With the U.S. issuing a health warning to avoid nonessential travel to Mexico, cruise lines have altered itineraries to the point where they barely resemble the ones purchased. Cruise lines have responded with varying refund and cancellation options.
Online message boards lit up over Princess Cruises’ original decision to offer no relief from its cancellation policies, even though a cruise that was supposed to make four stops in Mexico ended up calling in San Diego and Catalina Island, Calif.
Princess reversed its policy on Thursday and is now offering passengers on three sailings that were sold as “Mexico cruises” a 50% credit for any future sailing through April 2011.
Princess said the cruise line changed its policy when realizing “that these passengers are not receiving the cruise vacation they had anticipated.”
Carnival Cruise Lines, which cancelled Mexico calls on departures through May 4, waived its cancellation policy on Tuesday and is offering the option to reschedule any modified cruise for a later date.
Holland America Line offered compensation to passengers on the Ryndam because it was sold as a Mexico cruise. Those passengers were offered a 15% cash refund for that cruise or a 25% fare credit for a future cruise. Passengers also were given $50 in shipboard credit and a free tour in San Diego.
Royal Caribbean International changed its cancellation policy only for passengers on the Mariner of the Seas, which was supposed to do a Mexican Riviera itinerary and is instead going to San Francisco and Victoria, B.C. Royal Caribbean would only say that those passengers were offered “various alternatives.”