Avalon Waterways is now allowing guests to change or cancel
their European river cruise up to three days before departure.
The new policy comes a day after UBS issued a financial
impact report on the cruise industry that said river cruise lines were “being hit hard as that tends to be an older
passenger age, and therefore a population that may be more concerned about the
virus.”
It also comes on the same day the New York Times reported the outbreak in Italy surpassed 3,000 infections
and 100 deaths, and officials there ordered all schools closed.
Avalon said its new policy change offers increased
flexibility to passengers concerned about the virus. Last week, Avalon’s parent
company, Globus, said it was easing its change and cancellation policy to allow
for changes up to 30 days prior to departure.