January 19, 2021
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(Updated 9:30 a.m. EST) -- With ocean and river cruise lines temporarily suspending service around the world as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping track of the seemingly minute-by-minute changes to the cruise industry can be challenging.Most cruise lines voluntarily paused sailings for the meantime after being faced with port closures; a lack of suitable infrastructure, including flights; and increased travel restrictions that change on a country-by-country basis. CLIA,the Cruise Lines International Association that represents most cruise lines, issued a further volunatary suspension in operations through October 31. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lifted its No Sail Order on November 1 for all cruise ships over 250 passengers and crew that operate in U.S. waters. However, it raises more questions than answers and all major lines have suspended their cruise operations until the end of March. -- and it's worth noting that a number of Europe-based lines have restarted operations including MSC Cruises and Costa.We've also put together a comprehensive guide to cancellation policies, which we will update regularly.The information below will also be updated as necessary. These dates are subject to change.
When Will Ocean Cruise Lines Resume Service?
Adventure Canada (Ocean Endeavour only): June 3, 2021AIDA: March 6, 2021Aqua Expeditions. Aqua Expeditions' ship Aqua Blu will open in Indonesia for local Indonesia residents in August 2020, and take international pasengers beginning September 12. Australis: September 2021Azamara: On January 19, 2021, Royal Caribbean Group announced that it had sold Azamara to a private equity firm. No work on whether this will affect the return dates below: - Azamara Quest: May 1, 2021
- Azamara Journey: May 1, 2021
- Azamara Pursuit: May 9, 2021
- Mardi Gras: now debuting on April 24, 2021.
- Carnival Freedom: voyages from Galveston are cancelled through April 10, 2021.
- Carnival Miracle: voyages from San Francisco and San Diego are cancelled through September 16, 2021.
- Carnival Liberty: sailings from Port Canaveral from September 17 - October 18, 2021 are cancelled for drydock work.
- Carnival Sunshine: sailings from Charleston from October 11 - November 13, 2021 are cancelled for drydock work.
- Four ships that were scheduled for drydocks in the first half of 2021 – Magic, Paradise, Valor and Legend – won't return to service until the work is done, and are not being listed as returning in 2021. More information onships returning in 2021.
- Australia voyages aboard Carnival Splendor are cancelled through the ship's April 19, 2021 departure, while sailings aboard Carnival Spirit are paused through the May 16, 2021 sailing. Carnival Spirit’s 15-day cruise from Singapore to Brisbane on June 12, 2021 is also cancelled.
- Crystal Esprit: May 2, 2021
- Crystal Serenity: May 24, 2021
- Crystal Symphony: May 1, 2021
- Queen Elizabeth: June 5, 2021
- Queen Mary 2: May 29, 2021
- Queen Victoria: May 17, 2021
- Balmoral: June 9, 2021
- Bolette: May 29, 2021
- Borealis: May 22, 2021
- Braemar: Spring 2022 (date tbd).
- River cruise departures on Brabant are cancelled for the 2021 season.
- Eurodam: Second Week of June 2021 (Alaska)
- Oosterdam: Second Week of June 2021 (Alaska)
- Koningsdam: Mid-May 2021 (Alaska)
- Nieuw Amsterdam: Mid-May 2021 (Alaska)
- Noordam: Mid-May 2021 (Alaska)
- Volendam: Early June 2021 (Mediterranean)
- Westerdam: Early June 2021 (Mediterranean)
- Zuiderdam: Early June 2021 (Alaska)
- Zaandam: September 2021 (Canada & New England)
- Pacific Explorer: April 30, 2021
- Pacific Adventure: April 30, 2021
- Pacific Encounter: May 7, 2021
- Pacific Aria: vessel has been sold & withdrawn from service
- Pacific Dawn: vessel has been sold & withdrawn from service
- Sailings aboard Quantum of the Seas and Spectrum of the Seas in Singapore and China;
- Sailings in Australia, which are cancelled until May 1, 2021.
- Spirit of Adventure: May 4, 2021
- Spirit of Discovery: April, 2021
- Sea Cloud: April 21, 2021
- Sea Cloud 2: March 17, 2021
- Sea Cloud Spirit: April 21, 2021
- Seabourn Odyssey: November 6, 2021 (except seven-day Alaska/British Columbia and the Pacific Coast sailings, beginning May 28).
- Seabourn Encore: May 29, 2021
- Seabourn Ovation: April 19, 2021
- Seabourn Quest: November 7, 2021 (with cruise longer than seven days and calling on a US port).
- Seabourn Sojourn: June 5, 2021
- Silver Cloud: May 5, 2021
- Silver Wind: June 14, 2021
- Silver Shadow: April 28, 2021
- Silver Spirit: April 20, 2021
- Silver Muse: May 20, 2021
- Silver Whisper: June 20, 2021
- Silver Explorer: June 24, 2021
- Silver Moon: April 1, 2021
- Silver Dawn: November 9, 2021
- Silver Origin: April 3, 2021
- Royal Clipper: April 19, 2021
- Star Clipper: April 3, 2021
- Star Flyer: April 16, 2021
- Wind Spirit – May 6, 2021
- Star Breeze – May 15, 2021
- Star Legend – May 1, 2021
- Wind Star – May 22, 2021
- Wind Surf – May 9, 2021
- Star Pride – July 14, 2021
When Will River Cruise Lines Resume Service?
Amadeus: Amadeus resumed service in Europe for international passengers on July 27, 2020AmaWaterways: March 1, 2021 for European cruises; April 2021American Cruise Lines: American Cruise Lines plans to restart in March 2021American Queen Steamboat Company: March 2021APT: March 1, 2021Arena Travel: TBC.A-ROSA River Cruises: February 1 on the Rhine and Danube only.Avalon Waterways: March 16, 2021Botanica: August 1Captain Cook Cruises (Murray River): July 31, 2020Century Cruises: Century Cruises will restart for Chinese passengers only on August 12.CroisiEurope: March 2021Crystal River Cruises: May 2021Emerald Waterways/Evergreen Cruises: April 1, 2021Fred. Olsen River Cruises: River voyages are cancelled for the 2021 season.Gate1 Travel: April 30, 2021Grand Circle: TBCHebridean Island Cruises: All sailings for its river ship Royal Crown have been cancelled for the remainder of 2020.Pandaw: July 2020Riviera Travel March 26, 2021Sanctuary: Sanctuary resumed cruises in Myanmar along the Irrawaddy in July.Scenic: April 1, 2021Tauck: March 1, 2021Teeming River Cruises:. Most sailing dates have now been moved into 2021.Titan: Feb 1, 2021Travelmarvel: TBCTUI River Cruises: March 2021Uniworld: TBCVantage Deluxe World Travel: May 2021Victory Cruise Lines: 2021Viking River Cruises: February 1, 2021How was this article?