Holland America Line, Seabourn and Royal Caribbean have all announced additional cruise schedule changes due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
Holland America Line reports that Westerdam’s Saturday, February 15, disembarkation that had been scheduled for Shanghai, China, will instead take place in Yokohama, Japan. Guests who have purchased their air through Holland America Line’s Flight Ease will have their return flights rebooked to depart from Tokyo rather than Shanghai at the cruise line’s expense. Guests with independent travel arrangements should rebook their air to depart from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport or Narita Airport no earlier than 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 15, the cruise line said. Guests with Holland America Line post-cruise hotel arrangements in Shanghai will be refunded to the original form of payment.
Additionally, Holland America Line said that it will cover up to $250 per person in airline change fees for carriers who are charging fees for those guests who sail and who are required to modify their flights as a result of this change. Proof should be sent to Guest Relations and compensation will be issued in the form of an onboard credit. Send to:
Holland America Line
Attn: Guest Relations
450 Third Avenue West
Seattle, WA 98119
Fax: (206) 905-8962
Looking ahead, all sailings onboard Westerdam in Asia from February 15 through March 28 will not visit China, with calls replaced by ports in Japan. Additionally, embarkations and debarkations will take place in Yokohama instead of Shanghai or Hong Kong. Cruises after March 28 were planned without ports in China and will sail as scheduled, the cruise line said. Similar policies as noted above will apply for guests with Flight Ease, independent air and Holland America Line pre- and post-cruise hotel arrangements.
Seabourn reports that Seabourn Ovation’s Saturday, February 29 disembarkation and embarkation will now take place in Singapore rather than Hong Kong. All sailings aboard Ovation in Asia from the February 15 departure through March 14 will not visit China, including Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has cancelled eight cruises out of China through March 4.
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