Princess Cruises will not be resuming cruising until the end of the summer season at the earliest owing to the global damage wreaked by Covid-19.
It said the “extremely difficult decision” had been forced on them by a combination of reduced air flight availability, closure of cruise ports around the world and other factors impacting international travel.
The decision affects the following cruises and associated cruisetours:
- All remaining Alaska cruises on Emerald Princess and Ruby Princess
- All remaining Europe and Transatlantic cruises on Enchanted Princess, Regal Princess, Sky Princess, Crown Princess and Island Princess
- Summer Caribbean cruises and all Canada & New England cruises on Caribbean Princess and Sky Princess
- Summer to autumn cruises departing from Japan on Diamond Princess
- Australia-based cruises on Sapphire Princess and Sea Princess through August
- July cruises sailing from Taiwan on Majestic Princess
- Autumn cruises sailing to Hawaii and French Polynesia on Pacific Princess through November
Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises, said: “As the world is still preparing to resume travel, it is with much disappointment that we announce an extension of our pause of global ship operations and the cancellation of cruise holidays for our loyal guests.
“Among other disruptions, airlines have limited their flight availability and many popular cruise ports are closed. It saddens us to think about the impact on the livelihood of our teammates, business partners and the communities we visit.”
Guests currently booked on these cancelled voyages, who have paid Princess in full, will have the option to receive a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) equivalent to 100 pr cent of the cruise fare paid plus an additional bonus FCC equal to 25 per cent of the cruise fare.
For guests who have not paid in full, Princess will double the deposit, providing a refundable FCC for the money currently on deposit plus a matching bonus FCC that can be used on any voyage through 1 May, 2022. The matching bonus FCC will not exceed the base cruise fare amount of the currently booked cruise and will have a minimum value of £100 per person.
Alternatively, guests can request a full refund for all monies paid. Requests online must be received by 15 June or they will receive the refundable Future Cruise Credit option.