Here’s the latest round of cruise news updates
We’ve got cruise news from Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Group, and good news from AIDA Cruises and Costa Cruises. We’ve even got some special news from Virgin Voyages. There’s lots happening in cruise news this week. The news coming from Norwegian Cruise Line is unexpected, but could have been worse. It’s a mixed bag of cruise news, but all in all mostly good news. Tune in and find out what’s happening.
Norwegian Cruise Line announces an extension of the suspension of cruises to include all cruises embarking through May 2021.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. which operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands, announced on their website an extension of its suspension of global cruise voyages as they continue to work through its return to service plan to meet the requirements of the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”).
The suspension now includes all voyages on Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Guests who had an active reservation on a suspended cruise in May 2021 will automatically receive a refund of their cruise fare in the original form of payment for the amount paid by March 23, 2021. Additionally, a 10% off coupon will be automatically added to the guest’s account, if the guest has not already received one for a previously cancelled sailing. The 10% FCC coupon is valid for one year from date of issue, and can be used for any Norwegian Cruise Line voyage embarking through 2022 and is combinable with any other Future Cruise Credits and all future promotions at time of booking. Seven Seas Cruises embarking through May 31, 2021.
What NCL is saying about 2021 Alaska Cruises
Following The Government of Canada’s Interim Order which calls for the suspension of passenger cruising in Canadian waters through February 2022, we will temporarily halt the acceptance of bookings for our 2021 Alaska season. At this time we have not cancelled any voyages in our 2021 Alaska season and are currently exploring several initiatives that may allow such cruises to continue.
We are working through all available options as quickly as possible, and given the fluidity of the current environment, we will also continue to work with the Canadian government to amend the current suspension. We will continue to keep all travel partners and guests updated as the situation progresses, and we thank them for their patience.
Cruise news from Virgin Voyages
Virgin Voyages today announced the launch of its new “Shipload of Love” commitment, giving away 2,021 cruises on the new Scarlet Lady.
Virgin said in a press release that this initiative is meant to pay tribute to “those who have impacted our lives in a meaningful way,” with nominations set to open soon for those that may be deserving of a free trip.
Entrants will be asked to submit a short video on the Shipload of Love website, sharing their personal nomination and demonstrating why their nominee should sail on the Shipload of Love. Virgin will open up the first 1,000 nominations this Sunday, Feb. 14.
Submissions will be accepted through March 16, 2021. In addition to submitting a video on the Virgin Voyages website, participants are also encouraged to share the love across their social channels.
Small ship cruise news
Small ships ARE planning to cruise to Alaska
The Alaska cruise market may consist of just four key operators in 2021, led by Alaskan Dream Cruises, American Cruise Lines, Lindblad Expeditions and UnCruise, which feature small ships sailing under the U.S. flag without the need to visit a foreign port.
Unaffected by Canada’s cruise ship ban, UnCruise will become the biggest cruise operator in Alaska for the 2021 summer, followed by Lindblad Expeditions on a capacity basis, according to the 2021 Cruise Industry News Annual Report.
“Alaska here we come. UnCruise is going to be there,” said Dan Blanchard, CEO of UnCruise, in a press conference on Friday.
The company is planning a six-ship Alaska deployment in 2021, and could grow to seven ships if demand is there, Blanchard said.
“The small U.S.-flagged fleet is going to be there,” Blanchard said, noting that bookings are being driven by customers who are receiving their vaccines.
Cruise news from Costa and more.
Costa Restarts Cruises With New Program From March 27 With Costa Smeralda And From May 2 With Costa Luminosa
The cruise ships of Costa Cruises, the Italian company of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), are ready to set sail again and offer guests holidays filled with leisure and relaxation, along with enhanced health and safety protocols.
The restart begins with the departure of the flagship Costa Smeralda, scheduled for March 27 with an unchanged itinerary, sailing guests to beautiful Italian locations, with 3- and 4-day mini-cruises or alternatively a 7-day cruise, calling at Savona, La Spezia, Civitavecchia, Naples, Messina and Cagliari.
From May 1, Costa Smeralda will return to sailing one-week cruises in the western Mediterranean, with visits to Italy (Savona, Civitavecchia and Palermo), France (Marseille) and Spain (Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca).
A second ship, Costa Luminosa, will also be back in service, departing from Trieste from May 2, and the following day from Bari, confirming its program of one-week cruises in Greece and Croatia.
AIDA Cruises has announced that it will open its 2021 cruise season starting March 20 with the AIDAperla sailing around the Canary Islands.
The German cruise line said that the Canaries is a favorite “fly and cruise” vacation for German travelers looking to enjoy the region’s “eternal spring” weather and unique destinations.
This comes just days after the German government extended its lockdown until March 7. On January 8, AIDA postponed its cruises until March 6.
Royal Caribbean Announces 2022-2023 Northeast Program from NYC and Boston
Royal Caribbean International announced it 2022-2023 program aboard the Adventure, Anthem and Voyager of the Seas sailing from New York (Bayonne) and Boston on sailings from four to 11 nights.
The new sailings from the Northeast departing from May 2022 to April 2023 are now open for sale.
The Adventure of the Seas will return to Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey to sail a combination of itineraries to Bermuda, the Caribbean and Canada.
New York will also see the return of the Anthem of the Seas when it arrives from Southampton, England in October 2022. The ship will set out on seven-night cruises to The Bahamas that include full days in Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay. Guests looking for extended time in the tropics can opt for one of Anthem’s 11-night southern Caribbean sailings to iconic isles such as San Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. John’s, Antigua; Castries, St. Lucia; and Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis.
The Voyager of the Seas will make her Boston debut, including seven-night sailings to Canada, including Saint John, Halifax, as well as Bar Harbor and Portland. There is also a seven-night cruise with stops in the Dominican Republic and St. Thomas as well as a day at Perfect Day at CocoCay.
See more cruise news here.
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