Coronavirus: Multiple luxury cruise lines suspend sailings
A raft of luxury cruise lines have suspended and cancelled sailings due to the coronavirus pandemic.
AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, Paul Gauguin Cruises, Scenic Cruises, Uniworld, Viking and Windstar Cruises have all temporarily ceased operations amid the outbreak.
On Thursday, the UK government advised those aged over 70 and those with underlying health conditions not to go on a cruise. The Foreign Office has also updated its travel advice.
AmaWaterways
AmaWaterways has cancelled its European river cruise programme until April 25.
Mekong cruises departing on March 23 onwards have also been suspended.
Customers can receive a future cruise credit equal to 115% of the value of what has been paid or a full refund.
Read the full policy here.
Avalon Waterways
The line’s parent company Globus said it was voluntarily suspending travel across all destination through to April 30.
For travellers affected by the suspension, the company shared a new Peace of Mind plan, which provides Globus family of brands’ travellers booked on affected holidays the freedom to reschedule their holiday in 2020, 2021 or 2022 to any destination, on any brand (including Globus and Cosmos) without incurring cancellation fees.
The plan also offers travellers a credit of up to £150pp when they reschedule their plans.
Travel agent commission will also be protected on bookings during this travel window.
Red the full policy here.
Paul Gauguin Cruises
The cruise line has suspended cruises after French authorities and French Polynesian authorities decided to ban cruise calls until April 11.
“We will be communicating throughout the day with our travel advisors and guests booked on affected sailings and will be sending out notices and updating our travel advisory as our plans are introduced,” the line’s website reads.
The Scenic Group
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Emerald Cruises is suspending all river cruise operations until April 30 in response to the pandemic.
For guests with river cruise departures within this period, the group is offering the choice of either a Future Travel Credit valued at 125% of the booking, or the option of a refund to the value of the amount paid.
Guests choosing a Future Travel Credit will have up to 24 months to travel on a Scenic Group river cruise.
The line said it was also committed to protecting travel agent commissions on cancelled cruises that were paid in full and for the total amount of the Future Travel Credits.
Read the full policy here.
Uniworld
Uniworld is suspending European river cruises until April 23 amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Passengers booked with the company have been told they will receive a future cruise credit valid for the next two years.
An updated cancellation policy has also been introduced.
For bookings after April 23, guests can cancel up to 14 days before departure and rebook on any 2020 or 2021 cruise without penalty or have the option to rebook with one of their TTC sister brands – including Trafalgar and Insight Vacations – for 2020 to 2021.
Read the full policy here.
Windstar Cruises
The small-ship line will suspend sailings from Saturday March 14 until the end of April.
The line said it plans to resume operations on May 1.
Travellers on cancelled cruises can choose a future cruise credit valued at 125% of all what was paid to Windstar or a refund equal to the amount paid on the Windstar booking.
Read the full policy here.