When will the cruise lines start sailing again?

The world’s cruise lines have a number of different dates for when they’ll start operating again, some expedition lines have resumed services, along with four big ship lines in Europe in a limited capacity. Below is a list of when each cruise line is expected to start up again.

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Right now, with Coronavirus cases continuing to rise in some countries and coming under control in others, it’s anyone’s guess when worldwide lockdowns and social distancing policies will be lifted.

Some experts say several months to a year, while others expect the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic to last up to eighteen months. Many cruise ports around the world are likely to keep their cruise ship restrictions in place even longer.

Cruise ships were hit particularly badly by the Coronavirus pandemic, with at least 21 ships operating in the United States declaring outbreaks of the virus among passengers and crew, while several ships suffered outbreaks and onboard deaths in other parts of the world.

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Dubai and Cape Town have both suspended all cruise operations, a move that forced the early cancellation of cruise seasons in the UAE and South Africa, and no date has been given for when they will open again.

Despite this, the world’s major cruise lines have largely declared one-month suspensions that are being extended as each of their declared deadlines nears.

Below is a list of the dates announced by each cruise line. Every effort will be made to update this list as new developments occur.

Mainstream cruise lines

AIDA Cruises:                           September 6th (in limited capacity, and 2021 for any US cruises)

Bahamas Paradise:                 October 1st

Carnival:                                   November 1st

Celestyal Cruises:                    March 6th, 2021

Costa Cruises:                          September 6th (in limited capacity)

Cruise & Maritime Voyages:  Has ceased operations

Disney Cruise Line:                 November 2nd

Fred. Olsen Cruise Line:        December 17th

Majestic Line:                          August 29th

Marella Cruises:                     November 15th

MSC Cruises:                           Has resumed limited cruises

Norwegian Cruise Line:        November 1st

P&O Cruises:                           November 13th

P&O Cruises Australia:         October 30th

Princess Cruises:                    September, 2020 (October for Canada and Alaska)

Pullmantur Cruises:              Has ceased operations

Royal Caribbean:                    November 1st (all Alaska, Canada & New England, transatlantic and Bermuda itineraries canceled into 2021) 

Virgin Voyages:                       November 1st

Premium cruise lines

Azamara:                               November 1st (but Azamara Quest November 21st)

Celebrity:                                November 1st 

Cunard Line:                            November 2nd

Holland America Line:           December 16th

Oceania Cruises:                     November 1st

Saga Cruises:                           September 1st

Sea Cloud Cruises:                   October 1st

Luxury cruise lines

Crystal Cruises:                       January 3rd, 2021

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises:           Limited cruises resumed July 31st, 2020

Ponant:                                    Limited cruises resumed for French resident in July

Regent Seven Seas:                November 1st

Seabourn:                                November 20th

SeaDream Yacht Club:         September 1st

Silversea:                                October 10th

Viking Cruises:                        January 1st, 2021

Windstar Cruises:                  October 15th

Specialty cruise lines

Australis:                                   September, 2020

Blue Lagoon Cruises:               September 1st

Coral Expeditions:                    October 31th

Hurtigruten:                             Has resumed limited services on Norwegian coast

Metropolitan Touring:          July 31st

Paul Gauguin:                         Limited French Polynesia sailings resumed in July

Poseidon Expeditions:            October earliest

Scenic:                                       September 1st

Star Clippers:                           October 3rd earliest

Tauck:                                       October 1st

UnCruise Adventures:            Early 2021

Zegrahm Expeditions:            Unknown