When Will Cruises Start Again?

Although cruises have started back up on a small scale in some parts of the world, most cruise lines have temporarily paused operations. The question on everyone’s mind is when will cruises start again?

Most cruise lines have announced that they won’t start sailing again until this fall, and it looks likely that more companies will extend their suspensions further into the season or beyond.

As an example, Norwegian Cruise Line just announced on July 29 that they’re extending their suspension of service through the end of October, a full month after the US’ no-sail order is set to expire.

So will cruising resume in fall 2020? Honestly, no one knows for sure when and where cruises will be able to sail. Many governments around the world have restricted travel due to the pandemic, or have only opened their borders to visitors from “low-risk” countries. Some, like the US and Canada, have initiated no-sail orders that prevent large cruise ships from sailing or visiting their ports.

Although many cruise lines have sailings planned for the fall, but these could be canceled if no-sail orders are extended, or if the companies decide that operating these cruises isn’t feasible.

In a few parts of the world, like in Norway, Germany, and French Polynesia, local cruising has already restarted, but it’s been restricted to local residents. If you’re from the US like me, you might be wondering why we can’t do that here. (Read my article Why Do Most US Cruises Have to Stop in a Foreign Port? to find out why we can’t cruise a US-only itinerary.)

Let’s look at the current information that individual cruise lines have announced about when they’re planning on resuming cruises. This info is current as of August 27, 2020. I’ll be keeping an eye out for announcements and updating this article, so be sure to bookmark it for the future!

This list is pretty comprehensive, but it doesn’t include every cruise line in the world. 99% of my readers live in the US, UK, Canada, Australia or New Zealand. So, I’ve focused on cruise lines that are popular with cruise fans from those areas.

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AIDA Cruises

Updated August 22, 2020

German cruise line AIDA announced in early July that they planned to resume cruise operations in August with three ships. However, the company needed to wait for final approval from the Italian government to allow its Italian-flagged ships to sail.

Now that approval from Italy’s government is official, AIDA plans to resume cruising on September 6 from the port of Kiel. Sailings from Hamburg on AIDAperla are planned to begin on September 12.

AmaWaterways

Updated August 11, 2020

River cruise operator AmaWaterways announced on August 11 that all cruises embarking through October 15, 2020 are suspended.

American Cruise Lines

Updated August 27, 2020

US small-ship company American Cruise Lines has suspended all cruises through August 19, 2020. Additional cruises after this date in certain regions have also been suspended.

Update August 27, 2020: Although American Cruise Lines planned to resume operations in the United States on or soon after August 19, there’s no indication that they’ve done so. The company hasn’t issued a press release, an update on their website, or any other source of information.

However, booked guests have commented on ACL’s social media platforms that their late summer/early fall sailings have been canceled.

Inquiries to American Cruise Line’s Media Relations department have resulted in no reply.

Aurora Expeditions

Australia-based Aurora Expeditions plans to resume cruising on March 31, 2021. However, they are currently reviewing whether they will operate their Antarctica cruise season beginning in November 2020.

Azamara

Updated August 5, 2020

Azamara has announced the suspension of all sailings through September 30, 2020.

On August 5, CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) announced that its ocean-going cruise line members, including Azamara, have agreed to “voluntarily suspend U.S. cruise operations” until Oct. 31.

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line announced on July 21 that they’ve suspended all future sailings until October 1, due to the US’ no-sail order. They previously planned to resume sailing on August 28.

Blount Small Ship Adventures

Updated August 18, 2020

US small-ship cruise line Blount announced on August 18 that it has ceased cruise operations permanently. The company has put its three ships up for sale.

Carnival Cruise Line

Updated August 26, 2020

Carnival has canceled all cruises through September 30, 2020. In addition, sailings from some ports and on some ships have been suspended further.

On August 5, CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) announced that its ocean-going cruise line members, including Carnival, have agreed to “voluntarily suspend U.S. cruise operations” until Oct. 31.

• San Francisco: sailings suspended through 2020
• Miami: 7- and 8-day sailings have been suspended through April 30, 2022 (excluding the March 5, 2022 sailing)

• Carnival Spirit and Carnival Splendor:  sailings suspended through December 2, 2020
• Carnival Legend: sailings suspended through October 30, 2020
• Carnival Mardi Gras: sailings suspended through January 30, 2021
• Carnival Breeze: sailings from Ft. Lauderdale suspended from November 7, 2020 through March 7, 2021
• Carnival Imagination and Carnival Inspiration: sailings suspended through April 19, 2021
• Carnival Magic: transatlantic and Barcelona sailings suspended through May 3, 2021
• Carnival Fascination: sailings suspended through January 9, 2022
• Carnival Sunrise: sailings suspended through October 30, 2020
• Carnival Radiance: sailings suspended through November 1, 2020.

Celebrity Cruises

Updated August 5, 2020

Celebrity Cruises has canceled all cruises through September 30, 2020.

On August 5, CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) announced that its ocean-going cruise line members, including Celebrity, have agreed to “voluntarily suspend U.S. cruise operations” until Oct. 31.

Celestyal Cruises

Greek cruise line Celestyal Cruises announced on June 30 that they will suspend sailings until the 2021 season beginning March 6.

Costa Cruises

Updated August 22, 2020

Italian cruise line Costa Cruises plans to restart sailings from Italian ports on September 6. These cruises will be reserved for residents of Italy only.

Costa plans to resume cruising from other ports beginning September 30.

On August 5, CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) announced that its ocean-going cruise line members, including Costa, have agreed to “voluntarily suspend U.S. cruise operations” until Oct. 31.

CroisiEurope

French river cruise line CroisiEurope resumed cruising in July 2020.

Cruise & Maritime Voyages

British line Cruise & Maritime Voyages shut down operations on July 20, and all future cruises are canceled. This looks to be a permanent closure.

Crystal Cruises

Updated July 31, 2020

On July 31, Crystal Cruises announced they are canceling all ocean and river cruises through the end of 2020.

Crystal will not begin expedition cruising until after May 1, 2021. (Their new expedition ship, Crystal Endeavor, won’t be completed on schedule, due to the temporary closure of the shipyard where it’s being built.)

Cunard Line

Updated August 25, 2020

Although Cunard had planned to resume sailing in November, on August 25 the company announced a further pause in operations until the spring of 2021.

• Queen Elizabeth will now resume sailing on March 25, 2021
• Queen Mary II will now resume sailing on April 18, 2021
• Queen Victoria will now resume sailing on May 16, 2021

Additionally, all of Queen Elizabeth’s scheduled sailings from March 26, 2021 through December 13, 2021 have been canceled. Those cruises will be replaced with shorter voyages from Southampton and Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona.

Disney Cruise Line

Updated August 5, 2020

On August 5, CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) announced that its ocean-going cruise line members, including DCL, have agreed to “voluntarily suspend U.S. cruise operations” until Oct. 31.

Disney Cruise Line has suspended all sailings through October 30, 2020.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

Updated August 27, 2020

British cruise line Fred. Olsen has suspended all cruises through December 9, 2020. All segments of their Grand Voyages are suspended through March 10, 2021.

On August 21, the company announced it will retire two ships, Boudicca and Black Watch, to be replaced by two new ships, Bolette and Borealis, in spring 2021.

A few days later on August 27, Fred. Olsen confirmed that its two newest ships are scheduled to begin sailing in March and April 2021.

Balmoral will likely be the first ship from the cruise line to return to service, but an exact date isn’t yet known.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

German cruise line Hapag-Lloyd resumed short cruises in the North and Baltic Seas on July 31, 2020. Sailings are restricted to residents of Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Holland America Line

Updated August 11, 2020

On May 6, Holland America announced they are pausing global cruise operations and canceling all Alaska, Europe and Canada/New England cruises for 2020.

On June 11, HAL made a further announcement that departures from the port of Vancouver, BC, Canada have been canceled for 2020, along with select Hawaii itineraries through early 2021.

On August 11, Holland America announced the cancelation of all cruises through Dec. 15, 2020. Cancelations affect itineraries in the Caribbean, Mexico, the Panama Canal, South America, Antarctica, the Pacific coast of North America, Hawaii and the South Pacific, Australia, and Asia.

Hurtigruten

Updated August 24, 2020

Norwegian cruise line Hurtigruten restarted Norwegian coastal in mid-June with four ships, with a plan to return all coastal ships to service. Cruises were restricted to Norwegian residents. However, operations were brought to a halt after a COVID-19 outbreak on one of the ships, Roald Amundsen.

Hurtigruten plans to resume sailing in late August from its port in Bergen.

Hurtigruten’s expedition cruises are suspended until further notice.

Marella Cruises

Updated August 24, 2020

British cruise line Marella announced on August 24 that it’s extending its pause of operations through November 14, 2020.

Marella Explorer 2 will resume cruising in late November. Marella Dream will remain out of service until summer 2021. Marella Celebration has been retired. Marella Discovery cruises from Jamaica in December 2020 and January 2021 have been canceled.

MSC Cruises

Updated August 22, 2020

MSC Cruises resumed cruising in the Mediterranean in late August.

the company’s Caribbean sailings are canceled through October 31, 2020. MSC plans to restart more Mediterranean itineraries in October 2020, Asia and South America in November, and Middle East and South Africa cruises in December.

MSC announced in June that its entire fleet, including two new vessels under construction, will be in operation starting March 2021.

On August 5, CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) announced that its ocean-going cruise line members, including MSC, have agreed to “voluntarily suspend U.S. cruise operations” until Oct. 31.

Norwegian Cruise Line

NCL announced in late July that they are extending their cruising suspension worldwide through October 31, 2020.

Oceania Cruises

Oceania’s parent company, Norwegian Holdings, announced in late July that they are extending their cruising suspension worldwide through October 31, 2020. Insignia voyage departures through November 10, 2020 were previously canceled.

P&O Cruises

Updated August 27, 2020

P&O Cruises announced on August 11 that they are suspending cruises through November 12, 2020. The company also canceled some longer cruises scheduled for January through March 2021 on Aurora and Arcadia.

On August 27, P&O Cruises Australia announced they are extending their suspension of operations to December 2, 2020.

Paul Gauguin Cruises

Paul Gauguin Cruises began cruising again in mid-July in French Polynesia, serving the local market.

On July 29, a sailing from Papeete, Tahiti was the first to welcome international passengers. However, just a few days into that sailing a passenger tested positive for COVID-19 and the ship returned to Papeete.

Beginning in August, they plan to resume their Tahiti, French Polynesia, and South Pacific sailing schedule.

Ponant

French luxury line Ponant began sailing international itineraries in Europe starting in July.

Princess Cruises

Updated August 26, 2020

Princess Cruises has suspended all cruises in Alaska, Canada & New England, and Europe through the end of 2020.

Additionally, all sailings in Asia, the Caribbean, California, Hawaii, Mexico, the Panama Canal, South America, Antarctica, Japan, and Tahiti/South Pacific are suspended through December 15, 2020.

On August 25, Princess announced that they are cancelling some longer sailings on two ships in early 2021:

• Island Princess 2021 World Cruise from the US
• Pacific Princess 2021 Circle South America from Australia

On August 26, the company announced they are extending the pause of operations in Australia and New Zealand through December 12, 2020.

Pullmantur

Spanish cruise line Pullmantur shut down operations in June 2020, and all cruises are canceled. This looks to be a permanent closure.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Updated August 26, 2020

Regent Seven Seas’ parent company, Norwegian Holdings, announced in late July that they are extending their cruising suspension worldwide through October 31, 2020.

On August 26, RSSC announced the cancelation of its 2021 World Cruise, along with all sailings on Seven Seas Mariner departing through April 2021.

Royal Caribbean International

Updated August 26, 2020

Royal Caribbean has suspended all sailings worldwide through September 30th, 2020, with the exception of five planned China and Japan cruises in August. Canada and Bermuda sailings will be suspended through October 31, 2020.

On August 5, CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) announced that its ocean-going cruise line members, including RCI, have agreed to “voluntarily suspend U.S. cruise operations” until Oct. 31. RCI also stated that all European and transatlantic sailings will be canceled through the end of November 2020.

These planned cruises in Asia have also been canceled:

• Spectrum of the Seas sailings through September 30, 2020
• Quantum of the Seas sailings through October 1, 2020 and October 7th, 2020 – October 28th, 2020
• Voyager of the Seas sailings through September 30, 2020

Sailings planned for new ship Odyssey of the Seas from November 5th, 2020 through April 17th, 2021 will be canceled due to construction delays.

On August 26, Royal Caribbean announced the cancelation all sailings from Australia and New Zealand through October 31, 2020.

Seabourn Cruise Line

Updated August 12, 2020

Ultra-luxury Seabourn Cruise line has extended its suspension of cruising for all five of its ships.

• Seabourn Sojourn: all sailings suspended through May 24, 2021.
• Seabourn Encore: all sailings suspended through November 25, 2020.
• Seabourn Ovation: all sailings suspended through December 20, 2020.
• Seabourn Odyssey: all sailings suspended through November 20, 2020.
• Seabourn Quest: all sailings suspended through November 6, 2020.

SeaDream Yacht Club

SeaDream Yacht Club resumed sailing in Norway on June 20, operating cruises on SeaDream I for a primarily Norwegian market. Sailings on SeaDream II were added soon after.

SeaDream plans to resume cruising in Europe on September 19, and in the Caribbean on November 7, 2020.

Silversea Cruises

Updated August 5, 2020

Silversea Cruises has canceled all cruises through mid-September 2020. They’ve announced a “rolling” cancellation system in which they will cancel cruises only when they know they won’t be able to operate them. As of late July, they plan to resume cruising on these dates:

• Silver Origin: beginning September 19, 2020 in the Galápagos
• Silver Muse: beginning October 10, 2020 in Asia and Australia
• Silver Explorer: beginning October 31, 2020 in Florida/Caribbean/South America
• Silver Cloud: beginning October 28, 2020 in South America
• Silver Spirit: beginning November 5, 2020 in Mediterranean/Middle East
• Silver Moon: beginning November 8, 2020 transatlantic Barcelona to Ft. Lauderdale
• Silver Shadow: beginning November 10, 2020 transatlantic Barcelona to Ft. Lauderdale
• Silver Whisper beginning November 10, 2020 In Florida/Caribbean
• Silver Wind: beginning June 14, 2021 In Europe

On August 5, CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) announced that its ocean-going cruise line members, including Silversea, have agreed to “voluntarily suspend U.S. cruise operations” until Oct. 31.

UnCruise Adventures

Updated August 4, 2020

Small-ship line UnCruise Adventures resumed operations in Alaska on August 1st, 2020. (UnCruise was able to sail in Alaska because their small ships are exempt from the US’ no-sail order. They also don’t need to visit a foreign port during their itineraries because they have US-flagged ships with a US crew.)

However, the first sailing of Wilderness Adventurer from Juneau returned to port after a passenger tested positive for COVID-19. UnCruise announced that their remaining four scheduled Alaska sailings have been canceled. They plan to resume operations at some point in spring 2021.

Viking

Updated August 12, 2020

On August 12, Viking announced the suspension of all sailings for both river and ocean cruises through December 31, 2020.

Virgin Voyages

Updated August 5, 2020

New cruise line Virgin Voyages originally planned to launch its first ship, Scarlet Lady, on April 1, 2020. Due to the pandemic, the launch was postponed to August 7, and then to October 16, sailing in the Caribbean from Miami.

On August 5, CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) announced that its ocean-going cruise line members, including Virgin Voyages, have agreed to “voluntarily suspend U.S. cruise operations” until Oct. 31.

The maiden voyage of Scarlet Lady is now scheduled to depart Miami in early November.

Windstar Cruises

Updated August 27, 2020

On August 27, Windstar Cruises announced the cancelation of all sailings through December 31, 2020. The company now plans to resume operations in the spring of 2021.

Has your cruise been canceled? Or do you have any upcoming cruises booked? Maybe you’re considering booking a cruise? I’d love to hear from you! Let me know in the comments below!

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