FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Radisson Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania
Cruises became the most recent cruise lines to relax cancellation
policies on Europe cruises this summer. Virgin Atlantic, too, got
in on the action.
Radisson president Mark Conroy said the line will refund the
penalty portion of a canceled cruise as a cruise credit -- good for
one year -- less a $200 administrative fee.
Conroy said agents at a recent CLIA gathering in Dallas had
asked him to ease Radisson's summer cancellation policies, similar
to what luxury lines like SeaDream Yacht Club and Crystal Cruises
have done.
"There was a lot of concern and pressure on me to do something
about the cancellation [policies]," he said. "Quite frankly, that's
how we came up with that."
Oceania, meanwhile, rolled out a program, Sea of Assurance that
allows guests on cruises through Oct. 31 to cancel up to 24 hours
before departure and receive a cruise credit valid for any sailing
within 36 months.
Oceania's program is available as an upgrade to its standard
protection program and costs an additional $149 per guest.
In other developments, the rush to modify cancellation policies
spread to the airline industry.
Virgin Atlantic introduced a temporary policy that lets
U.S.-U.K. travelers cancel bookings and rebook at a later date
without paying a cancellation charge or change fee.
The airline said customers need the flexibility because of "the
current uncertainty in the international travel marketplace."
The policy applies to ticket holders and anyone else who is
booked and ticketed by March 17.
All travel on the revised itinerary must be completed by Dec.
31, and changes or cancellations must be made at least 72 hours
prior to departure.
In addition to the U.S.-U.K. market, the policy also applies to
travel between the U.K. and Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo.
Andrew Compart contributed to this story.