7th May 2020 11:24
(Alliance News) - Anglo-American cruise operator Carnival PLC on Thursday said Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, and Seabourn all have extended the docking of their ships as pandemic uncertainty continues.
Luxury travel unit Seabourn will extend its global operations pause, already spanning March 14 to June 30, with voyages on all five of its ships cancelled through to either October or November, depending on the ship. Seabourn cited "unpredictable circumstances continuing to evolve from the global response to the Covid-19 situation" as its motivation for the extension.
Seabourn Odyssey is on hold through November 20, Seabourn Sojourn through October 13, Seabourn Quest through November 6, Seabourn Encore through October 19, and Seabourn Ovation though November 6.
Princess Cruises, meanwhile, is on pause for the rest of the 2020 summer season as a result of "reduced air flight availability, the closure of cruise ports in regions around the world and other factors impacting international travel".
All of Princess's remaining Alaska cruises on Emerald Princess and Ruby Princess have been cancelled, as have all remaining Europe and transatlantic cruises on the Enchanted Princess, Regal Princess, Sky Princess, Crown Princess and Island Princess.
Princess also has cancelled summer Caribbean cruises plus all Canada & New England cruises on the Caribbean Princess and Sky Princess, plus summer to autumn cruises leaving Japan on the Diamond Princess. The Diamond Princess was quarantined in Japan earlier in 2020 due to Covid-19.
All Australia-based cruises on the Sapphire Princess and Sea Princess have been cancelled through August, as have July cruises leaving Taiwan on the Majestic Princess. All autumn cruises to Hawaii and French Polynesia on the Pacific Princess are on hold through November.
Holland America Line, meanwhile, has cancelled every single one of its Alaska, Europe and Canada and New England sailings for 2020 plus the 79-day Grand Africa Voyage in autumn. Carnival explained that "travel restrictions continuing for the near future due to global health concerns" forced its hand.
This follows Carnival's Tuesday announcement that any resumption of cruise line operations will be dependent on government approvals and will include enhanced operational protocols and social distancing guidelines.
Carnival's P&O Cruises unit on Tuesday had announced an extension to its voluntary pause in operations in Australia and New Zealand to August 31, due to continuing travel restrictions as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
On Monday, Carnival announced its plan to phase in resumption of its North American service over the summer, but with operations to remain on pause in all but eight of its ships.
The eight ships to resume operations included the Carnival Dream, Carnival Freedom and Carnival Vista ships from Galveston, Texas; Carnival Horizon, Carnival Magic and Carnival Sensation ships from Miami, Florida; and Carnival Breeze and Carnival Elation from Port Canaveral, Floria.
All North American cruises between June 27 and July 31 were cancelled and, outside of the eight ships specified, all other North American cruises are cancelled through August 31.
Shares in Carnival were down 0.9% at 900.26 pence in London on Thursday morning.
By Anna Farley; [email protected]
Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Related Shares:
Carnival