Princess Cruises has announced that it will be suspending operations for 60 days, which includes taking all 18 ships of its fleet out of service.
The move comes following the coronavirus pandemic, which has seen outbreaks on two of the company's ships, the Grand Princess and Diamond Princess.
Princess Cruises' president Jan Schwartz shared the news with passengers on Twitter, in a short video.
During the clip she explained: "We will take our fleet of 18 ships out of service and reset the environmental conditions on board, incorporating all the great learnings from the world's public health experts like the World Health Organization, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Japanese Ministry of Health.
"It will also give our team time to refocus our attention on providing the best service and experience possible for guests."
But what does it mean if you have a cruise booked with the company? We take a look at what to do whether you have a cruise booked or you're on a sailing.
If you have a cruise booked with Princess
If you've got a cruise booked with Princess Cruises that was due to sail before May 11th, then your cruise is now suspended.
If you booked directly with the cruise line, you will be offered two options.
The first is to receive Future Cruise Credit which you can then use to book any voyage through to May 1st 2022. (This can be up to 225 per cent).
The second is to receive a full refund - and you will still receive some Future Cruise Credit although this will be a smaller amount than if you opt for the first option.
If you booked through an agent, they should be your first point of call as they will be able to advise on your options such as rebooking for a later date, or receiving a refund.
ABTA also has a guide on your cruise cancellation rights.
If you're currently on a Princess cruise
Passengers onboard a cruise that will end in the next five days (by March 17th) will be able to continue their cruise until the end.
Passengers who are on cruises that sail beyond March 17th will see their holidays cut short "at the most convenient location". The company will assist passengers to help them get back home.
