Princess and Royal Caribbean Cancel Sailings into October Due to Closure of Canadian Ports
by Jessica Montevago
Princess will protect travel advisor commissions on bookings for cancelled cruises that were paid in full. Photo: Shutterstock.com.
Some cruise lines with itineraries touching on a Canadian port through October 2020 have been suspended, after the country banned cruises and ferries carrying more than 100 people in its waters through Oct. 31.
Canada had originally closed off its borders to all cruise ships carrying more than 500 passengers and crew until between April 2 and July 1, 2020. Cruise lines cannot legally offer sailings because of U.S. cabotage laws that require foreign-flagged vessels leaving from a U.S. port of call to first call on a “distant foreign port” before returning to the United States.
Due to this decision, Royal Caribbean announced it would cancel Alaska, Hawaii and Canada/New England cruises through October.
Guests can move existing booking to next year, protecting the current price/promotion, simply by electing to remain on the same itinerary type, sailing length, stateroom category, and within the same 4-week period of their original cruise date same-time-next-year.
Future Cruise Credit (FCC) for 125% of the amount paid, to be redeemed on-or-before December 31, 2021 on sailings through April 2022.
Princess Cruises also is extending its cancellation of some sailings through October. All cruises in and out of Vancouver and Seattle in September and October on Coral Princess, Emerald Princess, Grand Princess, Royal Princess, Ruby Princess and Star Princess are canceled.
The Pacific and California Coast seven-day roundtrip cruises from San Francisco departing in September and October 2020 on Star Princess are also suspended. Additionally, all cruises sailing in and out of Australia through mid-September on Sea Princess, Majestic Princess, Sun Princess and Sapphire Princess
Guests currently booked on these canceled voyages, who have paid in full, will have the option to receive a FCC equivalent to 100% of the cruise fare paid plus an additional non-refundable bonus FCC equal to 25% of the cruise fare.
Guests who have not paid in full will receive “Double the Deposit,” providing a refundable FCC for the money currently on deposit plus a matching bonus FCC that can be used on any voyage through May 1, 2022.
Princess will protect travel advisor commissions on bookings for cancelled cruises that were paid in full.
