Princess Cruises suspends operations for
60 days; Viking Cruises cancels all cruises
due to coronavirus
USA Today,
by
Hannah Yasharoff
&
Morgan Hines
Original Article
Posted By: klezmer,
3/12/2020 9:45:23 AM
Princess Cruises announced that it is suspending its global operations for 60 days amid the coronavirus pandemic that has already forced two of its ships' passengers into quarantine. All operations will be suspended March 12 to May 10 according to a statement from the cruise line shared with USA TODAY by spokesperson Negin Kamali. "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," Jan Swartz president of Princess Cruises, said in the release.
Please learn to split a long headline as shown and post to word limit. LCom Staff.
Reply 1 - Posted by:
DVC 3/12/2020 9:58:02 AM (No. 343952)
We have been getting Viking Cruise info for years, the river boat tours of various European countries has seemed interesting, but we never pulled the trigger.
5 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
Laotzu 3/12/2020 10:03:14 AM (No. 343963)
One trip to Costco usually cures me of any growing interest in visiting Disney or taking a cruise. That said, I am absolutely fascinated by the new "virtual balconies" now found in some inside cabins. One step away from a Star Trek holodeck. (And one step away from never having to actually get on a ship.)
7 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
LadyHen 3/12/2020 10:10:38 AM (No. 343979)
It's a good move. I expect all the others lines to follow suit in the next 24-48 hours.
Lots of logistical nightmares however. This is world cruise season as most start at the beginning of the year and lastb120+ days so arrangements will have to made for those folks. We are also mid Spring Break and going into the shoulder season between Caribbean and Alaska/Europe which typically starts mid to late April. So a ton of repositioning cruises (moving a ship from one location to another, and ships typically never sail empty) will have to be scrapped and replanned. And then they have to find commercial anchorage for all the ships. The crews will stay aboard cleaning as they have guaranteed contracts for a guaranteed minimum paycheck, with compensation even if tips are absent.
Bold move that will cost cruise companies quite a bit but in the end it is for the best. Now, what about the airlines? That's the next question.
6 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
BeatleJeff 3/12/2020 10:46:34 AM (No. 344027)
Fingers crossed that Celebrity doesn't succumb to this mass hysteria. I'm 23 days out from a cruise on the Infinity.
5 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
LadyHen 3/12/2020 11:10:39 AM (No. 344063)
I'd make other plans were I booked with any cruise line in the next 60 days. In fact I was and did. We rebooked our cruise that was set to leave next week for a holiday cruise later this year. Final payment isn't until September so plenty of time to reevaluate our plans should situations change. Thankfully the airlines were also cooperative.
6 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
oldmagnolia 3/12/2020 11:35:48 AM (No. 344095)
#3 it will be a good opportunity for the airlines to actually clean the airplanes.
7 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
Jesuslover54 3/12/2020 11:49:37 AM (No. 344106)
Two moons will restore the virginity of their princesses.
3 people like this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
jacksin5 3/12/2020 12:07:24 PM (No. 344115)
Yet all of Florida's theme parks remain open for Spring Break.
3 people like this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
lftrn97 3/12/2020 12:18:50 PM (No. 344122)
Never cruised. Never will
1 person likes this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
hurricanegirl 3/12/2020 12:26:45 PM (No. 344133)
So for all of you whose cruises were cancelled, go to AirBnB and find another place to go on vacation. I'm seeing lots of price reductions. Cruises aren't the ONLY vacations in the world you know!
3 people like this.
Reply 11 - Posted by:
PenelopeSilk 3/12/2020 1:51:48 PM (No. 344237)
We were on our way to the TPC Sawgrass golf tournament in Florida. We were just told spectators will not be allowed in tomorrow so we’ve turned around to go home. Sad.
1 person likes this.
Reply 12 - Posted by:
ladydawgfan 3/12/2020 2:27:32 PM (No. 344261)
RE #11:
TPC Sawgrass is literally just down the road from me and traffic is a general madhouse. However, I would rather deal with that then see a championship tournament played without spectators. It isn't the virus that is the problem, it's the panic and knee jerk reactions!!
1 person likes this.
Reply 13 - Posted by:
hoosierblue 3/12/2020 2:38:14 PM (No. 344269)
Seems like a good time for them to pull all of the ships in for any maintenance that may be needed.
1 person likes this.
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