The ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic has disrupted life in countless ways. One of the most prominent ways that the spread of the deadly virus has changed lives is that many vacations have been canceled or postponed. No travel industry has been more affected than the cruise sector. Many travelers with booked cruises are wondering when and if they will be able to take their cruise family trip. Here are a few things to keep in mind about your upcoming vacation.
Current Status of Specific Lines
On March 13, the cruise industry was turned on its heels when all of the major players announced that they were suspending cruises. While the lines are continually updating their targeted re-opening dates, here are what a few of the most popular companies are looking at as far as confirmed cancellations and what you need to know about when will cruise lines resume:
- Carnival Cruises – As a general rule, Carnival has officially canceled all sailings through May 11. However, some sailings, including those to Alaska and out of San Francisco, have been called off for a longer period of time.
- Norweigian Cruise Lines – Norwegian is following the lead of other global lines and canceling its sailings through May 11 for now.
- Royal Caribbean – This massive cruise line has announced that it will resume most cruises on May 12, unless otherwise noted. Sailings to Canada, Alaska, and New England have been pushed back until July 1.
- Viking Cruises – This European favorite has suspended operations until at least July 1. Viking was also one of the first lines to begin canceling sailings in response to the growing pandemic as it began its march through Europe.
- Holland America Line – This cruise line has suspended operations to Alaska, Europe, Canada, and New England through at least June 30, going a few days beyond its chief competitors.
- Disney Cruise Line – This family-favorite is suspending all departures through May 17. The Disney Magic sailings are set to resume on June 8 while sailings to and from Vancouver are currently canceled through the end of June.
- Princess Cruises – Princess has been more aggressive in its cancellation approach, announcing that all sailings through June 30 are now canceled.
It should be noted that this is an extremely fluid situation. It is important to check with your particular line individually as re-opening dates vary widely and are continually changing as the virus progresses. For example, there are smaller cruise operators that have small to medium-sized vessels that can operate safely, Whitsundays Tour offers private charters for those wanting to go on a cruise holiday now. Also if you are interested in a Seattle to Alaska cruise, they are also available.
Moving Forward
It is hard to discern what cruising will look like as the various lines grapple with balancing the need to get back out on the water with keeping all passengers and crew healthy and safe. Cruise professionals have always had to work hard to prevent the spread of viruses or diseases on board. This means that they are in the unique position to employ tactics to keep the coronavirus from infiltrating the ships.
Passengers should expect to see a variety of new safeguards in place. For example, passengers may have their temperatures regularly checked before boarding. Self-serve buffets may also be temporarily eliminated in an effort to mitigate the spread of the disease. There also may be a suspension of being able to dine with other families while on board. As cruise lines adapt to this rapidly evolving situation, passengers need to be prepared to see some differences in the typical sailing experience.
Affected Ports
One thing that may change dramatically is that the port of call itineraries may have to be adjusted. For example, some travel experts theorize that cruising may be limited to domestic ports of call as government officials work to keep the spread of the virus as low as possible. Many global ports are indefinitely closed to foreign nationals. This could mean that your cruise to Mexico may be off, but you possibly may be able to enjoy a cruise in the Hawaiian islands.
It is safe to say that nobody knows definitively when and how cruise lines will resume in the upcoming months. The best thing that you can do now is to stay on top of the latest developments so that you can plan accordingly.