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Apply for travel industry jobs or advertise your own recruitment brief.UPDATED: Cruise lines suspend operations and axe itineraries
A number of cruise lines have cancelled or amended sailings as the coronavirus crisis continues to grip the globe.
The move comes as the UK Foreign Office issued new travel advice warning cruises were no longer being allowed to dock in the UAE “as a result of measures taken to combat coronavirus”.
This list was last updated by TTG at 3.45pm on Monday 16 March.
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises has suspended operations across its entire fleet of 18 ships for two months.
Royal Caribbean
RCCL has cancelled all its global operations until 11 April.
Fred Olsen
This cruise line has suspended its ocean sailings until 23 May.
A full refund or a future cruise voucher costing up to 125% of the original fare is being offered.
MSC Cruises
It has also adjusted a number of itineraries. MSC Grandiosa will homeport in Barcelona from 19 March, while sailings have been cancelled on MSC Opera until 26 April, due to the “inability of guests to embark through Italy”.
In South America MSC Fantasia’s sailing from 28 March has been cancelled, as has MSC Sinfonia’s Grand Voyage sailing from Santos, Brazil on 13 March to Venice, with guests offered MSC Seaview from Santos on 19 March to Barcelona instead.
In the Caribbean, MSC Divinia’s Grand Voyage from Miami to Genoa has been cancelled, as well as Mediterranean cruises scheduled for 11,18 and 25 April onboard the ship.
Meanwhile, the line has been forced to cancel a number of cruises following the UAE’s change in travel advice. A gulf cruise onboard MSC Bellissima on 14 March has been cancelled as well as a voyage from Dubai on 21 March to Yokohama, Japan.
Gulf cruises onboard MSC Lirica have also been cancelled up to 11 April.
Silversea
The cruise line has amended four itineraries each on Silver Shadow and Silver Spirit to avoid all Italian ports through April and May 2020.
The line is offering a 25% Future Cruise Credit to all booked guests who choose to retain their bookings.
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Viking cruises
It has also temporarily suspended river and ocean cruise operations until May, as the coronavirus crisis makes travel “exceedingly complicated”.
Saga
Saga has suspended cruises until 1 May following government advice for over-70s with existing medical conditions not to cruise.
"This is a decision we have not taken lightly. However, with the current circumstances, we no longer believe that we can give you the cruise experience you would expect from Saga," the company said.
A future cruise credit is being offered for affected customers to the value of 25% lasting for 24 months.
"This means if you choose to amend your booking to a future date, the full amount you have paid for your cruise, plus an extra 25% will be transferred to that booking; or we can send you a voucher for this amount to be redeemed against any future cruise credit," Saga explained.
Uniworld
It has suspended sailings until 23 April with passengers booked set to receive a future cruise credit valid for the next two years.
For bookings after 23 April, guests can cancel up to 14 days before departure and rebook on any 2020 or 2021 cruise without penalty or have the option to rebook with one of Uniworld’s TTC sister brands – from Trafalgar to Insight Vacations – for 2020 to 2021.
AmaWaterways
It has delayed the start of its 2020 European sailing season until 26 April 26. It has also suspend its Mekong cruises starting 23 March.
Customers can receive a future cruise credit equal to 115% of the value of what has been paid or a full refund. The cruise credit also is applicable on all Europe or Mekong sailings before 31 December, 2022.
The line will also fully protect commission of travel agents whose clients opt for a cruise credit, as well as pay an additional 10% commission on the value of the future booking. Plus, the company will pay full commission on the fare difference, if applicable.
Celesyal Cruises
Celesyal has suspended all sailings until 1 May.
The Greek Islands and the Mediterranean specialist is offering guests who have paid in full either a future cruise credit valued at 120% of the original booking value or a refund.
Scenic Group
It has suspended all its scheduled cruises until the 30 April.
Anyone with affected tickets will be given either a refund or cruise credit worth 125% of the original booking.
P&O and Cunard
This cruise line have suspended operations until 11 April.
A-Rosa River Cruises
It has temporarily suspended its cruises on the Danube, Rhone and Seine until 16 March.
Holland America Line
Holland America Line has paused its operations on all its 14 ships for 30 days, impacting sailings until 14 April.
It said it will ensure any passengers currently on a cruise will return safely home and stressed there had been no cases of Covid-19 on its ships.
Tui
The major company has postponed the launch of its river cruise fleet and cancelled all sailings until after 2 May.
Customers booked on to departures will receive a full refund or can rebook onto any other available sailing until 31 October.
CroisiEurope
Postponing all cruises until 15 April, CroisiEurope is giving any affected passengers the equivalent of the cost of their ticket back in credit and an £150 voucher per person for a future cruise.
Bookings made between 16 March and 1 May, for departures until 31 August, can be cancelled for free up to 30 days before departure date.
Sophie Griffiths
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