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Holland America Line and Seabourn extend cruise cancellations

Holland America Line and Seabourn have joined sister Carnival Corporation brand Princess Cruises in cancelling more cruises into 2021.

The cancellations come as lines continue to prepare and develop plans to meet the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) framework for conditional sailing order.

The changes came as Carnival Corporation increased a fresh fund–raising round to $1.45 billion and €500 million in two separate financial arrangements.

All HAL departures have now been paused until March 31, 2021, from the previous date of the end of this year.

Cruises of eight days or more that call at a US port will not resume until November 1, 2021.

Selected longer voyages in Asia, Australia/New Zealand and South America have been cancelled until mid-April 2021. Some departures will be rescheduled to comparable dates in 2022.

A series of 2021 voyages for two Seabourn ships are also affected as part of a broader redeployment in preparation for an eventual return to service.

Selected Seabourn Odyssey cruises are cancelled from January 16 until November 5, 2021 although seven-day Alaska/British Columbia and the Pacific Coast sailings are due to go ahead.

Seabourn Quest with voyages longer than seven days calling on a US port are cancelled from July 22 until November 6, 2021.

The luxury line’s president John Leibowitz said: “We’re fully committed to meeting the requirements necessary to bring guests back to our ships, including those issued by the CDC.

“Our team is grateful for the continued support we are seeing from guests, the travel advisor community, our partners and everyone with an interest in the hundreds of destinations we visit.

“Stay tuned for releases of alternative voyage options in the months ahead as conditions permit.”

The two companies are offering 125% future cruise credits for cancelled cruises or full refunds.

Those booked on several HAL longer voyages to South America on Westerdam, Asia by Noordam and Australia/New Zealand by Oosterdam will be rebooked to similar dates and itineraries in 2022.

Passengers booked on a ‘Voyage of the Vikings’ itinerary by Zaandam scheduled for July 9, 2021 will move to a similar date in 2022.

Those moving to a new cruise in 2022 will receive a $150 per person shipboard credit, protected pricing and equivalent cabin category, HAL said.

Princess Cruises announced an extension of its cancellations until the end of March 2021 on Friday.  

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