Costa Cruises today announced the cancellation of its 2020-2021 season in South America. All scheduled itineraries/departures of the planned for deployment in South America liners Fascinosa, Luminosa and Pacifica (November 2020-April 2021) have been canceled.
Dario Rustico, executive president of Costa Crociere for Central and South America said the line had been sailing in South America uninterrupted for 72 years and they were committed to continuing operating there.
“We look forward to resuming operations in the region in the 2021-2022 season with two ships, continuing to offer the best of Italy on board our ships and a unique and yet exclusive experience for our South American guests.”
Costa Cruises is in contact with the travel agencies and the passengers who purchased the impacted sailings, to inform their decision and communicate about the conversion of the amount paid for the canceled voyage, minus the travel agent commission, in credit to be used as payment, for reservations made up to December 31, 2021, of any other voyage departing until June 30, 2022.
When booking a new trip by March 31, 2021, passengers will also receive from Costa Cruises a bonus in the form of credit, to use it on a next journey exclusively to pay their expenses onboard. The amount of the credit onboard will be $400 per cabin for cancelled cruises of 1-5 nights, or $800 per cabin for cancelled cruises of 6-9 nights, or $1,200 per cabin for cancelled cruises of more than 10 nights. The additional credit will not be combined with a similar bonus already granted due to previous cancellations.
Although it's not required by law to reimburse, Costa Cruises will process requests for reimbursement. The amount to be refunded corresponds to the amount received by the company for the cancelled voyage, minus the commission paid to travel agents.
In announcing the decision, Costa also announced the opening of sales for its 2021-2022 season in South America on September 8.
The company will have two liners operating between December 2021-April 2022 in the region.
Via embarkations in Santos (Sao Paulo), Costa Favolosa will have her first regular sailing departing on December 5, 2021, and will feature 17 itineraries from 6 to 7 nights, dedicated to the country's northeast region. Tourists from the region will be able to embark in Salvador.
Costa Favolosa will offer 3 mini-cruises, from 3 to 4 nights, and will have Christmas and New Year’s Eve voyages on Copacabana beach and Carnival. Themed voyages were confirmed with departure dates to be announced.
Confirmed for another summer in South America, Costa Pacifica will sail on cruises of 7 and 8 nights through Prata region, with embarkations from Buenos Aires, Montevideo, and Rio de Janeiro. On December 31, 2021, the liner will dock at Copacabana beach for the New Year’s Eve celebration.
The 2021-2022 cruise season will still be marked by sailings between Italy and Brazil.