Updated: Cruise Lines Temporarily Suspend Operations Due to Coronavirus

Please visit Cruise Lines Announce Return to Sailing Dates for updated information provided by each cruise line. 

In light of the fast-spreading Coronavirus, multiple cruise lines have announced that they will be temporarily suspending all ship operations for varying lengths of time. Below is a list of the companies/lines that have suspended voyages. Latest Update: May 14, 2020. 

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, owner of Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, have temporarily suspended all cruise voyages through July 31, 2020. Norwegian Cruise Line guests affected will automatically receive their refund in the form of a future cruise credit valued at 125% of the fare paid. These future cruise credits will be issued by Friday April 3, 2020, and can be applied anytime within one year of the issue date and toward any Norwegian Cruise Line voyage through December 31, 2022. 

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., who owns Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara, TUI Cruises, Silversea Cruises announced they would be extending the voluntary suspension of all ship operations until June 11, 2020. In a statement, Royal Caribbean Cruises wrote, "In accordance with guidance provided from the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd will suspend all cruise operations through June 11, 2020, as we work together to contain the further spreading of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) illness. Health and safety remain our utmost priorities during this unprecedented time." Pullmantur Cruises, owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Lt d., announced on May 5 they would be suspending operations through July 3, 2020. 

Carnival Corporation

Carnival Corporation's Carnival Cruise Line announced on May 4 it has extended its temporary suspension through the end of August. Carnival Sunrise's seasonal itineraries out of New York this summer and into the fall. Cunard North America has extended suspensions of operations through July 31, 2020. All 2020 Alaska sailings on Cunard's Queen Elizabeth, including voyages up until September 8, 2020 have been canceled. Seabourn announced on May 6 it has extended the cancellation of its five ships into October and November. Holland America Line has decided to extend its pause of global cruise operations and cancel all Alaska, Europe and Canada/New England cruises in 2020. In addition, Amsterdam will not operate the 79-day Grand Africa voyage that would have departed on October 3. P&O Cruises announced that they would be pausing all operations through July 31, 2020. In a press release, Carnival Corporation said that "Individually, each brand is communicating with guests to provide direction regarding the disruption to their cruise vacations. Date of resumed cruise operations also will be communicated by each respective brand and available on their websites."

Princess Cruises has suspended all operations through the summer — the following are further cancelations and details: 

• All remaining Alaska cruises on Emerald Princess and Ruby Princess in 2020
• All remaining Europe and Transatlantic cruises on Enchanted Princess, Regal Princess, Sky Princess, Crown Princess, and Island Princess in 2020
• Summer Caribbean cruises and all Canada & New England cruises on Caribbean Princess and Sky Princess
• Summer to Fall 2020 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
• Fall cruises sailing to Hawaii and French Polynesia on Pacific Princess through November 

MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises has extended the temporary suspension of its cruise operations until May 29, 2020. MSC is offering guests affected by the canceled cruises the opportunity to transfer 100% of the money paid for their canceled vacation plus an additional credit benefit to a future cruise of their choice at any point through the end of 2021. If the future cruise credit is not used by that date, guests will receive a full refund of the cruise fare. "As governments across the globe have since further strengthened ashore public health and safety measures to protect local populations and contain the further spread of the virus, today’s decision by MSC Cruises to further extend this extraordinary measure aims to mirror and further support the effectiveness of such efforts," said MSC Cruises in a statement. 

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line suspends sailings of Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy through June 18, and Disney Magic through July 2. Disney Cruise Line is also canceling Disney Magic departures through July 2, 2020.  Guests currently booked on affected sailings will be offered the choice of a cruise credit to be used for a future sailing within 15 months of their original sail date or a full refund. On April 6, Disney announced all Disney Wonder Canada sailings have been canceled through June. In light of this cancellation, Disney Cruise Line is offering your clients the choice of a 125% future cruise credit to be used for a future sailing within 15 months of their original sail date, or a full refund. 

Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages has delayed the launch of its first cruise ship, Scarlet Lady. Originally slated to debut at the beginning of April, the ship will now operate its first passenger cruise on August 7, 2020. In a statement from Richard Branson and Tom McAlphin, they said that "our team has made the very difficult decision to postpone Showcase Tour launch and inaugural sailing season for Scarlet Lady until July 15, 2020, with our Maiden Voyage taking place August 7, 2020...we are offering a range of options from a full refund and a voyage credit to extra special bonuses if you book a future sailing."

Costa Cruises

Carnival Corporation's Costa Cruises brand announced on April 9 it would be extending the suspension of all cruise operations through May 30, 2020. 

Viking Cruises

Viking Cruises, which operates both a river ship fleet as well as an ocean fleet, has extended the suspension of all cruise operations until June 30, 2020. "On March 11, 2020, Viking was the first cruise line to temporarily suspend operations of our river and ocean cruises. Our commitment to our family of guests and employees is that their safety and wellbeing is always our top priority. In that spirit, we have made the decision to extend our temporary suspension of operations through June 30, 2020," said Viking in an official statement. 

Crystal Cruises

Crystal River Cruises is suspending voyages scheduled to embark from March 26 to April 11. Ocean ship Crystal Esprit’s April 10 sailing that falls into that timeframe is canceled, too. Crystal Cruises' other two ocean ships Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony will begin sailing again on April 21 and May 8, respectively. 

Avalon Waterways

Avalon Waterways has suspended all voyages through August 31, 2020. They also announced a "Peace of Mind" plan for trips booked during the closure period. Travelers can reschedule their vacation in 2020, 2021, or 2022 to any destination or brand without cancellation fees.

AmaWaterways

AmaWaterways announced on May 5 they would extend the canceled all their river cruises in Europe and Asia through July 31, 2020. They will be offering a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) equal to 115% of the value of  AmaWaterways purchased services, redeemable on any river cruise sailing through December 31, 2022. Affected passengers can also choose to receive a full refund instead.

Uniworld

Uniworld has suspended all European river cruises until June 30, 2020. Those who are booked on an affected cruise, may rebook travel dates to any 2020 or 2021 cruise, or receive a Future Cruise Credit eligible to be used during the next 24 months.

The Scenic Group

The Scenic Group, which owns Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Emerald Cruises, and Evergreen Cruises & Tours has suspended all river cruise operations through April 30, 2020. Affected passengers can receive a 125% Future Travel Credit for the full value of the trip to be used for a river or ocean cruise within the next 24 months based on their date of cancellation or a full refund of the value of the Scenic booking. Due to the situation in Southeast Asia with several government restricted access to ports and points of disembarkation along the Mekong River, Scenic can't continue operations there so they have canceled the remaining river cruises there for the season up until mid-May. 

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line

Bahamas Paradise has suspended all cruises through May 7, 2020. 

Star Clippers

Star Clippers' ship Star Clipper has suspended Asia sailings until April 11, Royal Clipper sailings have been suspended until May 11, and Star Flyer has suspended cruises until May 2, 2020.

Hurtigruten 

Hurtigruten announced on April 6 it was suspending all operations until May 20, 2020. All Hurtigruten expedition cruises have been suspended until May 12, 2020. In addition, Hurtigruten’s Alaska expedition cruise season has been postponed to July. 

Updated May 14 to include suspension update from Avalon Waterways. 

Updated May 7 to include suspension update from Holland America Line and Seabourn. 

Updated May 6 to include suspension update from Princess Cruises.

Updated May 5 to include suspension update from Pullmantur Cruises and AmaWaterways. 

Updated May 4 to include suspension update from Carnival Cruise Line.

Updated April 28 at 9:39 am to include suspension updates from Disney Cruise Line.

Updated April 24 at 11:56 am to include suspension updates from Oceania and Regent Seven Seas. 

Updated April 24 at 9:55 am to include suspension update from Norwegian Cruise Line. 

Updated April 23 at 12:18 pm to include suspension updates from Cunard and Uniworld.

Updated April 23 at 10:02 am to include suspension of P&O Cruises. 

Updated on April 16 at 5:04 pm to include the revises suspension date of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Updated on April 15 at 9:30 am to include a revised suspension date and the cancelation of Alaska cruise tours for Princess Cruises.

Updated on April 14 at 11:01 am to include a revised suspension date for Dinsey Cruise Line and Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line. 

Updated on April 13 at 10:13 am to include a revised suspension date for Carnival Cruises. 

Updated April 9 at 7:04 pm to update the suspension date of Costa Cruises.

Updated April 6 at 2:06 pm to include suspension of Disney Wonder sailings.

Updated on April 6 at 10:49 am to include suspensions by Hurtigruten. 

Updated on April 1 at 10:07 am to include additional suspensions and cancellations by Carnival Cruise Line.

Updated on March 30 at 6:09 pm to include the extension of suspension by Viking Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. 

Updated on March 30 at 12:57 pm to include the extension of suspension by Disney Cruise Line 

Updated on March 30 at 10:46 am to include the extension of suspensions by Carnival Corporation and MSC Cruises

Updated on March 26 at 10:15 am to include the date of Princess Cruises suspension

Updated on March 24 at 6:15 pm to include the extension of suspensions by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., AmaWaterways, Costa Cruises, 

Updated on March 17 at 9:45 am to include Star Clippers.

Updated at 1 pm to include TUI River Cruises.

Updated on March 16 at 10 am to include Silversea' and Disney's updates, Bahamas Paradise, AmaWaterways, The Scenic Group, Uniworld, and Crystal Cruises. 

Updated on March 14 at 12:45 pm to include the Carnival Corporation brands.

Updated at 7 pm to add Carnival and Costa. 

Originally published on March 13 at 5:30 pm.