Princess Cruises, Holland America Line resume US sailings this weekend

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – Due to continued uncertainty regarding the timing for the resumption of cruise holidays in the region, Princess is canceling cruises in and out of Australia through December 19, 2021.

For guests booked on a canceled cruise, Princess will move guests to an equivalent cruise in 2022. The rebooking process will have the added benefit of protecting the guests’ 2021 fare on their replacement cruise. Alternatively, guests can choose a future cruise credit (FCC) equivalent to 100% of the cruise fare paid plus an additional non-refundable bonus FCC equal to 10% of the cruise fare paid (minimum $25 USD) or a full refund to the original form of payment.

Requests must be received through this online form by July 31, 2021, or guests will automatically receive the FCC option. FCCs can be used on any cruises booked by and sailing by December 31, 2022.

Cruises can be booked through a professional travel advisor, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237), or by visiting the company’s website at www.princess.com.

Princess will protect travel agent commission on bookings that were paid in full in recognition of the critical role they play in the cruise line’s business and success.

On another side,Two Carnival Corp. subsidiary cruise lines are restarting service in the U.S. this weekend.

Holland America Line is kicking off its Alaska cruise season this weekend, with its Nieuw Amsterdam ship departing the Port of Seattle Saturday. Princess Cruises will follow suit Sunday when the Majestic Princess sets sail from the same port.

Each cruise line is set to operate 10 cruises out of Seattle through September, according to a Friday news release.

Passengers sailing on either cruise line this year must be vaccinated, with their final dose completed at least two weeks prior to the start of the cruise, according to the cruise lines’ websites.

Carnival Corp.’s flagship cruise line, Carnival Cruise Line, launched its first ship from a U.S. port since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this month.

Princess Cruises has not operated in U.S. waters since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a “no sail order” in March 2020. The cruise line had major coronavirus outbreaks on two of its ships, the Diamond Princess and the Grand Princess, in early 2020.