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Can stranded passengers turn to ships?
The Cunard Line, according to their press release site, is sold out for the next four sailings, April 22nd and 29th, and May 8th and May 21st. USA Today reported that the cruise industry is, of course, not affected by the current ash cloud. The Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2 is the only ocean liner that offers regular service across the Atlantic.
A dozen more North American based cruise ships are in the midst of setting sail for Europe on repositioning cruises for the summer season, and can carry thousands one-way. And there is still room. USA Today reports the following ones:Â Silversea Cruises‘ Silver Spirit, which departs New York for Southampton on April 23; Princess Cruises‘ Star Princess, sailing from Ft. Lauderdale to Copenhagen on April 24; and the Norwegian Sun, leaving Miami for Dover, England on April 26, and in May, Royal Caribbean‘s Adventure of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas; the Crown Princess; and Regent Seven Seas‘ Voyager.
The Guardian reports that the Royal Navy might be deployed to bring stranded British citizens home if the crisis continues. Plans include organizing cruise ships, the Navy, or commercial shipping to transport passengers to the UK, using Spain as a dropping off point for stranded air passengers who could then continue their journey by land or sea, British consulate officials being deployed to advise stranded passengers of their rights, etc.
However, Eurostar and ferries are all booked for the immediate future…although if someone has a commercial ship, coach, or extra train capacity, we would be surprised if they weren’t trying to deploy it. Money is money, after all.
