March 03, 2021
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(Updated 1:25 p.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, 2020. 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 in many cases beyond then. -- 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 be regularly updated. These dates are subject to change.
When Will Ocean Cruise Lines Resume Service?
Adventure Canada: January 7, 2022AIDA: March 20, 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. Aurora: May 1, 2021Australis: September 2021Azamara: July 1, 2021Bahamas Paradise: A restart date has not been set yet.Blount Small Ship Adventures: The company ceased all operations in late August. All future voyages are canceled.Blue Lagoon Cruises: May 1, 2021Captain Cook Cruises: December 19, 2020Carnival: June 1, 2021 with several exceptions:- Mardi Gras: now debuting on May 29, 2021, from Port Canaveral.
- Carnival Legend's European itineraries have all been canceled.
- Carnival Miracle's planned seasonal service from San Diego has been suspended until further notice, and sailings out of San Diego that were available for sale through April 2023 have been canceled, with the exception of seven voyages to Hawaii, which will move to Long Beach.
- Carnival Liberty: sailings from Port Canaveral from September 17 - October 18, 2021 are canceled for drydock work.
- Carnival Sunshine: sailings from Charleston from October 11 - November 13, 2021 are canceled 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 due to return to service in November 2021. More information onships returning in 2021.
- Carnival Radiance's dry dock and transformation has been moved to September, with a planned arrival to Long Beach in November 2021.
- Australia voyages aboard Carnival Splendor are canceled through the ship's June 28, 2021 departure, while sailings aboard Carnival Spirit are paused through the September 12, 2021 sailing.
- Crystal Esprit: August 2, 2021
- Crystal Serenity: June 1, 2021
- Crystal Symphony: July 2021
- Crystal Endeavor: September 2021
- Queen Elizabeth: June 5, 2021
- Queen Mary 2: May 29, 2021
- Queen Victoria: May 17, 2021
- Balmoral: July 1, 2021
- Bolette: July 1, 2021
- Borealis: July 1, 2021
- Braemar: Spring 2022 (date tbd).
- River cruise departures on Brabant are canceled for the 2021 season.
- Volendam: Early June 2021 (Mediterranean)
- Westerdam: Early June 2021 (Mediterranean)
- Cruises departing from or ending in a Canadian port of call have been cancelled through the remainder of 2021.
- Sailings aboard Quantum of the Seas and Spectrum of the Seas in Singapore and China;
- Sailings in Australia, which are canceled until May 1, 2021.
- Spirit of Adventure: May 4, 2021
- Spirit of Discovery: June 2, 2021
- Sea Cloud: May 7, 2021
- Sea Cloud II: June 2, 2021
- Sea Cloud Spirit: June 2, 2021
- Seabourn Odyssey: November 6, 2021. Voyages to Alaska from Vancouver are now cancelled, along with Pacific Coastal voyages.
- 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: November 20, 2021
- Silver Shadow: May 15, 2021
- Silver Spirit: May 5, 2021
- Silver Muse: June 3, 2021
- Silver Whisper: June 20, 2021
- Silver Explorer: May 28, 2021
- Silver Moon: May 4, 2021
- Silver Dawn: November 9, 2021
- Silver Origin: May 1 2021
- Royal Clipper: May 1, 2021
- Star Clipper: September 11, 2021
- Star Flyer: May 22, 2021
- Wind Spirit – June 10, 2021 - Tahiti
- Star Breeze – June 19, 2021 - Caribbean
- Wind Star – June 19, 2021 - Mediterranean
- Wind Surf – June 29, 2021 - Mediterranean
- Star Legend – July 4, 2021 - Mediterranean
- Star Pride - July 14, 2021 - Northern Europe & Iceland
When Will River Cruise Lines Resume Service?
Amadeus: Amadeus resumed service in Europe for international passengers July 27, 2020AmaWaterways: April 1, 2021American Cruise Lines: American Cruise Lines plans to restart in March 2021American Queen Steamboat Company: March 2021APT: May 1, 2021Arena Travel: TBDA-ROSA River Cruises: March 15, 2021Avalon Waterways: May 1, 2021.Botanica: 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: June 2021Emerald Waterways/Evergreen Cruises: June 1, 2021Fred. Olsen River Cruises: River voyages are canceled for the 2021 season.Gate1 Travel: July 1, 2021Grand Circle: May 1, 2021Hebridean Island Cruises: All sailings for its river ship Royal Crown have been canceled for the remainder of 2020.Pandaw: July 2020Riviera Travel May 17, 2021Sanctuary: Sanctuary resumed cruises in Myanmar along the Irrawaddy in July.Scenic: June 1, 2021Tauck: April 1, 2021Teeming River Cruises: Most sailing dates have now been moved into 2021.Titan: Feb 1, 2021Travelmarvel: TBDTUI River Cruises: May 2021Uniworld: Early May, 2021Vantage Deluxe World Travel: June 2, 2021Victory Cruise Lines: 2021Viking River Cruises: June 1, 2021How was this article?