Princess Cruises has announced updated restart dates for its ships Island Princess and Diamond Princess.
In order to accommodate the new itineraries, the line also announced several cancellations, including the 2022 World Tour that was to take place aboard the Diamond Princess.
Diamond Princess is, of course, the ship which became the face of coronavirus in early 2020 after the ailment caused the ship to be quarantined off the coast of Japan. Ultimately, over 700 passengers and crew wound up testing positive for the virus, with much of the blame eventually being put on the Japanese government for the way they handled the unfolding crisis.
When The Ships Will Return
Island Princess will now return to service with a series of cruises to the Caribbean in the spring of 2022, before its 14-night Panama Canal Ocean to Ocean voyage on April 27, 2022.
Diamond Princess will resume sailings in the spring of 2022 as well, with a season of cruises in Japan.
Exact dates and itineraries for the return of the ships were not announced, only that they would be forthcoming soon.
“Following our successful restart in Alaska and the UK, we look forward to welcoming our guests back on board as we continue our return to cruise operations, keeping the health and safety of our guests and teammates our top priority,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president.
As a result of these changes, Princess Cruises has canceled its 2021-2022 South American & Antarctica program on Diamond Princess, its 2022 World Cruise, and two December 2021 sailings on Island Princess.
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Those booked on a now-canceled cruise will be able to move their booking to an equivalent future cruise with the protected fare. Other options including choosing a 100 percent future cruise credit or a full refund to the original form of payment.
Requests must be received through this online form by September 30, 2021, or guests will automatically be moved to an equivalent future cruise.
Those who choose the future cruise credit option can use it on any cruise booked by and sailing by December 31, 2022.
In spring, the vessels will join eight Princess ships that have already returned to service or are scheduled to return to service by November 28, 2021, sailing in Alaska, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, Mexico, Hawaii, and the California Coast.
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