Princess cancels cruises to Alaska and the Caribbean

Princess Cruises has scrapped its 2020 summer season because of closed ports and disrupted air travel related to the global coronavirus pandemic, a recent company announcement said. Summer sailings to Alaska and the Caribbean as well as remaining European, trans-Atlantic and Canada/New England itineraries have been canceled.

The Santa Clarita, California-based cruise line in April had canceled Alaska Gulf cruise and land tours, but had hoped to operate round-trip sailings from Seattle to Alaska when cruise operations in the U.S. resume. Now those plans have been scuttled.

“As the world is still preparing to resume travel, it is with much disappointment that we announce an extension of our pause of global ship operations and the cancellation of cruise vacations for our loyal guests,” company president Jan Swartz said.

Cruises from Japan, Taiwan and Australia as well as cruises to Hawaii and French Polynesia through November also are canceled.

Passengers may request a refund or a fare credit plus extra perks worth 25% of what they paid.

Also, Holland America Line, which operates 14 ships, canceled all of its Alaska, Europe and Canada/New England cruises in 2020. The cancellations were part of a larger decision to “extend our pause in cruise operations into the fall,” the line’s president, Orlando Ashford, said.

Seabourn, which operates five ships, last week said it was putting all of them on “pause” through at least Oct. 13. Seabourn had previously announced a pause through June 30.

Carnival Cruises announced plans to restart cruises from Galveston, Texas, and Miami and Orlando, Florida, on Aug. 1.