More cruise lines have suspended sailings amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Saga Cruises, Uniworld, Disney Cruise Line, Windstar Cruises, AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, Celestyal Cruises and Paul Gauguin Cruises have all temporarily suspended operations due to the pandemic.
They join Virgin Voyages, Princess Cruises and Viking Cruises which have also ceased operations for the time being.
On Thursday, the UK government advised those aged over 70 and those with underlying health conditions not to cruise. The Foreign Office has also updated its travel advice.
Saga Cruises
Saga is suspending cruises until May 1 in a move likely to cost the over-50s operator up to £15 million.
The company said it was reacting to the government’s updated travel advice against people over 70 and those with pre-existing health conditions from taking cruises.
The suspension of cruise trading for the next six weeks will cut pre-tax profit at Saga’s cruise division by between £10 million and £15 million.
“Our customer service teams will be in contact with cruise customers who were due to travel in the next six weeks to offer them either a full refund or a credit for a future departure,” the line said.
Uniworld
Uniworld is suspending European river cruises for more than a month due to the coronavirus pandemic.
No sailings will run until April 23 with passengers booked with the company told they will receive a future cruise credit valid for the next two years.
An updated cancellation policy has also been introduced.
For bookings after 23 April, guests can cancel up to 14 days before departure and rebook on any 2020 or 2021 cruise without penalty or have the option to rebook with one of our TTC sister brands – from Trafalgar to Insight Vacations – for 2020 to 2021.
Read full policy here
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line’s four-ship fleet will suspend new departures from Saturday to the end of March.
Affected guests will receive future cruise credit or a full refund.
Read full policy here
Windstar Cruises
The small-ship line will suspend sailings from Saturday until the end of April. The line said it plans to resume operations on May 1.
Travelers on cancelled cruises can choose a future cruise credit valued at 125% of all what was paid to Windstar or a refund equal to the amount paid on the Windstar booking.
Read full policy here
AmaWaterways
AmaWaterways has cancelled its European river cruise programme until April 25. Mekong cruises departing on 23 March onwards have also been suspended.
Customers can receive a future cruise credit equal to 115% of the value of what has been paid or a full refund.
Read full policy here
Celestyal Cruises
The Greece and eastern Mediterranean specialist line has suspended all sailings until May 1.
Fully paid guests can receive either a future cruise credit valued at 120% of the original booking value or a refund.
Read full policy here
Paul Gauguin Cruises
Paul Gauguin Cruises has suspended cruises after French authorities and French Polynesian authorities decided to ban cruise calls until April 11.
“We will be communicating throughout the day with our travel advisors and guests booked on affected sailings and will be sending out notices and updating our travel advisory as our plans are introduced,” the line’s website reads.
Cruise & Maritime Voyages
The line has suspended all cruises until May 1. It said new government advice for over 70s not to cruise and ports turning away cruise ships affected its decision to suspend cruises.
Chief executive Christian Verhounig said: “We are simply unable to continue performing our scheduled itineraries and to deliver the travel experiences expected by our valued passengers.”
Affected passengers are being offered a refund or a future cruise credit of 125% of the value of the original booking.
Those who opt for the transfer rather than cancel will be offered a 20% discount against CMV’s Onboard Additions beverage packages, plus a 15% shore excursion discount.