Updated Norwegian Cruise Line Suspension information
The safety, security and well-being of our guests, crew and communities we visit is our number one priority. We continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 coronavirus situation and the global health environment.
We are committed to taking all appropriate steps and actions to combat the spread of COVID-19 and are working closely and in partnership with local, state, federal and global agencies. While this may result in additional future changes, please know our teams are working around the clock to do what is right by our guests. We continue to monitor this situation closely and will provide additional updates as they are available.
Norwegian Cruise Line Suspension Update 7/29/20
Given that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact communities around the globe and travel and port restrictions in various parts of the world remain in effect, we have further suspended global cruise voyages through October 31, 2020.
If you have a current booking impacted by this extension, you will automatically receive an enhanced value future cruise credit (FCC) of 125% of the fare paid. The FCC’s must be used within one year of the date they’re issued and can be used on any Norwegian Cruise Line sailing through December 31, 2022.
Guests who do not wish to take advantage of the enhanced future cruise credit option can instead receive a monetary refund in the amount of the cruise fare paid, reimbursed to the original form of payment sixty days after completing the web request form. All refund requests for this current suspension period must be received via the web form at www.ncl.com/case-submission/peace-of-mind which will be made available starting at 9:00 am EST on August 3, 2020, up until 5:00 pm EST on August 14, 2020.
Norwegian Cruise Line Suspension Update 6/30/20
Given the continued impact to communities around the globe as well as various travel and port restrictions, today we extended our voluntary temporary suspension of all voyages through September 30, 2020, alongside the previously announced select cruises in October that were scheduled to call to Canada.
While we remained hopeful that we would resume our Seattle-based Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Joy Alaska sailings in September 2020, today’s suspension includes the following cruises.
- Norwegian Joy:
- September 5, 2020
- September 12, 2020
- September 19, 2020
- September 26, 2020
- Norwegian Bliss:
- September 6, 2020
- September 13, 2020
- September 20, 2020
- September 27, 2020
- October 4, 2020
Update: 6/16/20
Norwegian Cruise Lines has extended their voluntary temporary suspension of voyages through August 30th, 2020 and select cruises in September and October.
This statement, although accurate, is a little misleading. All sailings in August have been canceled and other than a few what I would call “pipe dream” cruises in September, most cruises are canceled through September. NCL is hoping to be able to sail some Alaska itineraries on Bliss and Joy from Seattle in September.
I say pipe dream cruises because in my opinion Alaska is not likely to lift enough restrictions and Canada has already said no cruise ships this year. Even NCL has an asterisk on this part of the statement:
We are hopeful that through the support of the Alaska delegation and openness of mayors in Alaska port towns, we have the potential to resume voyages in September. For this reason, we have excluded the September voyages aboard Bliss and Joy.
NCL Statement 6/16/20
Norwegian Cruise Line has also canceled all voyages in October 2020 to Canada/New England and cruises embarking in Vancouver, including:
- Norwegian Bliss: October 12, 2020
- Norwegian Joy: October 4, 2020
- Norwegian Breakaway: October 4, 2020 and October 11, 2020
- Norwegian Gem: October 2, 2020 and October 9, 2020
I still remain optimistic that cruising will return safer than ever and am still ready to sail as soon as it becomes an option. I’m booked on a NCL cruise for mid-October and if it’s sailing, I’ll be on it!
Update 5/20/20
While not a surprise to me, as of Wednesday May 20, 2020 Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is suspending all sailings through July 31, 2020. What does this mean for people who were scheduled to cruise during that time period and for the future of cruising?
First, you should know that I was planning to be on a Norwegian cruise this July. I was and continue to be confident that cruise lines will do everything possible to ensure the safety and health of their guests when cruises begin sailing. When the suspension was extended to the end of June (during which time period my original cruise was scheduled — and booked during the suspension, by the way!) I booked, firmly believing it will be safe to do so.
Second, cruising was, is and will continue to be a fun, safe, and affordable way to vacation and see the world. I am personally already looking at itineraries for when sailings are expected to return. Norwegian secured an enormous amount of financing to stay afloat (see what I did there?) even if suspensions go 18 months and I’m not the least bit concerned about them going out of business, running away with my money or not honoring my future cruise credit — and you shouldn’t be either. The cancellation policy is fantastic and flexible and the offers are amazing. This is the perfect time to be #VacationDayDreaming.
The official Norwegian Cruise Line suspension announcement and cancellation policy is below.
As we continue to closely monitor the evolving COVID-19 global pandemic and its significant impact on communities and ports around the globe, working in tandem with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and global public health authorities, I would like to share with you today that we have extended our suspension of cruise voyages across our fleet through July 31, 2020.
All guests with current and active bookings from July 1 through July 31, 2020 will automatically receive their refund in the form of a future cruise credit valued at 125% of the fare paid. These future cruise credits will be issued by Thursday, May 21, 2020 and can be applied anytime within one year of issue date and toward any Norwegian Cruise Line voyage through December 31, 2022.
A lesser value refund is also available for guests who elect not to retain the bonus future cruise credits provided. These guests can elect to receive a 100% refund of the fare paid to be reimbursed to the original form of payment ninety days after the request for a refund has been submitted.
