SANTA CLARITA, Calif.,
April 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/
-- In continued response to the impact of the COVID-19 global
outbreak and the recent order from the United States Centers for
Disease Control (CDC), Princess Cruises is canceling all voyages
through June 30, 2020. The cruise
line had previously announced a voluntary pause for two months (60
days), impacting voyages departing March 12
to May 10, 2020.
In addition, Princess Cruises can confirm modifications to the
Alaska season, which includes the
cancellation of all Princess Alaska Gulf cruise and cruisetours.
The five wilderness lodges, trains and buses operated by Princess
in Alaska will not open this
summer. We will continue round-trip sailings from Seattle to Alaska on Emerald Princess and Ruby
Princess.
"This global outbreak continues to challenge our world in
unimaginable ways. We recognize how disappointing this is to our
long-term business partners and thousands of employees, many of
whom have been with us in Alaska
for decades," said Jan Swartz,
president of Princess Cruises. "We hope everyone impacted by these
cancellations – especially our guests, travel advisor partners,
teammates, and the communities we visit – understand our decision
to do our part to protect the safety, health and well-being of our
guests and team. We look forward to the brighter days and smooth
seas ahead for all of us."
Each ship will have a unique return to service date, based on
the previously published cruise itineraries, with some
modifications, departing after July
1. Details about the canceled voyages can be found here.
Princess Cruises is offering two cancellation options. Guests
currently booked on these canceled voyages, who have paid in full,
will receive a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) equivalent to 100% of the
cruise fare paid and, as an added incentive, an additional 25% FCC.
Guests must use their credits on a cruise that sails on or before
May 1, 2022. No action is required
for guests to receive this offer and they will be notified by
e-mail once the credits have been issued.
Alternatively, guests can receive a full refund for all monies
paid in full on their booking through this online form. Requests
must be received by May 31, 2020, or
they will receive the Future Cruise Credit option. Guests who have
not yet paid in full will receive a refund of all monies paid.
Princess will protect travel advisor commissions on bookings for
canceled cruises that were paid in full, in recognition of the
critical role travel advisors play in the cruise line's business
and success.
Princess asks guests to please delay in calling the Reservation
Call Center due to high call volumes. Guests and their travel
advisors will be sent communications on how to manage
cancellations, rebook another voyage, or request a refund.
The most current information and instructions for booked guests
affected by these cancellations can be found at
www.princess.com.
About Princess Cruises
One of the best-known names in cruising, Princess Cruises is the
fastest growing international premium cruise line and tour company
operating a fleet of 18 modern cruise ships, carrying two million
guests each year to 380 destinations around the globe, including
the Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera,
Europe, South America, Australia/New
Zealand, the South Pacific, Hawaii, Asia,
Canada/New England, Antarctica and World Cruises. A team of
professional destination experts have curated 170 itineraries,
ranging in length from three to 111 days and Princess Cruises is
continuously recognized as "Best Cruise Line for
Itineraries."
In 2017 Princess Cruises, with parent company Carnival
Corporation, introduced MedallionClass Vacations enabled by the
OceanMedallion, the vacation industry's most advanced wearable
device, provided free to each guest sailing on a MedallionClass
ship. The award-winning innovation offers the fastest way to a
hassle-free, personalized vacation giving guests more time to do
the things they love most. MedallionClass Vacations will be
activated on five ships by the end of 2019. An activation plan will
continue across the global fleet in 2020 and
beyond.
Princess Cruises continues its multi-year, "Come Back New
Promise" – a $450 million-dollar
product innovation and cruise ship renovation campaign that will
continue to enhance the line's onboard guest experience. These
enhancements result in more moments of awe, lifetime memories and
meaningful stories for guests to share from their cruise vacation.
The product innovations include partnerships with award-winning
Chef Curtis Stone; engaging
entertainment inspired shows with Broadway-legend Stephen Schwartz; immersive activities for the
whole family from Discovery and Animal Planet that include
exclusive shore excursions to onboard activities; the ultimate
sleep at sea with the award-winning Princess Luxury Bed and
more.
Two new Royal-class ships are currently under construction -
Enchanted Princess, scheduled for delivery in summer 2020, followed
by Discovery Princess in fall 2021. Princess previously announced
that two new (LNG) ships which will be the largest ships in the
Princess fleet, accommodating approximately 4,300 guests are
planned for delivery in 2023 and 2025. Princess now has four ships
arriving over the next five years between 2020 and 2025. The
company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL;
NYSE:CUK).
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SOURCE Princess Cruises