UK cruise ships extend suspension of sailings for another month
Cunard and P&O Cruises have extended the suspension of voyages for an extra month.
Sailings had been suspended to April 11, but will now be postponed until May 15.
Cunard said it will ‘continue to monitor government guidelines and travel restrictions in ports of call around the world, and this may mean there are further changes to the timing of when each of the ships returns to service’.
P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said: "It is clear that our original date of April 11 to resume sailings, which would have been a 30 day pause in operations, is just not feasible in light of the government announcements last week.
"Regrettably, therefore, we are now extending this pause until May 15. Given the current guidelines it is prudent and practical to extend the pause until normal operations can be resumed.
"As we work through the evolving restriction on ports around the world future itineraries may be subject to change and so we are looking at how we phase our ships back into service."
Ludlow continued: "Our travel partners and agents have been, are, and will remain critical to the future success of P&O Cruises. We thank them all for the continued support and understanding. Their work and effort on behalf of our mutual guests in recent weeks has been outstanding. We share their dismay that high street branches are closed during this usually buoyant and popular time.
"In addition, the restrictions have forced the temporary slow down of work by Meyer Werft in Germany, where the final outfitting on new ship Iona is being completed. We are working with the team at the shipyard to look at the impact upon her delivery.
"We are so sorry for the disappointment that this will cause to everyone who was excited about her arrival and particularly those agents who have booked guests on Iona’s maiden voyage and also those agents who were due to join us for the Shine event during the inaugural period. As soon as we have more clarity on the re-scheduled delivery date we will let everyone know and we are keeping our agent partners regularly updated via emails and on the Shine Rewards Club website."
Guests due to sail on affected dates will get a 125% Future Cruise Credit. This can be redeemed against any new booking, on any voyage sailing before the end of March 2022, providing the booking is made by the end of December 2021.
Click here to see a video message to agents from Paul Ludlow.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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