Royal Caribbean has decided to extend its flexible cancellation policy named “Cruise with Confidence” due to the suspension of operations and the uncertainty in travel worldwide. This will provide continued confidence for those planning a cruise vacation in the coming year.
Cruise with Confidence Program Extended
So the Cruise with Confidence program can be used through January 31, 2021, which allows guests to cancel a cruise up to 48 hours before departure. Guests can receive a full credit of the cruise fare paid for a future sailing through April 2022 for Royal Caribbean International and through May 4, 2022, for Celebrity Cruises.
Royal Caribbean Group chairman and CEO Richard Fain, said:
“We want our guests to feel they can safely keep their existing cruise bookings or schedule new sailings, because this policy gives them more freedom and flexibility.”
Here are the details announced by Royal Caribbean Group which owns both cruise lines along with the mid0ship cruise line Azamara:
- “Best Price Guarantee”: Guests can choose to change the price and promotional offer on their reservation up to 48 hours before their cruise.
- “Lift and Shift”: This option is ideal for those guests wishing to move their vacation plans to next year. Eligible between now and January 31, 2021, guests can protect their original cruise fare and promotional offering by shifting to a future sailing on the same itinerary type, sailing length, stateroom category, and within the same 4-week period of their original cruise date same-time-next-year. Bookings for 2021 sail dates may shift to 2022 only on current deployment open through April 30, 2022 (May 4, 2022 for Celebrity).
It is also best to visit each cruise line web site for more specific details on the Cruise with Confidence program.
Currently, Royal Caribbean has suspended operations through December 31, 2020, while it sets out its plan on resuming cruises. The CDC framework for the Conditional Sailing Order was announced on October 30, and since then, cruise lines have been planning a return.
It is not as simple to resume cruise and Royal Caribbean, along with other major cruise lines from the U.S., will have to stress-test new health protocols first, along with crew training and more. Royal Caribbean has already requested people to apply to become a “Volunteer of the Seas,” and there has already been a huge interest.
Carnival Cruise Line has already cancelled all U.S. cruises until February 2021 and even then, the restart will be very limited from just two homeports in Florida. With the extension on the cancellation policy could Royal Caribbean be about the announce the same?
Not long after the Cruise with Confidence program was extended previously, the cruise line also extended its suspension on operations. Planning the restart of cruises is proving to be a long and complex process. Royal Caribbean will need to get it right to make sure the CDC is happy and that the cruise industry is safe.
Photo Credit: Chris Allan / Shutterstock.com
