PRINCESS EXTENDS SAILING SUSPENSION UNTIL END OF MARCH

Princess Cruises has extended its suspension of global sailings until the end of March.

All cruises through to 31 March 2021 have been cancelled, while itineraries from US ports longer than seven days have been put on hold until 1 November.

 

Princess said the move would allow time for “completing required activities” in line with recommendations made by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) restart framework published earlier this month.

 

The line has also extended its pause in operations for cruises departing in and out of Japan through to 25 June 2021 due to “uncertainty about when international travel restrictions might be lifted”.

 

Guests currently booked on these cancelled voyages will have the option to receive a refundable future cruise credit equivalent to 100% of the cruise fare and an additional non-refundable bonus credit equal to 25% of the cruise fare.

 

Customers can alternatively request a full refund for all monies paid on their booking. Requests must be received by 31 December 2020 or guests will be registered for the future cruise credit option.

 

Princess president Jan Swartz said: “We are focused on preparing our ships to meet the CDC health and safety requirements for our eventual return to service.

 

“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.”

US ‘no sail’ order for cruises extended until October 31

A ‘no sail’ order imposed on US cruise lines due to Covid-19 has been extended by a month until October 31.

Reports had suggested that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wanted the order to be extended until February 15, 2021.

However, the new edict in a 29-page document from the CDC came as cruise industry body Clia in the US volunteered to continue to suspension of sailings until the end of October.

The CDC had previously extended the order first made in March, to April, July and September “to protect public health”.

A Clia US spokesperson said: “We look forward to engaging in a thoughtful and productive dialogue with our partners and regulators in the United States to return to cruising in the region.”

The latest move follows cruise lines putting forward series of health and safety protocols as part of lobbying efforts to allow a return of operations. These include crew and passenger testing, the wearing of masks, enhanced cruise ship ventilation, stringent response procedures and shore excursion protocols to make it safe to sail during the pandemic.

Efforts are also being made in the UK to persuade the government to lift its ban on cruising from British ports at a time when limited sailings have resumed in the Mediterranean by companies such as MSC Cruises, Costa and Tui Cruises.

Clia president and chief executive Kelly Craighead said: “Based on what we are seeing in Europe, and following months of collaboration with leading public health experts, scientists, and governments, we are confident that these measures will provide a pathway for the return of limited sailings from the US before the end of this year.”

The extension of the US cruise ban came as the CDC revealed 3,689 confirmed cases of the virus on cruise ships and 41 deaths between March 1 and September 28.

The data also showed a total of 102 outbreaks on 124 ships, meaning more than 82% of ships within US jurisdiction were affected by Covid-19 during this time.

Four vessels still have “ongoing or resolving” Covid-19 outbreaks on board.

“Recent outbreaks on cruise ships overseas continue to demonstrate that reduced capacity alone has not diminished transmission,” the CDC said.

This highlighted the need for “further action prior to cruise ships safely resuming passenger operations in the United States”.

CDC said it supported a decision by Clia and its members to voluntarily extend the suspension of operations for passenger cruise ship travel through to October 31.

“CDC further supports the decisions of numerous cruise ship operators that have voluntarily cancelled scheduled voyages involving US ports beyond the date specified by Clia, including Cunard, Crystal Cruises, Holland America, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruise Lines, Viking Ocean Cruises and Windstar Cruises.

“However, because not all cruise ship operators subject to the no sail order are members of Clia or have made similar commitments, CDC is extending its no sail order to continue to protect the public’s health by ensuring that passenger operations do not resume prematurely.”

Virgin Voyages unveils Scarlet Lady health plan

Virgin Voyages unveils Scarlet Lady health plan

New cruise line Virgin Voyages has unveiled its health plan for debut ship Scarlet Lady.

The launch of the ship has been pushed back to October amid the coronavirus crisis, and it will now debut with a reduced capacity to allow for social distancing as well as “virus-neutralizing air filters”, virtual queues, thermal monitoring cameras and regular virus testing for its crew.

The Voyage Well plan was created by the Voyage Well Expert Advisory Group, a partnership of advisors, scientists, doctors and clinicians from the likes of AtmosAir Solutions, EcoLab, Dr Heymann with Vikand, Global Public Health Services and was compiled in collaboration with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in line with World Health Organisation guidelines.

“The health and wellbeing of our Sailors is our number one priority, so we rolled up our sleeves with leading experts to further innovate and create an even healthier way to travel and still have an incredible vacation,” said Virgin Voyages chief executive Tom McAlpin. “We appreciate some people will be apprehensive about travelling, so we are committed to being led by science and creating ways to give people the confidence to explore the world while feeling safer, more relaxed and free to enjoy themselves.”

A system has been designed to pump fresh air through the ship’s public spaces and cabins to “effectively remove recirculated air”, which Virgin Voyages says will produce “100% fresh air” through a “bow to stern air purification system”.

“Delivering effective health and safety measures is going to be essential for ensuring consumer trust in the cruise industry,” says Steve Levine, president and chief executive of AtmosAir Solutions. “We’re proud to partner with Virgin Voyages and believe our bi-polar ionization technology will be crucial to creating a safe, clean and sanitized indoor environment throughout the entirety of the Scarlet Lady.”

Other health plans developed by Virgin Voyages include:

Rapid Covid-19 testing for all ‘Sailors’ [passengers] and crew prior to embarking
A post-voyage app-based notification process through which passengers and crew can report on becoming unwell within 14 days of leaving the ship
Pre-boarding health checks and screenings for crew and ‘Sailors’
Thermal camera technology to monitor our crew and ‘Sailors’’ temperatures
Implementing best practices around sanitation, physical distancing, limited occupancy, and health checks on board
Managing ship occupancy to allow physical distancing in public spaces
Using digital technology to limit contact; The Band (for contactless payment), Service Chat (for assistance digitally) and Virtual Queues (for getting in lines for onboard experiences without getting in physical lines)
The line has also introduced a ‘fair and flexible’ booking policy, which includes moving the final payment dates to 60 days, from 120 days, before sailing, and allows guests to cancel up to 48 hours before in return for a 100% Future Voyage Credit for sailings through December 16, 2020.

Ship at the centre of ‘humanitarian plight’ awaits entry into the US

Ship at the centre of ‘humanitarian plight’ awaits entry into the US

MS Zaandam

A plan has been devised to enable coronavirus-hit ship Zaandam at the centre of a humanitarian crisis to dock at a port in Florida.

Four people including a British man have died on board the ship which is hoping to enter US waters today (Wednesday) alongside sister vessel Rotterdam.

Operator Holland America Line is awaiting confirmation to disembark passengers at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale and has won the backing of President Donald Trump in its efforts.

However, the port in Broward County insisted yesterday that the ships will not be allowed into US waters until a “detailed plan” is submitted and approved.

“Our number one priority is to ensure the safety and security of the local community, the passengers and the crew,” a statement said.

The cruise line revealed that approval has been secured from a local health system partner to accept less than ten people who need “immediate critical care” for treatment.

“This small number is the only group that will require any support from medical resources in Broward County and is necessary to prevent further harm to their health,” the company said.

Around 45 passengers, who still have a “mild illness” and are unfit to travel, will continue to isolate onboard until they have recovered.

HAL aims to transport 1,200 well passengers who are fit to travel home immediately once the ships have been allowed to dock.

The company said: “Holland America Line calls for compassion and reason in the review and approval of our disembarkation plan by Florida officials and we are grateful for those that have supported our efforts.

“We appreciate the support of President Trump in resolving the humanitarian plight of our guests – 311 of whom are American citizens and 52 of whom are residents of Florida. There are also four children under the age of 12 onboard.”

MS Zaandam conveying the Panama Canal Locks.

Passengers have not left Zaandam since March 14 after it was refused entry to many ports in South America and have been self-isolating in their cabins for almost two weeks.

A total of 97 passengers – 83 on Zaandam and 14 on Rotterdam – and 136 crew on Zaandam have presented with influenza-like symptoms since March 22, according to HAL.

Zaandam is carrying 442 passengers and 603 crew. More than 200 passengers from the UK were among those who originally joined the ship for a two-week South America itinerary on March 7. Rotterdam has 808 passengers and 583 crew on board.

The cruise line said: “We remain fully engaged with the Broward Unified Command and other governmental and embassy authorities to resolve this humanitarian situation and get the nearly 1,200 well guests home immediately who are fit for travel per guidelines from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“Both ships are scheduled to arrive at the boundary of US waters by early tomorrow morning [Wednesday] and will remain outside US waters while awaiting clearance to enter.

“Guests fit for travel per the CDC would transfer straight from the ship to flights for onward travel home, the majority on charter flights.

“Out of an abundance of caution, these guests will be transported in coaches that will be sanitised, with limited person-to-person contact and while wearing masks.

“These provisions will exceed what the CDC has advised is necessary for their travel.

“The approximately 45 guests who still have mild illness and are unfit to travel at this time will continue to isolate onboard until recovered.

“Disembarkation would be at a later date to be determined and only after they have recovered and are in alignment with CDC guidelines for being fit to travel.”

HAL suspended global cruise operations for 30 days due to global health concerns and end cruises in progress as quickly as possible.

Zaandam was sailing a South America cruise at the time that left Buenos Aires on March 7 that was originally due to end at San Antonio in Chile, on March 21.

Attempts were made and denied to disembark passengers in Chile on March 15 and in other ports along its route to the US.

Zaandam was originally scheduled to begin a 20-day South America and Panama Canal cruise from San Antonio on March 21 to end in Fort Lauderdale on April 7.

An additional 30-day extension of cruise cancellations was announced on March 30, including departures until May 14.