Princess Cruises, the international cruise line based in Santa Clarita, is extending its pause in global operations in response to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s “Framework for Conditional Sailing Order.”
The pause is set to allow time for the preparation needed for completing required activities prior to sailing and taking into consideration the temporary seven-day cap on itineraries that call at a U.S. port, per the CDC’s guidelines, which pertain to resumption of U.S. cruise operations.
The cruise operations impacted include the following:
- All cruises sailing through March 31, 2021.
- All cruises longer than seven days sailing in and out of U.S. ports through Nov. 1, 2021.
Additionally, due to the uncertainty about when international travel restrictions might be lifted, Princess Cruises is extending its pause in operations for cruises departing in and out of Japan through June 25, 2021.
“We are focused on preparing our ships to meet the CDC health and safety requirements for our eventual return to service,” Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises, said in a prepared statement. “We also appreciate the continued support we have received from our guests, partners and travel advisors, reinforcing for all of us why we do what we do.”
Guests currently booked on these cancelled voyages are expected to have the option to receive a refundable Future Cruise Credit, or FCC, equivalent to 100% of the cruise fare paid plus an additional non-refundable bonus FCC equal to 25% of the cruise fare paid. To receive the above FCCs, no action is required by the guest or their travel advisor.
Alternatively, guests can request a full refund for all monies paid on their booking through an online form. Requests must be received by Dec. 31, 2020, or guests are set to be registered for the FCC option.
Princess is expected to protect travel advisor commissions on bookings for cancelled cruises that were paid in full in recognition of the critical role they play in the cruise line’s business and success.
The most current information and instructions for booked guests affected by these cancellations, and more information on FCCs and refunds, can be found online at princess.com/plan/impacted-and-cancelled-cruises.
