Princess Cancels Sailings through June 30, Delays Enchanted Princess Debut
by Daniel McCarthy
The new Enchanted Princess won't delay until later this summer because of the closure of the Fincantieiri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. Photo: Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises on Tuesday joined other major cruise lines and canceled sailings through June 30 because of ongoing travel disruptions caused by COVID-19.
“We hope that our thousands of guests booked will understand that we have taken the decisions with their health and safety as our priority,” Princess President Jan Swartz said in a video posted on the line’s social media.
Enchanted Princess, which will be Princess’ fifth Royal-class ship when it starts sailing, was scheduled to debut on June 30 with a naming ceremony in Southampton but, because of the sailing suspension and the closure of the Fincantieiri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, will now not debut until at least August.
Princess is also cancelling its 2020 Alaska gulf cruise and cruisetour programs, with Swartz explaining that the “shortened summer seasons has simply made it not viable to operate our five Princess Wilderness lodges, all of our trains and all our buses throughout Alaska in 2020.
Princess is still currently scheduled to sail Emerald Princess and Ruby Princess in Alaska this summer.
