Updated: Cruise Lines Temporarily Suspend Operations Due to Coronavirus

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. We will be updating this list daily, if necessary. Latest Update: April 9, 2020

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, owner of Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, has temporarily suspended all cruise voyages. Norwegian Cruise Line has extended the suspension of its ship operations through May 10, 2020. All 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. Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises have also extended their voluntary temporary suspension of voyages embarking through May 10, 2020.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., who owns Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara, TUI Cruises, Silversea Cruises, and Pullmantur announced on March 24, 2020 they would be extending the voluntary suspension of all ship operations until May 12, 2020. in a press release they said, "Given global public health circumstances, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has decided to extend the suspension of sailings of our global fleet. We are working with our guests to address this disruption to their vacations, and we are genuinely sorry for their inconvenience. We are also working with our crew to sort out the issues this decision presents for them. We expect to return to service on May 12, 2020. Because of announced port closures, we expect to return to service for Alaska, Canada and New England sailings July 1, 2020."

Silversea Cruises announced they would also be extending the suspensions not only their US-based fleet, but their entire fleet around the world. The first voyage on Silverseas will resume May 16, 2020. 

TUI Cruises has postponed the launch of TUI River Cruises and canceled all sailings until May 2, 2020. Those booked on departures up to and including May 2 will receive a full refund or can re-book onto any other available sailing until October 31, 2020. If they choose to amend to a later sailing and the new cruise is more expensive, the difference in cost will be covered. If it costs less than the original booking, they will be refunded the difference.

Carnival Corporation

Carnival Corporation's Carnival Cruise Line has extended suspensions on all operations until May 11, 2020. Carnival Alaska sailings have been suspended through June 30, 2020. All Carnival San Francisco sailings have been canceled through the remainder of 2020. Cunard North America has extended suspensions of operations until May 15, 2020. Seabourn announced it will suspend operations through May 14, 2020. Princess Cruises has suspended all operations until May 10, 2020. Holland America Line has suspended operations through May 14, 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."

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 has extended the suspension of all cruise operations until April 28, 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 June 30, 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 March 24, 2020 they would extend the canceled all their river cruises in Europe and Asia through May 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 April 23, 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 from March 15 to April 8. 

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 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.