Cruise lines are removing stops in Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine

[Kennywood]

Cruise lines are removing stops in Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine
by Mikhaila Friel
Mon, February 28, 2022


Norwegian Cruise Line is among those canceling stops in Russia.Norwegian Cruise Line

• Several cruise lines have announced the removal of Russia from their itineraries.
• Norwegian Cruise Lines, Viking Cruises, and Atlas Ocean Voyages replaced Russia with other locations.
• The cruise lines say the removal is in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Cruise lines are removing port days in Russia from their itineraries in response to the country's invasion of Ukraine, Travel and Leisure reports.

Norwegian Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and Oceania Cruises — all owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings — have canceled stops in St. Petersburg, the publication initially reported.

A spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed to Insider on Monday that these stops had been removed due to the "safety and security of our guests, crew and communities" amid the "escalated situation between Russia and Ukraine."

Regent Seven Seas has also canceled stops in Solovetsky Islands, Arkhangelsk, Murmansk, and Odesa, Ukraine, from its itineraries, USA Today reports.

Guests due to sail with Regent Seven Seas were informed in a memo from the cruise line that the changes were made "due to the escalated situation between Russia and Ukraine" and that a revised itinerary would be shared in due course, according to Travel and Leisure's Alison Fox.

A spokesperson for Viking Cruises confirmed to Insider on Monday that all 2022 departures on its Kyiv, Black Sea, and Bucharest itinerary have been canceled.

Meanwhile, Atlas Ocean Voyages has replaced stops in St. Petersburg with stops in Kotka and Mariehamn in Finland and Saaremaa in Estonia, the cruise line announced in a press release.

Alberto Aliberti, the president of Atlas Ocean Voyages, said in the press release that the changes were made for the "safety and comfort" of guests and crew members.

"With unrest in Eastern Europe, we have adjusted our voyages and replaced our Russia calls with equally exciting and charming destinations in Finland and Estonia," Aliberti said. "Guests will enjoy these unique and rarely visited destinations and immersive shore excursions to take in the rich cultures and breathtaking vistas of the Baltic."

Cunard, a UK-based cruise line owned by Carnival, announced on Monday that it would also be altering its itineraries.

"In light of the current situation with Russia and Ukraine we will be amending itineraries on Baltic cruises," a spokesperson for the company wrote on Twitter. "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 the changes as soon as possible."

Russian forces attacked Ukraine with airstrikes and shelling in the early hours of Thursday morning in an invasion that had been feared for weeks, something that President Vladimir Putin called a "peace-keeping operation." The airstrikes have hit several regions including the nation's capital, Kyiv, and the country's second-largest city, Kharkiv.

Representatives for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Viking Cruises, and Atlas Ocean Voyages did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Source: Insider.com

 

[Dug720]

I've never really considered Norwegian, but this has me rethinking that now... I'm much more likely to look at them with this information.

 

[DVCRad]

I've never really considered Norwegian, but this has me rethinking that now... I'm much more likely to look at them with this information.

Norwegian is actually a good cruise line. We are big fans after having avoided them for years.

 

[newfamilyman]

I can't understand why Disney is behind even Carnival in cancelling the St. Petersburg port-of-call this summer, and we're on the 11-night cruise with an overnight stop there. Is there really anyone who wants to visit Russia even this summer after all that is going on? Bob Iger fired Roseanne after one comment, so this is another example of how Bob Paycheck is no Bob Iger.

 

[diablodancer]

The UK Gov (and I’d assume many others) are now advising citizens not to travel to Russia so imagine DCL’s hand will be forced as a number of their customers won’t be able to get travel insurance if they stop in St Petersburg.

 

[Kwami]

I can't understand why Disney is behind even Carnival in cancelling the St. Petersburg port-of-call this summer, and we're on the 11-night cruise with an overnight stop there. Is there really anyone who wants to visit Russia even this summer after all that is going on? Bob Iger fired Roseanne after one comment, so this is another example of how Bob Paycheck is no Bob Iger.

Disney is almost always slow to do anything at all. I fully expect them to change the St. Petersburg stops, though.

As for Bob Paycheck, well, Disney put out a press release noting that they're going to pause releases in Russia. And even in that very small press release, they had to put in an advertisement for Turning Red. It's rather sad.

 

[Dug720]

At this point, Disney is about the only line that has NOT removed St. Petersburg from its itinerary.

 

[newfamilyman]

At this point, Disney is about the only line that has NOT removed St. Petersburg from its itinerary.

I think they are literally the last major cruise line, and that's just unacceptable to me.

 

[sheilafri]

I visited St. Petersburg twice on cruises. As a child of the Cold War, it was a little eerie then. I wouldn’t consider going there in the current situation. Im sure DCL will cancel but it does them no favors to delay an announcement.

 

[newfamilyman]

They finally announced that they will be visiting alternate ports.

 

[AquaDame]

They finally announced that they will be visiting alternate ports.

Its about time... where did you see this?

 

[Mommb]

The Disney Cruise website is currently showing "Day at Sea" in place of St. Petersburg when I look at the July 30 and August 10 cruises from Copenhagen. I would guess that Disney is considering alternate ports, but because they sail less in Europe, they may not have as many port contacts/options as the cruise lines with more ships sailing in Europe.

 

[DCLMP]

I visited St. Petersburg twice on cruises. As a child of the Cold War, it was a little eerie then. I wouldn’t consider going there in the current situation. Im sure DCL will cancel but it does them no favors to delay an announcement.

I would still go, but it looks like I won’t get the chance. It seem a little early to pull the plug..we’ll maybe next year will be my year. I would expect a lot of cancellations on those cruises. I’m not sure they could replace it with anything that would be as interesting.

 

[DCLMP]

Its about time... where did you see this?

Is only been a week since the war started.

 

[princesscinderella]

I don’t think it’s just a matter of the dangers of sailing there but it’s the giving $$ to the economy there when they have committed war crimes.

 

[Kwami]

I don’t think it’s just a matter of the dangers of sailing there but it’s the giving $$ to the economy there when they have committed war crimes.

There's also a good chance that the cruise ships wouldn't be allowed to legally stop there since some countries have started closing their ports to Russian ships and Russia is likely to retaliate in kind. That's what happened with airspace. Additionally, there might be sanctions imposed on companies to prevent them from doing business with Russia. And, finally, there's a safety concern for foreigners in Russia right now.

Better to play it safe and start planning for alternatives now. I'm sure that Disney can come up with something fun instead.

 

[AquaDame]

Is only been a week since the war started.

Didn't stop other lines from making quicker decisions... I think I'm out of patience for them given how long they drag their heels on changes and cancellations (ABD does the same thing) so I was a bit curt I admit. This seems like a very easy choice to make comparatively... in the end though anyone who wanted to cancel can easily do so anyway.

 

[DCLMP]

I don’t think it’s just a matter of the dangers of sailing there but it’s the giving $$ to the economy there when they have committed war crimes.

I wonder if foreigners felt the same way about visiting the US when we bombed the heck out of Iraq killing ten of thousands of people. I'm guessing some did.

I was a kid during the cold war and we were brainwashed to hate the Russians. It's sad really because the Russians are nice people and they are no more responsible for their government's atrocities than we are. All wars are bankers' wars and it's the people that suffer.

 

[Kwami]

Didn't stop other lines from making quicker decisions... I think I'm out of patience for them given how long they drag their heels on changes and cancellations (ABD does the same thing) so I was a bit curt I admit. This seems like a very easy choice to make comparatively... in the end though anyone who wanted to cancel can easily do so anyway.

Not if they paid a concierge deposit, though. And it's not as easy to cancel flights and other expenses.

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

We got the e-mail that they are in negotations with other ports to replace st Petersburg. I will probably cancel and book a Greece Itinerary. We are doing the Iceland one right after and this 7n North-Erurope was just an add-on. I ve done those ports before so no big deal.. So I rather cancel the 7nighter, keep the Iceland and then look into a sunny Greece cruise for June (even though I have a med in May as well lol)