Two Continents, Two Cruise Outlooks: Europe vs. the United States

(12:55 p.m. EDT) — As the global cruising industry continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, two narratives about its future are emerging — and which one you follow depends on where in the world you live.

On the one hand, there’s the United States, long cruising’s biggest market. With COVID-19 cases continuing to spike in many states as the industry’s voluntary pause enters its fifth month, nearly all cruise lines have canceled sailings through November 1, with some prominent lines, such as Crystal and Viking, shutting down the entire 2020 season.

On the other, there’s Europe, where small shoots of hope are taking root. MSC Cruises returned to sailing in Italy t