DESTINATIONS CRUISE |WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2021


FLEXIBLE BOOKING


Future cruise credit


If cruises are suspended, clients can expect credit of at least 100% of the original booking, with some going above that. P&O, MSC,


Holland America, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Scenic and Crystal are among the lines offering 125% Future Cruise Credit, with most useable until the end of 2021 and in some cases beyond. Virgin Voyages is offering a generous 200%.


Booking amendments


Many lines are also offering flexible policies


for customers wanting to change their booking; APT customers can change the date of their 2021 or 2022 booking up to 100 days prior to departure. Cunard guests can change to another itinerary before paying the final balance, and Fred Olsen offers a similar deal under its Plain Sailing Guarantee – along with the option of a full deposit refund. If guests can’t travel due to a positive Covid test, they can also rebook


another cruise for free up to the day of departure.


Cancellations


Princess lets guests cancel up to 30 days before departing, and NCL up


to 15 days prior; both offer Future Cruise Credit in exchange. Several other lines, including Azamara, Seabourn, Hurtigruten and more, are likewise offering


flexible policies under ‘Book with Confidence’ deals.


26 10 DECEMBER 2020


pools and gyms will mostly remain open. “The Healthy Sailing Panel has declared pools and spas ‘low-risk zones’, providing everyone adheres to distancing guidelines,” says Ben Bouldin, Royal Caribbean’s EMEA vice-president. “All treatments will be carried out as safely as possible, limiting contact where possible, and all crew members giving treatments will be equipped with the necessary PPE to reduce the risk of transmission to a bare minimum.” Uniworld likewise says massages will still be going ahead, with pre-treatment health checks, thorough sanitisation and therapists wearing appropriate PPE. But guests can expect caps on numbers in spa, pool and gym facilities, and some might require pre- booking. Celestyal, for example, says guests will need to pre-arrange appointments for wellness, beauty, entertainment and activities, with numbers “strictly limited”, while P&O will be reducing numbers in all public areas including spas, pools and gyms and may also ask guests to pre-book.


ENTERTAINMENT AND ACTIVITIES When it comes to entertainment, most lines will be keeping their regular roster of shows, with social distancing measures and other modifications in place. “Musicians, as with everybody else coming on


board, will undergo a health check,” says Uniworld’s UK managing director Chris Townson. “Any entertainment that can take place on deck will happen there (weather permitting. A risk assessment would also be conducted,


33The Healthy Sailing Panel has declared pools and spas ‘low- risk zones’, as long as distancing guidelines are followed


based on the epidemiological situation at that time and in that area.”


MSC is likewise keeping its entertainment. “Our


onboard activities and entertainment have been redesigned to enable smaller group sizes and we advise that guests book these in advance,” says Antonio Paradiso, UK & Ireland managing director. “A rich programme of activities is still available


throughout the cruise, including themed events, family activities, talent shows and more. Our theatre is operating at reduced capacity to ensure social distancing and is cleaned after each performance.” NCL says all of its activities will be available but with


reduced capacity and modified where needed, while Holland America plans on having staggered activity times. P&O also says it will still be running its kids’ clubs and activities, in line with the latest approved guidance to minimise contact. So, despite a few differences that might take some


getting used to, the cruise show looks set to go on in 2021.


TW travelweekly.co.uk


CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Spa on Saga’s Spirit of Adventure; MSC deep cleans its ship every night; BB King’s All-Star Band, Holland America Line PICTURES: Michel Verdure


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