Just a week after Royal Caribbean Group brands said they would not cancel any Alaska and Canada/New England cruises, Carnival Corp’s Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn announced Wednesday that they will suspend select sailings, citing Canada’s Interim Order that closed Canadian ports and waters to passenger vessels through 28FEB, 2022.
Princess and HAL say discussions are underway with Canadian and U.S. authorities to try to find a path forward to preserve a portion of the Alaska and Canada & New England 2021 cruise seasons.
Holland America Line
Holland America Line says it has extended its pause of cruise operations to now include all sailings that depart from or conclude in a Canadian port in 2021. This includes several Alaska, three Canada/New England and two Pacific Coastal cruises in summer and fall of this year. It also includes all Land+Sea Journeys.
At this time, Alaska cruises departing from mid-MAY and sailing roundtrip from Seattle, Washington, are not being cancelled.
Cruises impacted by this pause in operation are:
- Alaska: Cruises through September 2021 to Alaska from all departure ports aboard Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam and Zuiderdam. This also includes any Land+Sea Journeys connected with canceled Alaska sailings.
- Pacific Coastal: Two sailings in early October aboard Koningsdam and Oosterdam.
- Canada/New England: Three cruises aboard Zaandam departing in September 2021.
All 2022 Alaska and Canada/New England cruises will operate as scheduled.
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises has cancelled the following voyages:
- Alaska seven-day Voyage of the Glaciers cruises, sailing between Vancouver, B.C. and Anchorage (Whittier)
- Pacific Coastals that start or end in Vancouver, B.C.
- Canadian Adventure sailing roundtrip from Southampton, UK
Princess says it will continue to operate the Kenai Princess Wilderness lodge along with McKinley Chalet Resort in Denali and Westmark Fairbanks Hotel this summer and is currently working on vacation land package details that will be announced shortly.
Seabourn
Seabourn is cancelling 19 voyages scheduled aboard Seabourn Odyssey in summer 2021 between Vancouver, Canada and Juneau, Alaska, including one Pacific Coast voyage at the end of the season.
“Our highest priorities are compliance, environmental protection and the health, safety and well-being of our guests, crew and the people in destinations we visit,” said Josh Leibowitz, president of Seabourn.
“We have heard from many guests and they are eager to travel, seeing positive developments starting to take hold that will eventually lead to our return to service.”
Today’s Seabourn announcement did not mention Canada/New England cruises, suggesting they still hope to salvage at least part of the season on the East Coast.
Its smaller ships may be able to use tiny French territory St. Pierre et Miquelon instead of Canada as the required ‘foreign’ port on New England sailings; an option not available to larger ships.
Carnival Cruise Line Extends Pause From U.S. Through MAY 2021
Carnival Cruise Line has extended its pause in operations from U.S. ports through 31MAY, 2021, although it has not specifically announced any Alaska or Canada/New England cancellations yet.
“We continue to work on plans to resume operations and are encouraged by the focus to expedite vaccine production and distribution which are having a demonstrated impact on improving public health,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “We appreciate the support of all of our guests, employees and trade partners who we know are looking forward to our return.”
As it has done throughout the pause, Carnival is providing guests on cruises cancelled today the choice of a future cruise credit plus onboard credit package, or a full refund.
