Princess Cruises Cancels Some Alaska Sailings After Canada Extends Port Closure

Following the decision of Canada to extend the closure of Canadian ports and waters to passenger vessels, Princess Cruises has announced it will cancel many of its Alaska, Canada & New England, and Pacific Coastal Sailings for 2021.

Transport Canada’s order, which was revealed earlier this month, means that cruise sailings carrying 100 people or more out of Canadian ports and those traveling through Canadian waters, including Alaska sailings out of Seattle or Canada and New England sailings, will not be able to operate in Canadian until March 2022 at the earliest.

The following voyages have been canceled: Alaska seven-day Voyage of the Glaciers cruises, sailing between Vancouver, B.C. and Anchorage (Whittier); Pacific Coastals that start or end in Vancouver, B.C.; and the Canadian Adventure sailing roundtrip from Southampton, UK.

Princess is engaged with various United States and Canadian government officials to try to preserve a portion of the Alaska and Canada & New England 2021 cruise seasons. In the meantime, Princess has committed to operating the Kenai Princess Wilderness lodge along with McKinley Chalet Resort in Denali and Westmark Fairbanks Hotel this summer. It is currently working on vacation land package details that will be announced shortly.

Princess said it is “engaged with various United States and Canadian government officials to try to preserve a portion of the Alaska and Canada & New England 2021 cruise seasons.”

 In the meantime, Princess will still operate the Kenai Princess Wilderness lodge along with McKinley Chalet Resort in Denali and Westmark Fairbanks Hotel this summer and is currently working on vacation land package details that will be announced shortly.

“We share in our guests’ disappointment over these canceled voyages especially as we have been preparing our ships for our return to service,” said Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises. “Princess Cruises has sailed to Alaska for more than 50 years and the incredible Last Frontier is part of our proud heritage. We understand, how much of Alaska is dependent on the cruise economy. We are going to do all we can to help our business partners and the communities of Alaska.”

For guests currently booked on a canceled voyage who had paid in full, Princess will automatically rebook them to the same cruise or cruise tour in 2022. The rebooking process will have the added benefit of protecting the guests’ 2021 fare on their 2022 cruise.

Princess will transfer the commission earned by travel advisors from the canceled 2021 cruise to the new booking in 2022.

Once Princess has completed the booking transfer, if the guest would prefer an alternative option, they can choose a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) equivalent to 100% of the cruise fare paid plus an additional non-refundable bonus FCC equal to 10% of the cruise fare paid (minimum $25) or a full refund to the original form of payment.

Guests not paid in full will automatically receive a refundable Future Cruise Credit (FCC) equivalent to 100% of the cruise fare paid plus an additional non-refundable bonus FCC equal to 10% of the cruise fare paid (minimum $25). 

FCCs can be used on any cruises booked by and sailing by Dec. 31, 2022. Alternatively, guests can request a full refund.