Carnival starts cancelling next year’s cruises

The world’s biggest cruise company has started cancelling next year’s trips in a contemporary blow to an market devastated by the coronavirus pandemic.

Former FTSE 100 cruise operator Carnival blamed border restrictions and the “continued uncertainty of airline travel” for axing Princess Cruises sailings in early 2021.

Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president, said: “We share in the disappointment of this cancellation for guests of our world cruises.”

The cancellations follow an announcement by Cunard, also owned by Carnival, that providers will be suspended till March next yr.

All sailings have been cancelled for Queen Elizabeth till Mar 25,  Queen Mary two till Apr 18, and Queen Victoria till Might sixteen, Cunard said.

Shares in Carnival, also outlined on the New York inventory trade, have plunged around fears that the Miami-headquartered company faces a long highway to restoration in the wake of the pandemic.