Princess Cruises cancels weeklong (and longer) US voyages through November 2021

The cruise industry’s coronavirus shutdown is growing longer. 

Princess Cruises announced on Friday that it’s extending its pause in operations again, impacting all of its cruises scheduled through March 31, 2021, and cruises longer than seven days sailing in and out of U.S. ports through Nov. 1, 2021. It’s also canceling cruises in and out of Japan through June 25, 2021. 

The Carnival Corp.-owned cruise line said the extended pause was necessary to meet preparations required under the conditional sailing order rules set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.) The CDC’s framework requires cruise ship operators to plan for testing, quarantining, social distancing and other health precautions amid the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19. 

“We are focused on preparing our ships to meet the CDC health and safety requirements for our eventual return to service,” Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises, said in a statement.