On Tuesday Royal Caribbean Group and Disney Cruise Line announced an extension of their operational pause moving us into the spring and a year without cruising.
From Royal Caribbean Group
The health and safety of our guests remains our key focus at the Royal Caribbean Group. To ensure we have ample time to focus on our healthy return to service initiatives, we've made the tough decision to voluntarily suspend cruise operations through April 30, 2021. This will allot additional time to solidify our safety measures as we work to welcome you and your clients back onboard. We are thoughtfully analyzing every aspect of the cruise experience and, as you can imagine, this takes time but we are steadily making progress. Through our healthy return to service program, we are not only reinforcing current standards, but setting new ones at every turn. This new program will focus on four key aspects of the cruise experience - upgraded screening prior to boarding, enhanced processes onboard, focused approach on the destinations we visit, and heightened procedures for managing any reports of exceptions. Royal Caribbean
Celebrity Cruise Line
Azamara Club Cruises
Disney Cruise Line
According to Disney Our team at Disney Cruise Line remains focused on the health and well-being of our Guests and team members. We are carefully preparing for a return to service following the guidelines issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As we continue to refine our protocols and await further technical guidance from the CDC, we are cancelling all sailings departing through March 2021.
At this point I would like to say this is the last of the cancellation announcements but there could be more. But I am confident we will get back to cruising by the Summer. That being said, it is possible that Alaska and Europe will be cancelled or at least limited.
The question I have had from clients is, should I book for 2021. Late 2021 or even into 2022 I believe is a safe bet. Although we do not like the additional delays, it gives the cruise line to prepare for a somewhat seamless return. Mike Miller
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