Princess Cruises has updated its cancellation policy with incentives as the deadly coronavirus impacts the cruise industry.
Princess Cruises Cancellation Policy
Princess Cruises has followed its sister cruise line Carnival by updating its cancellation policy due to the continuing fear of the coronavirus across the world. The cruise line has been hit hard as Grand Princess is currently off the coast of California as tests for COVID-19 are underway and the Diamond Princess cruise ship which was under quarantine in Yokohama, Japan last month.
The new policy includes a range of incentives as guests worry about their upcoming cruises due to the impact of travel by the deadly virus. The details depend on the cruise departure date as follows:
- April 3, 2020 or earlier: Cancel up to 72 hours before sailing to receive Future Cruise Credit (FCC) for 100% of cancellation fees.
- April 4, 2020 – May 31, 2020: Cancel by March 31 and receive Future Cruise Credit for 100% of cancellation fees.
- June 1, 2020 – June 30, 2020: Final Payment moves to 60 days prior to sailing.
Just like Carnival Cruise line which we posted about here, Princess Cruises is offering onboard credit to those guests who decide to keep their booking. The credit which can be spent on the cruise ship and automatically added to the account is for departures between March 9 and May 31, 2020. Here are the details:
- $100 USD / $150 AUD per stateroom for 3 and 4-day cruises
- $150 USD / $225 AUD per stateroom for 5-day cruises
- $200 USD / $300 AUD per stateroom for 6 days and longer cruises
The final payment on cruises sailing June 1 through June 30 has also been revised. It is important to note that the future cruise credits are non-refundable, do check the full terms and conditions before amending and making any bookings.
The updated policy should help guests make their decision on going ahead with their cruise vacation easier. the majority of ships continue to sail as normal and Princess Cruises has strict health screenings in [place to help protect passengers and crew from COVID-19.
Also Read: Cruise Ship Remains Off California Coast During Coronavirus Tests
At the moment the virus has hit more than 100,000 infections worldwide and killed more than 3,300 with most of those in mainland China. Italy which is a popular cruise destination has a sharp increase in cases currently at more than 3,800 and 148 deaths.
