Princess Cruises extends Book with Confidence policy - how cruise line is keeping you safe

Princess Cruises today extended its Book with Confidence programme as it seeks to encourage holidaymakers back in 2022 and keep them as safe and healthy as possible.

Book with Confidence is now extended to summer 2022 sailings, including all cruises departing through September 30, 2022.

The policy applies to all Princess Cruises bookings made by March 2, 2022, and passengers are certainly spoiled for choice when it comes to holiday hotspots with the popular cruise line.

Princess Medallion Class summer cruises sail to incredible destinations including Alaska, the Caribbean, Mediterranean, British Isles, Scandinavia and Canada & New England.

In fact, from midnight January 20, the cruise line is offering savings of up to £500pp on select sailings to the Canary Islands and Spain, France & Portugal.

The flexible Book with Confidence policy allows guests to make summer travel plans with confidence knowing that if plans change, their cruise holiday is protected.

The programme allows guests the flexibility to change their holiday plans up to 30 days before the day of departure.

Passengers who axe their trip will receive cancellation fees as a future cruise credit to then book another voyage when next best suits them.

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“Planning a holiday gives us something to look forward to and so many of us have an inherent desire to explore the world and experience sought-after destinations,” said Deanna Austin, Princess Cruises chief commercial officer.

“With the extension of our Book with Confidence programme, we’re giving cruisers the confidence to book a summer holiday now, knowing they have flexibility in case they need to alter their plans.”

How is Princess Cruises keeping guests safe?

Passengers must be fully vaccinated to sail with Princess Cruises.

Guests who have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14-days before the sailing day and have proof of vaccination.

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All guests must also provide a medically-supervised negative COVID-19 test prior to boarding the ship.

In addition, current operating procedures require all team members and guests to wear a mask in all indoor areas, and all areas are frequently disinfected.

If cases are identified onboard Princess has said it is fully prepared to manage positive Covid cases onboard with minimal interruption to passengers' holidays.

However, the line warns some port substitutions or cancellations may occur due to decisions by local authorities, but cruises are operating on schedule.

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Tony Roberts, vice president Princess Cruises UK & Europe, told World of Cruising: “Princess is continuing to operate cruises as scheduled with the safety of our guests, crew members and communities we visit top of mind.

"Cruise holidays are one of the safest types of holiday, and the cruise industry is the only industry in the travel and tourism sector that is requiring both vaccinations and testing for crew and guests."

He added: "Current operating procedures require all team members and guests to wear a mask in all indoor areas, and all areas are frequently disinfected.”

Within the Book with Confidence policy, the COVID-19 Protection Programme provides reassurance if cruisers are within 30 days of sailing, all the way through to disembarking from their cruise.

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It’s designed to assist booked guests if, as a result of being suspected of having or testing positive for COVID-19, or as a result of government travel restrictions put in place within 30 days of embarkation, they may be unable to travel to the cruise embarkation port, may be denied boarding, may be quarantined onboard or disembarked early.

Of the systems in place concerning health and safety, Princess has said it will continue to monitor the situation with medical staff and will take any additional actions needed.