Norwegian Spirit’s 2020 Dubai cruise itinerary altered as entire Asian program cancelled

Norwegian Spirit’s entire 2020 Asian cruise program has been cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak, but her Dubai and Cape Town cruises are going ahead.

Norwegian Cruise Line announced last week that her cruise from Civitavecchia (Rome) to Dubai would depart later than planned, due to labour strikes in France that affected her $100-million refurbishment schedule.

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Instead of departing Civitavecchia on February 11^th, Norwegian Spirit will instead depart on February 14^th, 2020. In order for her to arrive in Dubai on-time (and sail on to Cape Town as planned), the cruise will have a revised schedule of ports.

Norwegian Cruise Line is offering guests a 25% refund and a future cruise credit of 25% if they still go ahead with their cruise, and up to US $300 per person will be covered for any flight changes or hotel bookings.

Guests can also cancel their cruise by February 13^th and receive a full refund.

Here is the new itinerary (courtesy Cruise Hive):

However, it’s unclear where the ship will be going from Cape Town onwards when she arrives in the city on March 22^nd.

Spirit’s entire Asian cruise season has been cancelled as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, which originated in China and has since been reported in at least 25 countries, with more than 25,000 infected and at least 600 deaths.

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All her cruises from in Asia from April 15^th, 2020 through December 7^th, 2020 have been cancelled, the company said in a statement.

“Please be advised that a full refund will be processed automatically to the form of payment provided at the time of booking. As a goodwill gesture, we have arranged for a future cruise credit, worth 10% toward your future cruise, to be issued,” Royal Caribbean said.

There was no immediate information available on where the ship would sail in place of its Asia program, but with both the Dubai and the South African cruise seasons winding down at the time of the ship’s intended arrival in both regions, neither will be a suitable option.