P&O Cruises cancels all Dubai and Arabian Gulf bookings
P&O Cruises has cancelled its planned Dubai and Arabian Gulf winter cruise programme, due to start in October, due to tensions within the Straits of Hormuz.
President Paul Ludlow said the attacks on tankers in the Straits and the recent detention of a British-flagged tanker by the Iranian authorities means it is not advisable for P&O to operate cruise ships in the region.
"We have therefore taken the unusual step of withdrawing Oceana from the region for the upcoming season," he said. "Whilst we appreciate our guests will be disappointed, the safety of our guests and crew is absolutely paramount and given our UK status, coupled with the uncertainty in the region, we have had to make this difficult decision."
All bookings will be cancelled and guests will be given a full refund, said P&O.
A range of new holiday options for Oceana are being developed and will be on sale from 9am on August 20.
This will include departures from Southampton sailing to Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands, as well as a pre-Christmas 35-night cruise to the Caribbean.
"We are also giving all these guests an exclusive offer on 2020/21 Dubai and Arabian Gulf holidays as well as this season’s Caribbean fly/cruises as we have two ships based in the Caribbean from October this year to March 2020 for winter sun holidays," added Ludlow.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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