Several cruise lines have cancelled planned visits to Russian ports following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, which operates Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, announced yesterday (Feb. 24) that it’s adjusting its itineraries and pulling out of Russia for 2022.
Both Viking and Atlas Ocean Voyages also are adjusting their plans for Russia, while Royal Caribbean says it’s got a back up plan in place should it be needed.
“The safety and security of our guests, crew and communities we visit is our top priority,” Norwegian Cruise Line said in an email to USA Today. “We are currently working to confirm replacement ports and will advise all impacted guests and travel advisors as soon as possible.”
USA Today reported that NCL officials said they had no ships slated to enter the area until late May.
St. Petersburg, Russia is a particularly popular stop for cruises on the Baltic Sea. The Points Guy website reports that Norwegian, Regent and Oceania had roughly 50 sailings for St. Petersburg on their 2022 schedules.
The Royal Caribbean blog site says the cruise company hasn’t announced any schedule changes yet, but that it does have “back up ports of call it could fall back on.”
“In an email to guests booked on Voyager of the Seas sailings that visit St. Petersburg in summer 2022, Royal Caribbean said it has, ‘secured alternate ports’ just in case.”
