- Major cruise companies have started changing their cancellation, rebooking, and refunding policies amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
- COVID-19 has been called one of the worst things to happen to the cruise industry in decades.
- Here’s how some cruise companies like Carnival and Princess Cruises have updated their policies to accommodate the global spread of coronavirus.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Many major cruise line companies are changing their cancellation, rebooking, and refunding policies in the age of coronavirus.
The experts are calling the current crisis the worst thing to happen to the cruise industry since the 1985 murder of a passenger on the Achille Lauro.
Since the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic, several cruise ships have been the cause of the virus’s spread. This includes the Diamond Princess, which has now claimed 13 lives due to the quick trickling of the coronavirus throughout the cruise ship. In response, many cruise companies – including major players like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Princess Cruises – have halted voyages for the next several weeks to months amid growing concerns of the novel coronavirus.
The US Department of State has since advised against boarding cruise ships for vacations amid the global spread of coronavirus as several cruise ships have been denied port around the world. While some experts think the coronavirus pandemic will not affect the cruise ship industry long-term, several major cruise companies have needed to update its rebooking and refund policies to accommodate the increasing number of canceled cruise trips around the world.
Here is how some major cruise lines in the US are handling its uptick in cancellations and refunds:
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises initially canceled all voyages for 60 days between March 12 and May 10 before deciding to cancel to suspend certain cruises through the end of the summer. The cruise line is now giving guests the option to transfer the money paid from a canceled cruise to a future cruise.
Guests can who already paid their trip in full can receive 125% of the paid fare in Future Cruise Credit. For those who haven't paid for their full trip yet, Princess Cruises will provide refundable Future Cruise Credit that will be double the initial deposit payment so long as it doesn't pass the initial base fare of the cruise. This "Double the Deposit" voucher - which has a minimum amount of $100 per person - can be used on any trip until May 1, 2022.
For those who don't want credit back, Princess Cruises is also offering full refunds of booked trips so long as the request is submitted by June 15 on the online form.
For cruises already booked through October 15 that need to be canceled, Princess will offer a credit voucher for cancellation fees and a refund of further payments if cruises are canceled 30 days before the departure date.
Cancellation fees vary from the length of the original trip and the number of days the trip is canceled before the set departure date.
Carnival Cruises
Carnival is also temporarily suspending cruises through the summer or year, depending on the trip.
Like its subsidiary Princess Cruises, Carnival is offering two refund options for cruises booked after March 5. The first is its "enhanced value" which comes with 100% future cruise credit and either $600 onboard credit per booked room for trips that were set to be at least six days long, or $300 onboard credit for cruises that were going to be five days or less. These onboard credits can only be used if the next cruise is booked by December 31 for a trip before December 31, 2022.
The second option is the "what you paid", which will offer a total refund on the canceled trip.
Viking Cruises
Viking has suspended its cruises through June 30.
Customers who were set to depart on a Viking cruise during those dates can choose to either get a full refund or receive a transferable cruise credit voucher at 125% of what the customer originally paid. If the voucher isn't used before its expiration date, Viking will automatically send a total refund.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean is suspending cruises until July 31 with a goal to start up again on August 1. Trips in China are only suspended until June 30.
The company is offering customers the option to rebook their trips for a 2021 cruise.
It's also offering a 125% cruise credit back if a trip is rebooked by December 31, 2021 for trips by April 30, 2022. Alternatively, Royal Caribbean is offering full refunds for those who don't want the cruise credit, although the refund request needs to be made by a certain date, depending on when the cruise was originally set to embark.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises has suspended most trips through July 31.
Customers who were set to sail before then can either receive 125% in cruise credit that can be used through 2021 or get a full refund of the trip.
Norwegian Cruise Line
All Norwegian cruises set to embark before July 31 have been canceled.
Passengers that were set to sail between March 13 and March 17 will receive a 150% refund via cruise credits, while passengers originally set to travel between March 18 and July 31 will receive a 125% cruise credit refund. Customers who were set to depart between July 1 and July 31 can instead request for a full refund, although the request must be made before June 19.
Customers for cruises set to embark by November 30 can also cancel up to 48 hours in advance of the cruise in exchange for 100% cruise credit that can be used through December 2022.
MSC Cruises
MSC has canceled all of its cruises set to embark by July 10.
Customers who have had their cruise trips canceled can either receive a full refund, or cruise credit for 125% of the original trip fare that can be used for trips set to embark before or by Dec. 31, 2021.
Customers with cruises still set to embark before September 30 can cancel the booking 48 hours before the departure in exchange for cruise credit.
Holland America
Holland America is suspending all Alaska, Europe, Canada, and New England cruise trips through 2020. The 79-day Grand Africa voyage originally set to depart on October 3 has also been canceled.
Customers set to embark on cruises that were then canceled on May 6 - but have already paid for the trip - will receive a voucher of 125% of the base fare back in future cruise credit. Those who haven't paid the trip in full yet will receive cruise credit worth double the amount of the deposit with a guaranteed minimum of $100 per person.
The cruise credit must be used in a booking made within the next year for a trip set to take place by Dec. 31, 2022.
Customers can also opt for a full refund so long as the request is made by June 15.
Cancellation fees for non-suspended future trips now vary according to the length of the trip and the time the cancellation is requested.
Disney Cruises
Disney has suspended all cruises through July 27.
Customers affected by this decision can either receive future cruise credit or a full refund. The cruise credit can be used for a future trip set to embark within 15 months of the original trip.
P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises has suspended cruise trips until July 31. Customers with canceled cruises will receive a transferable 125% cruise credit that can be used for a booking made by the end of December 2021.
For those who don't want cruise credit, a full refund can also be requested until November 30.
