Costa Cruises plans to steer clear of South America for the first time in seven decades due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Carnival Corp's Italian brand has cancelled itineraries for the 3,780-berth Costa Fascinosa (built 2012), 2,826-berth Costa Luminosa and 3,780-berth Costa Pacifica (both built 2009) to the continent from November to April.
"We are planning a staggered approach across our fleet with our return to cruising to various markets by our brands, so this is part of the process as Costa looks at its broader cruise plans in the short term and going forward," spokesman Roger Frizzell told TradeWinds.
Carnival has postponed fleet lay-ups across its nine brands several times since mid-March.
"Costa Cruises has been sailing in South America uninterrupted for 72 years and we are committed to continue operating here," Dario Rustico, executive president of Costa Cruises for Central and South America, said.
"We look forward to resuming operations in the region in the 2021-2022 season with two ships, continuing to offer the best of Italy on board our ships and a unique and yet exclusive experience for our South American guests."
Costa Cruises has informed travel agencies and guests who bought the impacted cruises of its decision and an offer to use their tickets for a cruise during the next South America season.
Passengers who book new cruises will receive on-board expense credits ranging from $800 to $1,200 per cabin, depending on voyage lengths.
Refunds offered
Costa Cruises said it will also offer to reimburse passengers for cancelled trips within a year, though it is not required to do so by law.
The company opened ticket sales for the 2021-2022 season for South America on Tuesday, offering itineraries on the 3,780-berth Costa Favolosa (built 2011) and Costa Pacifica (built 2009).
"The 2021-2022 season will still be marked by cruises between Italy and Brazil and Brazil and Italy," Costa Cruises said.
"These cruises allow guests to visit different places in the world in a single voyage."
Costa Cruises returned the 2,828-berth Costa Deliziosa (built 2009) to service on 6 September with a voyage from Trieste.
The 4,927-berth Costa Diadema (built 2014) will follow on 19 September with a seven-day cruise that will call at several ports on the Italian coast.
Late last month, Costa Cruises received Biosafety Trust Certification from cruiseship classification society RINA that scrutinised "all aspects of life on board and ashore".
