Cruise Line Stocks Surge on Monday on Vaccine News

Premarket on Monday, cruise line stocks surged up to the tune of between 20 to 30 per cent based on positive vaccine news.

Carnival Corporation was up 29.16 per cent; Royal Caribbean Group 21.05 per cent; Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings 25.81 per cent and Lindblad Expeditions 17.43 per cent in premarket trading. 

The positive momentum was driven by good news from clinical trials evaluating a COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech. With multiple news outlets reporting vaccine trials were seen as more than 90 per cent effective. Drugmakers may apply for emergency use as soon as later this month.

Carnival Corp. Sells Two More Cruise Ships

Carnival Corporation’s Princess Cruises has announced the sale of two of its ships, Sun Princess and Sea Princess, to undisclosed buyers.

The sale of these vessels is in line with parent company Carnival Corporation’s plan to accelerate the removal of less efficient ships from its fleet.

“Sun Princess and Sea Princess contributed to significant growth in Australian cruising,” said Princess Cruises president Jan Swartz. “Both ships defined the premium cruise experience with Australians and New Zealanders spending close to 14 million nights aboard these ships. While it is never easy to say goodbye to any ship in our fleet, this will allow us to deploy newer ships enhancing our offerings for Australia cruisers and focus on bringing into service exciting newbuilds like the upcoming delivery of Enchanted Princess.”

The first ship in the Sun Class, Sun Princess was introduced in 1995 debuting in the Caribbean and was among the largest ships in the world at the time.

The 2,000-guest Sun Princess also sailed in Alaska and Panama Canal, among other destinations, before being homeported in Australia in October 2007.

“The Sun Princess also helped us open the Japanese market in 2013 as the first foreign-flagged cruise ship to offer cruises designed specifically for the Japanese,” the company said, in a statement.

The 2,000-guest Sea Princess meanwhile became synonymous with World Cruises, having completed six full world cruises since 2013. Prior to joining the Sun Princess in Australia, the Sea Princess sailed in Europe and Alaska as well as the Caribbean, including serving as a homeport ship in Barbados in the mid- to late-2000s.

Due to the imminent departure of these two ships from the fleet, Princess Cruises will cancel published itineraries which include:

• Sun Princess sailings from December 28, 2020, through August 14, 2021
• Sea Princess sailings from December 23, 2020, through November 9, 2021

Guests with bookings will be notified, and along with their travel advisors, will receive information on how to book another Princess Cruise when operations resume. Guests who prefer a refund will be accommodated.

 

P&O Cruises extends cancellation of sailings into 2021

All P&O Cruises sailings have been cancelled until early 2021, the line confirmed today.
All Caribbean cruises are cancelled until the end of January 2021 and departures from and to Southampton will not operate until February.
The ships Arcadia and Aurora have already seen cancellations through to the end of their spring world cruises.
Passengers with bookings on a cancelled cruise will be notified and automatically receive an enhanced 125% future cruise credit or a 100% refund by filling out a web form, according to the line.
P&O Cruises had extended its pause in operations until November 12 and cancelled two extended itineraries due to depart in January 2021.
The line’s previous pause was in June until October 15 due to Covid-19 restrictions on cruise operations.
P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said: “With evolving restrictions on travel from the UK, unfortunately, it is necessary to cancel these itineraries.
“These further cancellations vary according to ship as well as complexity and length of itineraries, advice and guidance regarding ports of call and current air availability for fly/cruises.
“We are continuing to monitor the overall situation closely and will certainly reintroduce cruises should the opportunity arise and it is feasible to do so.”
Ludlow confirmed that the Carnival Corporation company is working with several of the “most brilliant minds in science as well as government at the highest level” on approved and enhanced health protocols, which will be in place once the company resumes sailing.
He added: “Whilst adherence to the protocols on board and ongoing vigilance will be critical, this will always be coupled with providing the well-deserved and memorable holidays for which we are known, with all the standout moments on board and experiences onshore. This is what we have always done and will continue to do.
“We cannot wait for restrictions to ease, borders to open and for us to once again be able to set sail for a new beginning.”