CRAZY DEALS!
Fancy a cruise for half-price? The top firms are offering ...
CRUISE lines keen to attract passengers in the face of the coronavirus outbreak are introducing a tempting package of offers to entice them on board. The spread of the virus has led to port closures and itinerary changes as well as on-board restrictions and even, in extreme cases, entire ships being quarantined, leaving many reluctant to travel.
To boost bookings, shipping lines are hastily rolling out special offers – described by one as ‘crazy’ deals – including half-price cruises, free room upgrades, onboard spending money and even free flights – while ditching cancellation fees and offering refunds in the case of altered sailings.
But passengers are being warned to read the small print as often a promised refund can be in the form of a credit towards another cruise. Each year, almost two million Britons go on a cruise and so far, unlike the US, the Government has not advised against cruise travel – except for the over-70s, though this may change in the future. The offers from major firms include:
P&O Cruises
OWNED by the world’s largest leisure company, Carnival Group, P&O Cruises is the country’s longest-established cruise brand. Passengers who are still happy to travel are being offered onboard spending money ranging from £100 per cabin for one to three-night breaks, to £600 for sailings of more than 15 nights. They can also change bookings to another date or destination up to just 48 hours before departure – or cancel, again with two days’ notice, getting a mix of refund and future cruise credit depending on how close it is to sailing.
Cunard
CUNARD, also owned by Carnival, is home to classic cruise ships Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria.
For trips departing before the end of August, guests will receive cruise credit of between $150 (£120) and $900 per ‘stateroom’ (Cunard has no cabins) and the line has temporarily relaxed its cancellation policy to up to 48 hours before departure. Those cancelling will receive a credit equivalent to the cancellation fee while cash refunds will be given on any remaining money paid.
Princess Cruises
ITS ships Diamond Princess and Grand Princess have been at the centre of negative headlines, having been stranded in Japan and California respectively.
The stricken line’s parent company, Carnival, decided late last week to suspend all Princess Cruises sailings for two months, with immediate effect, meaning many trips are being cut short. For passengers with existing bookings, the company is offering cash refunds or free rebooking on to later cruises with the incentive of generous future cruise credit benefits.
Royal Caribbean
THE world’s second-largest cruise company has introduced a ‘cruise with confidence’ policy to allow guests on Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Azamara and Silversea to cancel up to 48 hours before sailings on or before July 31.
Guests will receive a full credit for their fare, usable on any future sailing this year or next. This applies to new and existing bookings.
Holland America
IT IS allowing guests to cancel their cruise or Alaska Land+Sea Journey departing up to and on May 31. Any cancellation will receive a credit for the amount of the paid fare which can then be used for another cruise this year or next.
For those who keep their cruise plans on departures up to and including May 31, an onboard spending credit of between $100 and $200 will be given.
MSC Cruises
MSC has a new 48-hour cancellation policy for all sailings on or before July 31 to help deal with ongoing disruptions from Covid-19. Its ‘cruise assurance’ scheme allows guests to cancel up to 48 hours before departure and receive a 100 per cent credit to use towards any trip on or before December 31 next year.
NCL
NORWEGIAN Cruise Line is allowing guests who book a sailing up to September 30 to cancel up to 48 hours beforehand and receive a full future cruise credit under its ‘peace of mind’ cancellation policy.
Disney Cruises
DISNEY Cruise Line has just announced that its is cancelling all its cruises until the end of March. Other operators that are suspending sailings include Viking, Celestyal Cruises, Windstar and several river cruise companies. As the situation across the cruise industry is changing rapidly, make sure to keep checking your cruise company’s website for the latest news, and check that your travel insurance covers disruptions to cruises.