Cruise Update: Bahamas Paradise, AQSC, NCL

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line will resume sailings onboard Grand Celebration July 25 and onboard the Grand Classica Oct. 2.

As well, the cruise line’s Cruise & Stay Program – allowing guests to extend their stay in the Bahamas for up to four nights at one of the company’s resort partners — will also be available for bookings beginning Oct. 2.

And as Bahamas Paradise prepares for its anticipated return, it rolling out an extensive list of new preventative measures designed to ensure the wellness of both passengers and crew.

Oneil Khosa, CEO of Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, said that: “As things begin to return to normal after months of quarantine, we can all use a quick getaway. When we return, our onboard experience may look a little different to our guests.”

Khosa emphasized that: “The wellness of our passengers and crew members remains our top priority, and as such, passengers can expect enhanced sanitization procedures from embarkation to disembarkation so that they can enjoy a relaxing, safe, stress-free getaway. We look forward to welcoming everyone onboard soon.”

As the only cruise line that departs from the Port of Palm Beach, with the only two-night short-cruise product on the market, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line is implementing a variety of new processes to ensure the health and safety of all onboard.  The new measures encompass protocols for guest accommodations, common areas onboard the ships, recreational facilities, food hygiene, and more.

For details on its improved health and safety measures, go to www.BahamasParadiseCruise.com/COVID-19-safety-measures .

American Queen Steamboat Company Unveils New Plan

American Queen Steamboat Company (AQSC) has released details of its timeline for the suspension and resumption of operations across all vessels.

AQSC’s new timeline was prepared in response to the evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and following the continued wide-spread governmental restrictions across ports, cities and public institutions.

The decision to update the 2020 season itinerary dates follows AQSC’s recent partnership announcement with Ochsner Health and its new company-wide health and safety protocols.

John Waggoner, founder and CEO of American Queen Steamboat Company, said: “We are excited to get back on the rivers and deliver the high-quality experience we are known for. As we look to our new relaunch dates, the wellbeing of our guests, crew and partners remains our top concern.”

Waggoner continued: “Our recent partnership with Ochsner Health in addition to our enhanced health and safety protocols and easy access to U.S. healthcare facilities, allows us to responsibly and safely resume operations in our two key markets, the Pacific Northwest and the Lower and Upper Mississippi River.”

Details of AQSC’s timeline for the resumption of 2020 operations is as follows:

American Empress

The American Empress, which sails the Columbia and Snake rivers, will extend its suspension through July 5, 2020 and intends to resume operating  the July 6-13 Pacific Northwest Splendors sailing from Portland (Vancouver, WA) to Spokane (Clarkston, WA). Note that this itinerary begins July 5 with the pre-cruise stay in Vancouver, WA.

American Duchess

The American Duchess, which sails on the Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee rivers, will extend its suspension through July 19, 2020 and intends to resume its operations with the July 20-27 Mark Twain’s Mississippi sailing from St. Louis, MO (Alton) to Minneapolis, MN (Red Wing). This itinerary begins July 19 with the pre-cruise stay in St. Louis, MO.

American Countess and American Queen

The American Countess, the latest paddlewheeler to join the AQSC fleet on the Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee rivers, and the iconic American Queen will extend its suspension through July 15, 2020. AQSC is reviewing specific restart dates and will announce both vessels’ debut itineraries in the coming weeks.

For those impacted by the extended suspensions, AQSC is contacting all guests and travel agents regarding their upcoming cruises and available options.

For guests that are booked during this time, the company will be providing a future cruise credit for 125% of the cruise fare or a full refund. Any future cruise credits issued may be returned at any time for a refund of the original payment amount. All full refunds will be processed within 90 days.

For a full overview of the new health and safety protocols being implemented by AQSC, go to https://www.americanqueensteamboatcompany.com/health-and-safety-protocols/ .

Victory Cruise Lines Suspends Remainder Of 2020 Season

Victory Cruise Lines (VCL) will cancel all planned itineraries for the remainder of the 2020 season due to prolonged governmental restrictions and uncertainties of future travel through Canadian waters.

VCL thanks its guests, travel agent partners, vendors and team members for their patience and understanding during this rapidly evolving situation. VCL will continue to focus efforts on the upcoming 2021 season, which includes the debut of the Ocean Victory in Alaska and new itineraries on the Great Lakes, Canadian Maritimes, New England and the Southeastern U.S.

John Waggoner, founder and CEO of American Queen Steamboat Company, said: “The decision to suspend service for 2020 was a difficult and disappointing choice but necessary in response to uncertainties of Canadian travel in the coming months. In anticipation of operating, we have taken this time to implement cutting-edge health and safety protocols. We will now focus on our exciting new itineraries planned for 2021, including the Ocean Victory in Alaska.”

Waggoner added: “The health, safety and confidence of our guests, crew and partners is our number one priority, and we will return in 2021 stronger and better than ever.”

Upcoming in 2021, VCL will roll out new itineraries including the 12- and 13-day Discover Beyond Alaska Expedition Cruises on the upcoming Ocean Victory between Vancouver, B.C. and Sitka, Alaska. The Victory I and Victory II will also return with refreshed routes, including a 12-day Southeastern U.S. cruise that sails roundtrip to Amelia Island, Fla. (Fernandina Beach). Early booking discounts up to $1,400 per stateroom are now available for 2021 cruises. In the coming weeks, VCL will also be announcing plans for new winter itineraries for both the Victory I and Victory II. Between the new and refreshed itineraries, guests will have more choices available when rebooking with their future cruise credit.

For guests who are booked to sail on the Victory I or Victory II in 2020, no action is necessary at this time. The VCL customer service team will reach out directly to guests and travel agents in the coming days to answer any questions and advise on available options, which include the opportunity to rebook on a later date, a 125% cruise credit or a full refund. The 125% cruise credit can be used toward any VCL itinerary, including the highly anticipated day Discover Beyond Alaska Expedition Cruises.

All full refunds will be processed within 90 days.

For more, sail on over to https://www.victorycruiselines.com/alerts/ .

Norwegian Cruise Line “Wish List-Worthy” Sailings For 2021 to 2023

Norwegian Cruise Line has opened more than a year of wish-list worthy sailings for 2021 through 2023, with voyages to over 20 new destinations across all seven continents.

Highlights include:

• The debut of roundtrip voyages from Cape Town, South Africa beginning December 2021.
• Norwegian Star’s first voyage to Antarctica beginning in 2021 when she sails from Buenos Aires, Argentina for a season of 14-day Extraordinary Journeys, visiting five ports of call across Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and the Falkland Islands, including a majestic sailing by Deception Island and Elephant Island/Cape Lookout.
• Norwegian Star’s March 2022 South America sailing when she will become the first in the fleet to visit Fortaleza and Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, during a 15-day itinerary departing from Rio de Janeiro.
• Norwegian Star’s July 14 and July 25, 2022 Northern European sailings, when she will make the brand’s debut in Greenland with calls to Nuuk, Qaqortoq and Nanortalik during two back-to-back 10-and -11-day sailings from Reykjavik, Iceland.
• Norwegian Jade’s 12-day Extraordinary Journey sailings from December 2021 through January 2022, when she will make Norwegian Cruise Line history as the first ship to offer roundtrip cruises from Cape Town, South Africa. The voyages will include visits to Luderitz and Walvis Bay, Namibia; Durban, and will feature overnight calls in Cape Town and Richard’s Bay, South Africa.
• Norwegian Sun’s November 2021 sailing, when she will make her Asia debut and will become the first in the fleet to visit the exotic destinations of Nagoya, Beppu and Himeji Japan; Manila and Coron, Philippines; Kota Kinabalu and Melaka, Malaysia; Muara, Brunei and Kampot, Cambodia.

Harry Sommer, Norwegian Cruise Line president and chief executive officer, said that: “The just-announced itineraries for 2021 through 2023 are designed to provide guests with vacations of a lifetime. At this moment, we are in our respective corners of the world destination daydreaming. We wanted to use this time to provide our loyal guests with the best-of-the-best itineraries.”

Sommer continued: “We’ll set sail to more than 20 new incredible destinations including Antarctica, Greenland and South Africa while also sailing to the over 300 destinations our guests have come to love. This time around, we’re giving our guests more time to plan their long-awaited vacations as well as additional extraordinary ports-of-call. We can’t wait for them to experience these vacations of a lifetime.”

Sail on over to www.ncl.com for more.