3 more major cruise lines cancel sailings into October
Add Norwegian Cruise Line to the list of big cruise operators canceling sailings into the fall.
The Miami-based line and its two sister brands, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises, on Tuesday canceled nearly all voyages through early October.
Until now, the three lines only had canceled sailings through the end of July.
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The new cancellations include every sailing of every ship operated by the three brands scheduled to depart between Aug. 1 and Sept. 30, except for a few September sailings out of Seattle.
All three brands also have canceled one or more sailings in early October.
Norwegian, Regent and Oceania are part of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, the third biggest cruise company in the world after Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean Cruises. Together, the three Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings brands operate 28 ships.
Norwegian's announcement comes just a week after Carnival Corporation-owned Cunard Line canceled all sailings into November and sister brand Holland America canceled a significant number of September and October sailings. Carnival Corporation-owned Princess Cruises and Seabourn also recently canceled most sailings into the fall.
Exclusive: Carnival Corp. CEO shares his thoughts on the future of cruising
Royal Caribbean Cruises-controlled Silversea last week also canceled a wide swath of cruises into the fall. The line on Wednesday said three of its seven vessels — Silver Explorer, Silver Cloud and Silver Wind — wouldn’t resume operations until at least the second half of October or November. A return to service for Silversea's four other vessels — Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper, Silver Muse and Silver Spirit — has been pushed back to September.
Two more Silversea vessels scheduled to debut this year — Silver Origin and Silver Moon — are now scheduled to debut on Aug. 22 and Oct. 2, respectively.
Disney Cruise Line last week also canceled some sailings into early October.
The cancellations come even as a handful of river cruise lines and small-ship cruise specialists move ahead with plans to resume operations. Earlier this month, a single German river cruise ship began sailing again in Germany, and several more river lines in Europe plan to resume a small number of cruises in the coming days. A few small ocean ships that plan to sail along the coasts of Norway and France also are restarting operations.
For now, the sailings that are resuming only are available to Europeans who live near the waters where the vessels will operate.
Also planning a startup soon is North American small-ship cruise specialist American Cruise Lines. It hopes to resume river sailings in the Pacific Northwest in the coming days with a single ship, the 90-cabin American Song.
There is a growing consensus in the cruise industry that river ships and small vessels that sail coastal routings will be able to resume semiregular operations this year far earlier than bigger ships that offer long-distance ocean trips.
In part, this is because small vessels offer a sort of small-group travel that is easier to manage in an era of social distancing than the mass tourism of big ships. The typical river ship in Europe, for instance, has fewer than 100 cabins. It essentially operates as a small boutique hotel — albeit one that happens to move from town to town. Touring always is in small groups or on an individual basis. Onboard spaces rarely are crowded.
Related: How far out are cruises canceled? A line-by-line guide
River cruise ships and small coastal vessels also often sail within the borders of a single country. That’s less complex from a logistical point of view than operating the sort of multi-country itineraries typical of big-ship lines. Small ships operating single country itineraries don’t have to worry about another country turning them away at a whim.
In the U.S., small vessels such as American Song are exempt from a 100-day “no-sail” order for cruise ships sailing in U.S. waters issued in April by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The order only applies to cruise ships that carry more than 250 passengers and crew.
Norwegian Cruise Line and its two sister brands are offering passengers on the newly canceled sailings the choice of a full refund or a future cruise credit for 125% of the amount they paid. Customers have a limited time to request the refund.
Related: Why you shouldn't take a voucher for a canceled cruise
Additional resources for cruisers during the coronavirus outbreak:
- Why you shouldn't expect bargain-basement cruise deals anytime soon
- How to cancel or postpone a cruise due to coronavirus
- Expecting a refund for a canceled cruise? Here's how long it will take
- Good news for cruisers worried about strict new boarding rules
- Some of the year's hottest new ships could be delayed
- Stream these 13 movies, television shows to get your cruise ship fix
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.