Sea Cloud Cruises Sets its Sights on Spring 2021
The Winter Season in the Caribbean is Cancelled, Guests and Agents Should Start Planning for the Spring Sailing Season
The Hamburg shipping company, Sea Cloud Cruises, has cancelled its entire winter program in the Caribbean. “In view of the current development of the Covid-19 pandemic, this necessary step is the only way to give our guests and all our sales partners the peace of mind when planning for future travel,” says Managing Director Daniel Schäfer. With the launch of the Sea Cloud Spirit, they will send three exclusive tall ships on extraordinary sailing trips in European waters, starting in Spring 2021.
Caribbean Countries aren’t allowing ship calls
Sea Cloud Cruises, like the entire cruise industry, is feeling the hardship due to the current Covid-19 situation, and had to make the hard decision to cancel all trips to the Caribbean and Central America, and the two transatlantic crossings. The past months have shown that immigration regulations can change bilaterally at very short notice due to changes in the infection rates. “Since infection rates are continuing to rise worldwide, almost all the islands in the Caribbean still do not allow ships to enter their territory,” explains Schäfer.
Uncertainties about flight options
In view of the decreasing number of cases, a restart of operations seemed to have come closer in recent months, and Sea Cloud Cruises, like all major shipping companies, developed a detailed hygiene concept for the safe use of the ships under the conditions of the global pandemic. However, uncertainties still remain about flight options to the Caribbean, as well as the classification of most of the islands in the region as risk areas by the German Robert Koch Institute. In addition, the U.S. health authorities have still not lifted the ban on cruising, so far.
Bookings transferable to 2021 or 2022 – Travel-dependent onboard credit
In view of the current uncertainties, “We are cancelling all voyages that involve uncertainty, and instead we are focusing our attention on what we can already reliably plan today,” emphasizes Schäfer. In addition to paying back deposits, the shipping company is offering its guests the option of transferring those deposits to voyages in the coming year or into the 2022 season, and rewarding this loyalty with a personal onboard beverage credit. Travel agents and sales partners will receive an expense allowance for the bookings affected by the cancellation of the Caribbean program. Sea Cloud Cruises had already made this arrangement at an early stage of the pandemic in view of the economic concerns of many travel agencies.
New start in the Mediterranean Sea and around the Canary Islands – flexible cancellation policy
Sea Cloud Cruises is now concentrating on the voyages in the Mediterranean and around the Canary Islands, which are scheduled in the current 2021 main catalogue, starting next spring. Just in case the situation hasn’t changed then, the Hamburg-based company is also preparing an alternative timetable that will take into account the current EU requirements for ocean voyages, for example, with departures and arrivals in the same port. In addition, the shipping company is sticking to the comprehensive cancellation rule that was already developed at the beginning of the pandemic. Should Covid-19 still give cause for concern in 2021, new or rebooked voyages can be cancelled up to six weeks prior to departure for a full refund, minus a small processing fee of only U.S. $25 per person.
Reservations: Guests, as well as travel agencies, can book with Sea Cloud Cruises at +49 – 40 – 30 95 92 50 or send a booking request to info@seacloud.com
United States & Canada: Information can be requested via the call center:
1-888-732-2568
