Table of Contents
Lockdowns in Austria and Germany, extra than 20 months into the Covid-19 pandemic, have resulted in Danube River cruise cancellations for the remainder of the year.
Austria, property to Vienna’s sprawling Xmas market frequented by most river cruise traces, entered a region-vast lockdown on Nov. 22, which fully restricts vacationer entry and is predicted to previous at minimum through Dec. 13.
The vivid return of holiday river cruising in 2021, heralded as the yr the European Xmas marketplaces would return, has dimmed even more as the German states of Bavaria and Saxony have also entered a weeklong lockdown. This incorporates the cancellation of Christmas marketplaces in Munich and the well-liked embarkation port of Nuremburg for the entire Xmas year.
Crystal Ravel performed sailing for the year
Crystal River Cruises has canceled its 4 remaining Crystal Ravel sailings this December. The Ravel had been scheduled to connect with in four Austrian ports: Vienna, Melk, Linz and Krems. Friends have the choice to transfer their reservation to 2022 get a 100% potential cruise credit towards any Crystal working experience embarking prior to Dec. 31, 2023 or receive a whole refund.
“We’ve had an astounding time and our attendees and crew have been excited to be back again on board making the most of some certainly specific second,” Walter Littlejohn, senior vice president and running director of Crystal River Cruises, stated in a assertion. “Such potent visitor reaction to our resumption of provider makes it even more disheartening that we were being obliged to cancel the 4 remaining Crystal Ravel sailings.”
The cruise line continues to work its seven- and 10-night time Rhine River sailings onboard Crystal Debussy by the conclude of the year. Crystal Ravel will resume assistance in March 2022 for a spring period of weeklong Danube cruises from Budapest.
The Crystal Ravel’s last four sailings of 2021 had been canceled. Photo Credit history: Crystal River Cruises
Avalon, Scenic and Tauck terminate cruises
Avalon Waterways has also canceled all Danube and Primary-Danube itineraries by the end of the year, citing a immediate effect from the Xmas marketplace closures. Payment to visitors involve a comprehensive refund, a letter of credit or the ability to go their cruise to a upcoming day.
Scenic Team has suspended all of its remaining 2021 European river cruises, which provided six Scenic cruises and four Emerald Cruises sailings.
“All people at the Scenic Group has been remaining saddened by the abrupt close to our 2021 period sailing in Europe,” according to a statement from the corporation. “For the past few months, we have welcomed countless numbers of attendees on board our river ships, furnishing them with excellent recollections of sailing by way of the heart of Europe’s villages, towns and cities. We now seem ahead to new adventures with our company once we start the 2022 European river cruise time in March.”
Tauck explained it has canceled all vacation cruises on the Danube by the conclusion of the yr “as a result of the current lockdown in Austria and the cancellation of all Xmas marketplaces in the course of Bavaria.”
Tauck’s Amsterdam-to-Brussels Xmas cruises are scheduled to work as planned.
Viking modifies Danube itineraries
Viking River Cruises has picked out to modify the itineraries of river voyages that include Austria. When Austria is locked down, ships will sail by the place and skip port calls there.
“In recognition of any inconvenience brought about by the modify, Viking has presented visitors on these modified itineraries with onboard credit rating to be employed on their future sailing, as properly as a voucher to be employed for their upcoming voyage,” Viking stated in a assertion. “We are monitoring the condition intently, should really any even more alterations come to be essential.”
AmaWaterways and Riviera analyzing upcoming sailings
AmaWaterways govt vice president Kristin Karst reported AmaWaterways did not cancel Danube cruises on its four ships this 7 days and “proceeds to assess approaching sailings.”
“We know how much our company have been seeking ahead to their river cruise practical experience on board our festive ships, so instead than terminate, we rapidly arrived at out to our vacation associates and guests and supplied creative alternate arrangements,” Karst said.
“Vacation during these instances remains a own decision, and we have saved our adaptable insurance policies in position to very best accommodate the evolving situations. Our experienced functions team proceeds to examine future sailings and we will be speaking to all vacation advisors and friends with possibilities obtainable if their Danube cruise may possibly be impacted by the temporary lockdown in Austria.”
Karst claimed AmaWaterways could move passengers to another ship or itinerary, or postpone cruises to a foreseeable future date.
Visitors cruising by Austria on modified itineraries will be qualified to obtain long term cruise credits relying on the quantity of days impacted.
Riviera River Cruises executive vice president of North The united states product sales Marilyn Conroy mentioned that if the “lockdown is extended in Austria, we will run an option itinerary.”
Uniworld operating on holiday getaway alternatives
Uniworld CEO Ellen Bettridge stated its Danube Vacation Marketplaces, Typical Xmas Markets and European Holiday getaway Marketplaces itineraries scheduled to depart in the first two months of December have been suspended
“We are working on an option for attendees continue to intrigued in enduring the European getaway markets this 12 months together the Rhine River,” claimed Bettridge.
___
This report was current on Tuesday with plans from AmaWaterways, Uniworld and Riviera River Cruises.