (the default compensation will be the Future Cruise Credits). Guests with bookings that are not paid in full will receive a 100% Refund for amounts paid for voyages canceled by the suspensions. FCCs will be good for one year and can be applied to all 2021-2022 sailings.

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises has canceled all sailings through May 14, 2021; any eight-day or longer cruise to/from the United States through Nov. 1, 2021; and all cruises to and from Japan through June 25, 2021. It has also canceled its 2021 World Cruise on Island Princess and its 2021 Circle South America Cruise on Pacific Princess. Voyages sailing out of Australia on Majestic Princess, Regal Princess, Sapphire Princess, Sea Princess and Sun Princess are suspended through May 31, 2021. Paid-in-full guests on these cancelled voyages have the option to receive a refundable Future Cruise Credit (FCC) equivalent to 100% of the cruise fare paid plus an additional non-refundable bonus FCC equal to 25% of the cruise fare. Guests who have not paid in full can receive a refundable FCC for the money on deposit plus a matching bonus FCC (which is non-refundable, will not exceed the base fare of the booked cruise, and will have a minimum value of $100 per person) that can be used on any voyage through Dec. 31, 2022.

Viking 

Viking has suspended all sailings through March 31, 2021. Guests whose cruises fall within this window can choose from a future cruise credit worth 125% of the cruise fare (plus two years to use it) or a full refund. 

Virgin Voyages 

Virgin Voyages, the new cruise line created by Richard Branson, announced that the inaugural tour of its first ship, Scarlet Lady — which debuted in March in England —is now scheduled for early May, 2021. Its second ship, Valiant Lady, is set to debut in November 2021.

Read More: 8 Things to Know About the New Virgin Voyages

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line has suspended sailings on all four of its ships—Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, Disney Magic and Disney Wonder—through Feb. 28, 2021. Select sailings of seven nights or more are also canceled in May, June and July. Guests who have booked and fully paid for affected voyages have the choice of a cruise credit to be used for a future sailing or a full refund. Guests who are not paid in full will automatically receive a refund of what they have paid. 

Windstar Cruises

Windstar Cruises has extended its cruise suspensions further into 2021. Wind Spirit will resume sailing in Tahiti on May 30, 2021 and and Star Breeze in the Caribbean on May 15.  Star Legend, Wind Star and Wind Surf will resume sailing in the Mediterranean on May 1, May 19 and May 9, respectively. Star Pride will return on July 14 2021 in Northern Europe. Windstar is offering guests on canceled cruises a future cruise credit of 125% of the fare paid. The credit can be used within 24 months. Passengers can also opt for a full refund.

Uniworld

Uniworld has suspended all river cruises worldwide through early 2021.

AmaWaterways

AmaWaterways has extended its river cruise suspensions through early 2021. The cruise line will automatically issue a Future Cruise Credit equal to 115% of the value of the funds received for all purchased services through AmaWaterways (cruise, hotel/land, air, etc.), redeemable on any AmaWaterways river cruise in Europe, Asia, or Africa (including Egypt) embarking through December 31, 2022.

Avalon Waterways 

Avalon Waterways announced it has suspended all cruises through January 31, 2021 for guests from the United States. All cruises passengers booked on canceled cruises can rebook without penalty on any itinerary through 2022. They will also receive a $200 per person bonus credit on their new reservation.

Scenic & Emerald

The company that operates Scenic and Emerald river cruise lines (along with the Scenic Eclipse expedition cruise ship) is suspending all river sailings through March 31. The Scenic Group is offering booked guests flexible future travel credits valued at 110% for most cruises. Guests will be able to apply the future travel Credits on any new or existing booking on any of the brands (Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Scenic Eclipse, Emerald Cruises and Evergreen Cruises & Tours) through December 31, 2023 and the Future Travel Credit is fully transferrable to another guest.

Read More: What Does the Coronavirus Mean for Travelers? Here's What You Need to Know

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean has suspended sailings worldwide through April 30, with the exception of Quantum of the Seas in Singapore an Spectrum of the Seas in China. Guests booked on cruises during the suspension period have the option of receiving a 125% future cruise credit (which can be used on sailings through April 30, 2022) or requesting a full refund. Flights or hotel accommodations booked directly through Royal Caribbean will also be refunded.

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises, which is a division of Royal Caribbean International, has suspended all cruises worldwide through April 30, 2021. Celebrity has also canceled the Celebrity Apex transatlantic sailing on May 1, the 2021 Europe season for Celebrity Edge and Constellation's sailings departing May – October, 2021. The cruise line is offering a future cruise credit of 125%. valid for sailings booked by December 31, 2021. Alternatively, passengers can opt for a full refund.

Azamara

Azamara has suspended cruises worldwide through April 30, 2021. Guests booked on affected cruises can opt for a 125% future cruise credit — valid for cruises booked by December 31, 2021 and taken through April 30, 2023 — or a full refund of the fare paid. Air, hotel, excursions, or specialty dining packages purchased through Azamara will also be fully refunded.

Silversea

Silversea has suspended sailings until spring 2021. Silver Origin will return on April 3, 2021; Silver Moon will debut on April 1, 2021; Silver Spirit will resume sailing on April 20, 2021, followed by Silver Shadow on April 28, 2021; Silver Cloud on May 5, 2021; Silver Muse on May 20, 2021; Silver Wind on June 14, 2021; Silver Whisper on June 20, 2021; and Silver Explorer on May 28, 2021. Silver Dawn is now scheduled to debut on November 9, 2021. Guests booked on cancelled voyages will receive a 110% cruise fare refund in the form of a Future Cruise Credit (valid for two years from issuance), which can be applied toward any future cruise. FCCs are transferable to family and friends, can be used partially and can be applied on more than one new booking. 

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line has suspended all sailings through April 30, 202, with additional dates canceled throughout 2021 and into 2022 on select ships that have left the fleet. In addition, the inaugural of Carnival Mardi Gras has been pushed to May 29, 2021 and Carnival Legend’s European itineraries have been suspended through Oct. 31, 202. For all canceled cruises, check here. Guests booked on canceled sailings can receive either a 100% Future Cruise Credit (valid if booked by May, 31, 2021 for use on sailings departing through April 30, 2023) plus an onboard credit per stateroom of $600 (for sailings of 6 or more days) and $300 for sailings of five days or less. Guests can also opt for a 100% refund.

Holland America Line

Holland America Line has canceled sailings on all ships through April 30, 2021. In addition, the line has canceled all Alaska cruises on Konigsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam and Noordam through mid-May and Eurodam, Oosterdam and Zuiderdam through early June; Mediterranean cruises on Volendam and Westerdam through early June; and New England/Canada cruises on Zaandam through August. Guests who paid in full on cancelled sailings will receive 125% future cruise credit, which is valid for 12 months and can be used on any future cruises departing through December 31, 2022. Holland America also announced that until it fully understands the requirements of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Framework for Conditional Sailing, it has (temporarily) stopped selling all cruises eight days and longer that call on a U.S. port and depart January 1 through November 1, 2021. 

Seabourn

Seabourn has suspended all sailings through Spring 2021. Seabourn Ovation will return April 18, 2021 and Seabourn Encore on May 28, 2021. In addition, select itineraries on Seabourn Odyssey (not 7-day Alaska/British Columbia and Pacific Coast cruises) through Nov. 5, 2021 and voyages longer than seven days on Seabourn Quest that call on a U.S. port from July 22, 2021 to Nov. 6, 2021 are canceled. Guests on canceled sailings will receive 125% future cruise credit, which can be used on any future cruise through December 31, 2022; alternatively, they can also opt for a full refund. Seabourn also announced that until it fully understands the requirements of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Framework for Conditional Sailing, it has (temporarily) stopped selling all cruises eight days and longer that call on a U.S. port and depart January 1 through November 1, 2021. 

Crystal Cruises

Crystal has canceled all ocean, river and yacht cruises through April 30, 2021. Crystal also said it will postpone the launch of its new Crystal Endeavor expedition ship until May 2021. Guests booked and fully paid on affected sailings will receive credit equal to 125% of their cruise fare paid, valid on any Crystal ocean, river or yacht cruise embarking through December 31, 2023.

Cunard

Cunard has suspended all sailings through spring 2021 and has put on hold all cruises 8 days or longer that call on U.S. ports through Nov. 1, 2021. . In addition, Cunard has cancelled all Queen Elizabeth sailings through the end of 2021, but has replaced those cruises with a program of shorter duration European sailings from Southampton and Mediterranean voyages from Barcelona beginning June 4, 2021.

MSC Cruises

Italy-based MSC Cruises, which just resumed limited cruises in the Mediterranean for European citizens in September, has suspended all sailings to the Caribbean through at least Feb. 28, 2021 and has canceled or made select itinerary changes to it cruise schedules. Check the MSC website for details on specific ships.

Tauck

Tauck has paused all cruises through Jan. 31, 2021.

CroisiEurope

France-based river cruise line CroisiEurope had resumed sailings on some rivers in Europe and South Africa, and has paused all sailings through December 31, 2020. Check the company’s website for details.

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