Hey Cruisers, Here's What You Can Look Forward To in 2021

We know you miss vacationing on the open seas. As we wait together for the world of cruising to open up, there’s a silver lining: cruising is going to be better than it’s ever been.

Our Travel Experts are already helping travellers design a cruise experience worth waiting for. If you’re as excited as we are about 2021 and 2022 sailings, here’s a sneak peek of what you can look forward to.

1. Updated Experiences for Your Health & Safety

Just like airlines and hotels, cruise ships big and small are enhancing their travel experiences to keep your health and safety a top priority.

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has a close relationship with health authorities, including the CDC to make sure that cruise guests can feel confident that their health and safety are protected onboard.

Additionally, nine* cruise lines have formed a Healthy Sail Panel with public health and medical professionals to design new protocols for healthy sailings. On September 21st, the panel released their 74 recommendations for "creating as much of a 'bubble' as possible" on board cruise ships.

So, when we cruise again, we can expect new worry-free processes like required testing and medical screening before boarding, physical distancing, modified itineraries, and heightened sanitation onboard for everyone's safety.

2. Extra Flexibility

The world of cruising has a lot to offer to make sure travellers like you can book their next getaway with complete confidence and peace of mind. We’ve gotta say, we’ve never seen booking terms as flexible as these.

Here are Just a Handful of New Flexible Booking Policies**

• Royal Caribbean International is now offering a 48-hour cancellation policy that lets you change your mind within 2 days of your departure for a future cruise credit that lasts one year or more.
• Celebrity Cruises has extended the shelf life of existing future cruise credits and has introduced a 48-hour cancellation policy that gives you either a refund or a future cruise credit (depending on the timing), if things don’t go according to plan.
• With Princess Cruises, you don’t have to make a final payment until 60 days before your departure (it’s usually 90 days), and you can take advantage of their 30-day cancellation policy if you need to.
• If your AmaWaterways cruise is delayed, you’ll get a future cruise credit worth 115% of the original value so your next experience will be even better.
• Viking River Cruises is now offering a 24-hour change policy (with no change fee) and future cruise credits that give you 2 whole years to pick a new date.

3. Early Bird Perks

While several European ports are already open for ocean liners and river cruise ships, it’s not too late to be an early bird for 2021 and 2022 sailings.

With today’s great flexible booking conditions, you can plan ahead and enjoy a plethora of early bird booking perks like onboard credits, complimentary upgrades, and instant savings.

New Unique Sailings

Whether you’re into ocean cruises, river cruises, or small ship sailings, you’ll have more options than ever come next year. We recommend asking your Travel Expert what’s new, but here’s a little taste of what’s to come:

• Holland America Line is introducing a new North Pacific crossing from Vancouver for 2021/2022 sailings.
• Virgin Voyages is adding to their Caribbean and Mediterranean itineraries with new Trans-Atlantic crossings from only $109/night.
• Princess Cruises will be debuting several new itineraries including a sailing along the California Coast.
• Norwegian Cruise Line is gearing up for a new 17-day South America cruise from Chile to Miami.
• Royal Caribbean’s new Wonder of the Seas is set to be taking her maiden voyage in China in 2022
• Celebrity Cruises is introducing several new ports of call including Salomague, in the Philippines, Hydra in Greece, and Ishigaki in Japan.
• Viking announced an epic ‘round the world sailing for 2021 and 2022 that explores 27 countries in 136 days (including overnight stays in 11 beautiful cities). But if you calendar isn’t that clear, you can be one of the first to enjoy their new Great Lakes cruise in 2022.
• Uniworld River Cruises is introducing a new land, cruise, and train experience “Venice & the Swiss Alps” for 2021.
• Carnival Cruise Line is launching the new Mardi Gras ship in 2021, featuring heaps of new fun including Family Feud Live TM and the first ever rollercoaster at sea!
• Windstar Cruises is expanding their luxury small ship journeys to Tahiti and the South Pacific in 2021 and 2022.

 

* Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Azamara, TUI Cruises, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises

** Conditions apply. Ask your Travel Expert for full details of the booking conditions for your cruise line.