Spring Cruises Look Unlikely to Sail

Here’s what passengers can expect:

No U.S. sailings before April 11

All major cruise companies, including Carnival Cruise Lines, the world’s largest, with 100 ships sailing under 10 brands; Norwegian Cruise Lines; MSC Cruises; and Royal Caribbean, are, at a minimum, suspending sailings from American ports until at least April 11.

Virgin Voyages, a new cruise endeavor and part of Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, announced it would postpone the launch of its first ship, Scarlet Lady, from March to July.

Spring cruises to Europe are being canceled

Mid-March through April is the time of year many United States-based ships typically head across the Atlantic to begin the European cruising season. That season looks unlikely to go forward. The C.D.C. has classified Europe as an area with “Widespread Sustained Transmission” of Covid-19 and has given it a Level 3 Warning, asking citizens to avoid nonessential travel. That is the same warning level applied to China, South Korea and Iran. The State Department has restricted all but United States citizens and legal permanent residents from returning from Europe. And countries have instituted lockdowns to prevent the spread of the virus.

Viking said it was temporarily suspending operations of river and ocean cruises, for embarkations taking place between March 12 and April 30. MSC Cruises has canceled trips departing from France and Italy through April 25.

Summer cruises to Alaska already curtailed

The Alaska cruising season, typically mid-May through the end of September will also take a hit. Marc Garneau, Canada’s Transport Minister announced (and tweeted) on March 13 that Canadian ports will not be open to cruise ships with 500 people or more until July. That includes Vancouver, an important Alaska cruise embarkation port, and Victoria, a popular cruise destination, in British Columbia. Cruise ships will not be allowed at all this year into Canadian Arctic ports, because health threats can be more severe in remote areas with less public health infrastructure.