Royal Caribbean Group has extended its Cruise With Confidence initiative as it looks to reinforce its commitment to agents and their clients.
The group includes Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara and luxury line Silversea.
The previously-announced policy has been extended to April 2022 for new bookings made up to September 30, 2020 on Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara.
Guests can cancel their cruise up to 48 hours prior to sailing and receive a full credit of the cruise fare for a future cruise . The cruise company will continue to offer its Best Price Guarantee and Lift and Shift offers.
“Guests are reacting positively to our Cruise with Confidence policy,” says Royal Caribbean Group chairman and CEO Richard Fain, “because it enables them to make informed decisions and to better manage complicated travel plans during this unprecedented time of uncertainty.”
“We want our guests to feel they can safely keep their existing cruise bookings or schedule new sailings because this policy gives them more freedom and flexibility.”
For Silversea bookings, the policy is the same but has only been extended to all voyages departing before April 30, 2021.
When guests opt for a credit and have paid in full, the cruise line is protecting travel agent commission on both the cancelled booking and the future reservation when the credit is applied.
Loyal members of the brand’s Venetian Society, were showing “the greatest propensity to book”, Silversea said, as it reported growing demand for summer 2021 departures and beyond.
Silversea said sailings closer to home were proving popular with British guests booking the Mediterranean and northern Europe, while Americans are booking Alaska.
The line believes expedition destinations such as the Galapagos and Antarctica will rebound strongly.
Peter Shanks, Silversea’s managing director for UK, Ireland, Middle East & Africa, said: “There are definite green shoots ahead as our regular cruisers yearn to get back to sea. Proving most popular are our ‘closer to home’ destinations in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.
“Silversea is also benefitting from its leadership in the more remote destinations with a focus on wildlife and nature, including Antarctica and the Galapagos, which are proving to be more appealing than ever. Extending ‘Cruise with Confidence’ continues to demonstrate our commitment to our travel advisor partners, as we continue to protect their commission in the event of cancellations.”
Silversea is offering reduced deposits of £750 per suite on any new booking made before August 31. Guess who redeem this offer will also receive £1,000 onboard credit per suite.