More Canceled Cruises: Disney, Costa, Norwegian Suspend Cruise Operations Over Coronavirus Fears
A day after Princess Cruises and Viking announced they were suspending their cruise operations, several more cruise lines have said they are also putting their cruise lines on hold to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Disney Cruise Line, Carnival’s Costa Cruises, and Norwegian Cruises are all suspending cruise scheduled over the next month or longer.
Italian cruise company Costa Cruises said it will put its ships on globally until April 3, following the announcement by the World Health Organization (WHO) that the COVID-19 outbreak had reached a pandemic level. The cruise line had already suspended services to China on Jan. 25.
All cruises currently underway by Costa Cruises will end their current cruise and allow guests to disembark and return home. Customers that had booked a cruise during the time that Costa Cruises will suspend operations will receive a voucher for a full refund, the company said.
“As an industry leader, we feel it is our responsibility to be ready to make hard choices when times require it,” said Neil Palomba, president of Costa Cruises, said in a statement. “In Costa, we always have the health and safety of our guests and crew members at heart. Now that these unprecedented circumstances require unprecedented actions to make sure that people across the world stay healthy, we are ready to play our role"
Disney Cruise Line has also suspended all cruise operations from Saturday through the end of March in wake of the coronavirus outbreak out of an “abundance of caution.” The suspension applies to all four of Disney’s cruise ships.
Disney will give affected passengers the option to receive a future cruise credit or a full refund. Disney said passengers will receive an email from the company with more details.
“While we know this decision may be disappointing, the health and wellbeing of our guests is of the greatest importance,” the company said in a statement. “We are equally committed to the wellbeing of our incredible crew members who live and work aboard our ships and on Castaway Cay. During the suspended operations, Disney Cruise Line will continue to compensate our Crew Members and shoreside Cast Members.”
Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises will suspend all voyages between March 13 to April 11 as it looks to help contain the global spread of the coronavirus. The company said it has not had any confirmed cases of COVID-19 across its fleet of 28 ships.
Passengers that have a cruise booked on any of the cruise line brands should contact their travel agent or cruise line for more information. The company said that passengers impacted will receive 125% refund for fares paid in the form of a credit for a future cruise through Dec. 31, 2022. A 100% refund will be issued to passengers that are unable to rebook within 90 days of the reimbursement request.
“The safety, security and well-being of our guests and crew is our highest priority,” Frank Del Rio, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., said in a statement. “With the COVID-19 coronavirus impacting communities around the globe, we have enacted a voluntary temporary suspension of cruise voyages across our brands effective immediately.
“We understand the inconvenience that this disruption may cause our guests and travel partners during these quickly evolving and challenging times, and we appreciate their understanding as we partner with local, state, federal and global agencies to combat the spread of COVID-19.”
Passengers on cruises currently underway will conclude and guests will be disembarked as soon as possible, the company said. The cruise line also said it will assist with travel arrangements.
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