July 27, 2020
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(5:15 p.m. EDT) -- More cruise lines have begun cancelling their entire 2020 sailing schedule as the global COVID-19 health pandemic continues to affect travel around the world.
On Wednesday, Viking became the latest line to suspend its entire 2020 sailing schedule, cancelling all ocean and river cruises through December 31, 2020.
"On March 11, when we became the first cruise line to temporarily suspend operations at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I would not have imagined that in Augu
(Updated 2:02 p.m. EDT) -- 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.
Adding to voluntary suspensi
(12:30 p.m. EDT) -- Crystal Cruises has further delayed the launch of its newest vessel, Crystal Endeavor, due to construction slowdowns across Europe as the continent battles the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.
With the timing of when shipyard work can resume uncertain, the ship, which was scheduled to debut this Augus and had been pushed back until November, has now been canceled well into 2021.
Parent company Genting has not released a delivery date for the new ship.
The line began notifying people with bookings on the 200-passenger Crystal Endeavor in March to expect delays. The expedition-style ship is currently under construction at the MV
(Updated 1:28 p.m. EDT) -- Faced with declining revenues and a lack of passengers during the global COVID-10 pandemic, some cruise lines are taking an unpopular but necessary step: Selling off older vessels for scrap.
Most modern cruise ships have service lives of 40 years or more. While it is not uncommon to see cruise ships built in the 1970's and 1980's go to the breakers, older vessels are usually transferred first to another, smaller cruise operator -- a market that is often referred to as "secondhand tonnage."
It's more unusual is to see relatively young vessels head to the breakers. Yet that is precisely what is beginning to happen, due to the coronavirus pandemic. On June 25,
(2:15 p.m. EDT ) -- Last week was a discouraging one for cruisers, with COVID-19 cases popping up on the few small ship and international lines that have resumed service.
Norway, where cruising had re-emerged first from the pandemic, has put a two-week docking ban on ships with more than 100 people after Hurtigruten spawned an outbreak that is now past 50 infected passengers and crew. SeaDream I passengers were also forced to quarantine, after a passenger from a previous sailing tested positive for COVID-19.
Despite French Polynesia having some of the most rigorous COVID-19 testing requirements for entry, an American passenger turned up positive, forcing
CroisiEurope has resumed sailings through the French wine region of Bordeaux -- and confirmed British passengers will be welcome back onboard from next month.
Europe's largest river cruise line operates more than 50 ships and canal barges, is already offering sailings to people living in mainland Europe.
To date, other lines -- including German-based A-Rosa, Nicko and Viva -- have started operating selected itineraries that are only available to domestic passengers.
Cruise Critic is onboard this week's CroisiEurope sailing -- with 124 cruisers from France, Germany, Switzerland, Monaco and Northern Ireland --