Princess Cruises to halt operations worldwide due to coronavirus
Princess Cruises is temporarily halting operations worldwide, effective immediately.
The world's fifth largest cruise line early Thursday said it would pause global operations for its fleet of 18 vessels for two months, starting with sailings scheduled to begin today.
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The line cited the global spread of the new coronavirus, which has touched two of its vessels in recent weeks.
“It is widely known that we have been managing the implications of COVID-19 on two continents,” Princess president Jan Swartz said in a statement. “By taking this bold action of voluntarily pausing the operations of our ships, it is our intention to reassure our loyal guests, team members and global stakeholders of our commitment to the health, safety and well-being of all who sail with us, as well as those who do business with us, and the countries and communities we visit around the world."
Related: The extreme measures cruise lines are taking as coronavirus spreads
Princess is the second and biggest major cruise line to announce a suspension of operations. It follows Viking, which made a similar announcement late Wednesday. Princess carries more than 50,000 passengers a day.
Of the major cruise lines, Princess is the one that has been hardest hit by the coronavirus outbreak. One of its Asia-based ships, Diamond Princess, was under quarantine in the harbor of Yokohama, Japan, for several weeks after passengers and crew on the vessel tested positive for COVID-19. Initially, just nine passengers and a single crew member were diagnosed with the illness. But the number of confirmed cases ultimately reached more than 700. At least six passengers have died.
A second Princess ship, Grand Princess, just docked in Oakland this week after a coronavirus outbreak sickened at least 21 passengers and crew members.
Related: As coronavirus spreads, more ports turns away cruise ships
Princess on Thursday said cruises currently underway that are scheduled to end in the next five days will continue to sail as expected through the end of the itinerary so that onward travel arrangements are not disrupted.
Current voyages that are underway and extend beyond March 17 will be ended at the most convenient location for guests, factoring in operational requirements.
Visit TPG’s guide to all coronavirus news and updates
"Princess will do everything possible to return each guest home with the greatest amount of care possible," the line said in a statement. "During this time, our operations and medical teams across the fleet will remain vigilant in their care and service for guests and crew onboard."
Princess said passengers on canceled sailings can request a full refund. Alternately, they can apply the money they paid for the canceled cruise to a booking for a later sailing. Passengers who choose the latter option get an additional future cruise credit benefit, the line said.
Princess said it would honor the offer for passengers who already had canceled a booking on one of the sailings after making final payment on or after Feb. 4.
Princess said it would resume operations on May 11.
Additional resources for traveling during the coronavirus outbreak:
- What to do if you want to cancel your cruise
- How coronavirus is impacting airline award availability
- How coronavirus has left the travel industry reeling
- Airlines scale back inflight offerings due to coronavirus
- How to ward off coronavirus in your hotel room
- Guide to traveling during the coronavirus outbreak
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- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
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- First checked bag free
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- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
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- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees