More cruises cancelled
Another 17 cruise ship calls to Bermuda have been cancelled by Norwegian Cruise Line after it extended a halt to most of its sailings until October 1.
The total number of cancelled trips by all operators is now at least 113 out of the 192 cruises to Bermuda scheduled this year before the coronavirus crisis hit.
Bermuda will miss out on about $105 million that would have been injected into the economy, including $27.7 million in government revenue from cruise ship passenger tax and transport infrastructure tax, and an estimated $77.8 million that visitors would have spent on the island.
The company said: “With Covid-19 continuing to impact communities and ports around the globe, we have extended our voluntary temporary suspension of voyages through August 30, and select cruises in September and October.”
The only cruises Norwegian will operate in September are Seattle-based Alaska cruises.
The company added: “We are committed to taking all appropriate steps and actions to combat the spread of Covid-19 and are working closely and in partnership with local, state, federal and global agencies. Whilst this may result in additional future changes, please know our teams are working around the clock to do what is right by our guests and travel partners.”
The lost revenue figures for Bermuda were calculated on the projected loss of just over 347,000 cruise visitors, which is the expected average passenger numbers from the cancelled ships listed in the 2020 schedule, and from the Bermuda Tourism Authority’s 2019 estimated average spend on island of $224 per passenger.
Norwegian, which also operates Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises, earlier halted cruises until the end of July.
Royal Caribbean, which operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises, has halted cruise voyages until July 31.
Carnival Corporation, which operates Carnival Cruise Line, has cancelled cruises until to August 31, with a few exceptions.
But all sailings of Carnival Sunrise, which is a regular visitor to Bermuda, have been cancelled until October 19.