Princess Cruises has announced an even further extension to its suspension of operations through June 30, 2020 due to the current global crisis.
Princess Cruises Extends Voluntary Suspension
Princess Cruises has followed sister line Carnival Cruise Line by extending its voluntary suspension of cruise operations due to the current global health crisis. The cruise line has now cancelled cruises through June 30, 2020.
This comes after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced an extension to its “No Sail Order” which impacts many cruise lines under its jurisdiction. Princess Cruises has been on pause since March 12 and that pause in operations was originally set to end on May 10 after an earlier extension.
Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises, said:
“This global outbreak continues to challenge our world in unimaginable ways. We recognize how disappointing this is to our long-term business partners and thousands of employees, many of whom have been with us in Alaska for decades.”
“We hope everyone impacted by these cancellations – especially our guests, travel advisor partners, teammates, and the communities we visit – understand our decision to do our part to protect the safety, health and well-being of our guests and team. We look forward to the brighter days and smooth seas ahead for all of us.”
The Carnival-owned cruise line has also announced modifications to its Alaska season. This means the cancellation of all Princess Gulf cruise and cruisetours. Also, the five wilderness lodges, trains, and buses operated by Princess will not be open during the Summer. However, cruises from Seattle, Washington on the Emerald Princess and Ruby Princess will resume after the suspension and depending on developments.
The impact to cruises:
- All cruises and cruisetours departing May 11 through June 30, 2020.
- All 2020 Coral, Grand, Pacific and Royal Princess Alaska cruise and cruisetour itineraries departing after May 11, 2020. Due to the shortened summer season, the five wilderness lodges, trains and buses operated by Princess in Alaska will not open this summer.
- Alaska cruises roundtrip from San Francisco on Star Princess and roundtrip from Los Angeles on Golden Princess departing after May 11, 2020. Cruise line remains optimistic that Emerald and Ruby Princess will still offer roundtrip cruises from Seattle in the summer.
- Enchanted Princess’ sailings in Europe through July 31, 2020; due to the significant impact the COVID-19 outbreak has had on Italy and our shipbuilding partners.
- Sun Princess sailings June through September 4, 2020 due to rescheduling of the 2020 Summer Olympics.
- Diamond Princess sailings’ departing May 11 through August 4, 2020.
Here are sailings impacted in Australia:
- Sun Princess – 2 June San Francisco, 27 June Auckland
- Sea Princess – 8 May Auckland, 12 May Sydney, 14 May Brisbane, 3 June Dubai, 2 July London (Dover), 21 July New York City, 23 August Auckland
- Sapphire Princess – 12 May Perth (Fremantle), 22 May Perth (Fremantle), 25 May Perth (Fremantle), 4 June Perth (Fremantle), 8 June Perth (Fremantle)
Princess Cruises is offering guests on the cancelled sailings with two options. Those who have paid in full will receive a Future Cruise Credit of the amount paid along with an extra 25%. This option must be used on a cruise which departs by May 1, 2022. Guests can also get a full refund if they choose not to sail with the cruise line, this must be done by May 31, 2020. All the details can be found on the cruise line’s web site.
This news comes as Carnival Cruise Line just announced an extension to its pause on operations through June 26 but only for North American sailings, you can read more about that right here.
