RCI-Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises laid up their fleets through May 11, a month later than the date both Miami-based companies had originally given for operation suspension.
RCCL (shipowner and parent company) cited "global public health circumstances" as the reason for the extension in a statement posted on the line's Twitter account and website. Referencing the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the statement says that extending their fleet suspension was "an incredibly difficult decision to make." However, it was a decision made with the best interest of their "guests, crew, and staff at heart."
Celebrity Cruises followed suit on Tuesday, March 24, "given the gravity of the public health crisis confronting the world," it announced on Twitter.
In a statement, the company said they had decided to extend the suspension of their global cruise operations through May 11 and suspend their Alaska and Canada New England sailings through July 1."
The Alaska-based liners Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Millennium will be suspended through July 2020.
When Royal Caribbean and Celebrity announced their original suspension on March 13, both companies said they expected to be back to service on April 11.