Update: Windstar Cruises cancelled all sailings and cruise-tours in the Black Sea and will replace St. Petersburg on its five Baltic cruises with a non-Russian port.
'Black Sea Sights & Turkish Delights' was scheduled for two dates in 2022 (May and September), with calls at Odessa, Ukraine, and Sochi, Russia, among other ports. Both will be modified into a new round-trip Istanbul itinerary featuring Greece and Turkey.
NCL
'We are currently working to confirm replacement ports and will advise all impacted guests and travel advisors as soon as possible,' an NCL spokesperson said. This follows Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings management signaling yesterday that NCLH was looking at alternatives to St. Petersburg for Baltic cruises and Atlas Ocean Voyages dropping its calls there.
Viking
‘The safety and security of our guests and crew is always our top priority,’ a spokesperson for Viking told Seatrade. ‘Given recent events and the developing conflict in Ukraine, we have made the difficult decision to cancel all 2022 departures of our Kiev, Black Sea & Bucharest itinerary.’
The line will also adjust sailings calling Russia as it assesses the situation on the ground, with its 'Waterways of the Tsars' programme scheduled to run from May. ‘Our team is actively monitoring the situation and is in close contact with our field offices in the region.
‘We are currently evaluating itineraries that call in Russia in 2022, which will require modifications.’
Passengers and travel agents have been notified of the cancelled itinerary; those impacted by changes to cruises calling Russia will be notified once the changes are made.
Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International is also reconsidering its plans to call St Petersburg, with a spokesperson stating, ‘With the recent events, it is increasingly uncertain if we can visit St. Petersburg as scheduled. We have planned for alternative ports and will continue to monitor the situation over the coming weeks.’
They emphasised that passengers and travel advisors will be the first to learn of any updates, adding, ‘Guests can feel comfortable knowing they are able to reschedule their cruise with our Cruise with Confidence program.’
P&O and Princess Cruises will amend itineraries ‘as necessary’
‘In light of the current situation evolving in Ukraine we continue to monitor this situation very closely and we will amend itineraries as necessary following guidance,’ a P&O spokesperson told Seatrade.
They went on to add, ‘Our top priority is compliance, environmental protection and the health, safety and well-being of our guests, crew members, shoreside employees and the people in the places we touch and we will advise guests of any changes accordingly as soon as possible.’
The outlook was shared by Princess Cruises which noted, ‘We continue to monitor this situation very closely and will amend itineraries as necessary, as the safety and wellbeing of guests and crew is of the highest priority.’
Mundy Cruising’s director of sales & marketing, Alexander Loizou, who recently informed Seatrade bookings were holding steady for the cruise specialists, today notified Seatrade the situation had changed: ‘Itinerary changes have been made to Black Sea voyages to remove Ukrainian calls and we know that the situation is being monitored closely by our cruise line partners,’ he said.
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