Aida Cruises aims to start sailing again in November

Aida Cruises aims to start sailing again in November

German cruise line Aida has extended the suspension of cruises until November when it plans to restart operations with a Canary Islands itinerary.

The Carnival Corporation brand has cancelled its previously announced cruises for September and October and updated its autumn-winter programme because of Covid-19 restrictions.

It said in a statement on Friday: “Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the conditions are currently not in place in Germany’s neighbouring European countries, especially in the north with Norway and Denmark or the Baltic states.

“For many distant destinations outside of Europe, the Federal Republic of Germany has issued a travel warning or the respective countries have prohibited calls of cruise ships until 2021.”

The first ship to begin sailing, Aidamar, will depart on November 1 for seven-day voyages around the Canary Islands, a destination popular with German cruisers.

Aidaperla will follow on November 7 and will take over itineraries originally planned for Aidanova (pictured).

Aidastella will start cruises in the western Mediterranean on December 12, launching from Majorca.

Aidaprima will offer cruises from Dubai from December 11 and from Abu Dhabi from December 15.

Felix Eichhorn, president of Aida Cruises, said: “Even though it is currently not possible for cruise ships to call at Norway, which is so important for our voyages to the north, we are confident that the first Aida ships from Germany will be able to travel to northern Europe again at the beginning of 2021.”

Aida Cruises is also cancelling autumn-winter cruises to destinations in the Caribbean, southern Africa, Indian Ocean and the Far East.

TUI Adds Second Ship Back Into Service; Doubles Capacity

TUI Cruises is already doubling capacity and spinning up a second ship as the Mein Schiff 1 will restart service at 60 per cent occupancy out of Kiel in August, according to the German cruise company.

This follows the Mein Schiff 2, which resumes service later this month with short cruises from Hamburg.

The Mein Schiff 1 will sail cruises to nowhere (known as "Blue Cruises") from Kiel, offering three- and four-day short sailings.

"This gives guests the opportunity to enjoy the Mein Schiff experience on board with the premium all-inclusive concept and at the same time treat themselves to a break at sea, of course with an adapted and expanded health and safety concept," the company said. "The basis for the resumption of cruise operations is the guiding principles of the responsible authorities, which were developed in coordination with CLIA Germany and the shipping companies as well as in cooperation with experts."

Pricing starts at 599 euro per person for a balcony stateroom. 

First river cruise with Covid-19 regulations completes sailing

First river cruise with Covid-19 regulations completes sailing

nickoVision cruising down the Danube

Scylla has completed the first river cruise to take place with new Covid-19 safety regulations.

The Swiss line’s nickoVISION ship has docked in Dusseldorf, Germany, after a 13-day sailing along the Danube, Main and Rhine rivers.

The ship set sail on June 1 with regular temperature checks carried out on passengers and crew, and a one-way system in corridors to maintain social distancing.

“Both guests and crew mastered these challenges with flying colours,” said chief executive Arno Reitsma. “Our first post-lockdown river cruise went without a hitch. All passengers were very satisfied with the cruise experience, they felt completely safe with the new measures and said they had a really pleasant time with us.”

Scylla, which has a fleet of 35 river ships carrying between 88 and 220 passengers, will now continue with its European river cruise programme this summer.

Reitsma added: “After a very successful start, the river cruise season can now be continued. This means that guests will once again be able to enjoy a variety of river cruises on Europe’s most popular waterways, even though travel itself is now slightly different.

“We are not yet able to operate on all the European rivers we used to, but we will be gradually adding new routes and expanding our offer.”

When the Major Cruise Lines Plan to Restart Service

The major cruise lines are planning to start operations again this summer. 

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line, in an update, said it intends to start cruising again with some ships in North America starting on August 1, while other itineraries and ships are projected to start service again later this year. Carnival plans to have eight ships in service from Miami, Port Canaveral and Galveston on short cruises.

Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean announced it had extended its suspension of sailing for its global fleet through June 11, 2020.

The company said it plans to return to service on June 12, 2020, with some previously announced exceptions.

The most crew is also being sent home.

MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises announced a further extension of the halting of all its new cruise departures fleetwide through to July 10.

MSC Cruises USA is offering guests affected by this measure a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) where they have the opportunity to transfer the full amount paid for their cancelled cruise plus an additional 25 per cent credit to a future cruise of their choice, on any ship and any itinerary, departing on or before December 31, 2021.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line announced in late April an extension of its pause of service through the end of June. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings recently raised enough capital to keep it going in a zero-revenue situation through early 2021.

Costa Cruises

Costa ships are out of service through early July at this point.

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises, in a recent update, cancelled the remainder of its summer season. 

AIDA Cruises

All AIDA sailings through June 30 are currently cancelled.

Celebrity Cruises

Royal Caribbean, which owns Celebrity, announced it had extended its suspension of sailing for its global fleet through June 11, 2020.

Holland America Line

Holland America Line has extended its pause of global cruise operations and cancel all Alaska, Europe and Canada/New England cruises for 2020, according to a press release.

In addition, Amsterdam will not operate the 79-day Grand Africa Voyage from Boston, Massachusetts, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, that was scheduled to depart on Oct. 3, 2020.

TUI Cruises

German brand TUI Cruises has hit pause through June 11, in line with Royal Caribbean, which is a partner in TUI Cruises in a joint venture arrangement.

Marella Cruises

Should it be safe to set sail, Marella Cruises will commence its summer 2020 program in July 2020, with three of its five ships sailing. More details here.

Bahamas Paradise

Sailings will resume onboard Grand Celebration on June 13 and onboard Grand Classica on July 10, according to a press release.

Hurtigruten

Hurtigruten is planning for a gradual restart of operations on the Norwegian coast. The first planned departure will be Finnmarken from Bergen on June 16.

When the Major Cruise Lines Plan to Restart Service

The major cruise lines are planning to start operations again as soon as May in most cases.

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival is planning to start some operations by May 11, according to a statement. 

Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean Cruises announced it has decided to extend the suspension of sailings of its global fleet. At this time, it aims to resume service where it can on May 12.

MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises has decided to further extend the pause of its cruise operation through May 29, according to a statement. This is due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the company said, extending its operations pause from April 30 for another month.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings announced an extension of its previously announced voluntary suspension of all cruise voyages to include voyages embarking between April 12 and May 10, for its three cruise brands: Norwegian, Regent and Oceania.

Costa Cruises

Costa Cruises has extended the voluntary suspension of its cruises until April 30.

Princess Cruises

Princess plans to resume some cruise operations on May 11.

AIDA Cruises

AIDA has stopped operations through April 30.

Celebrity Cruises

Royal Caribbean Cruises announced it has decided to extend the suspension of sailings of its global fleet. At this time, it aims to resume service where it can on May 12.

Holland America Line

Holland America has cancelled sailings scheduled to depart through May 14.

TUI Cruises

TUI Cruises has paused operations through April 30.

The above are the top 10 cruise brands by market capacity, according to the 2020 Cruise Industry News Annual Report.