Australia’s wave season, which starts in September, could be the earliest that cruise ships are back in our waters, after Carnival Cruise Line and P&O announced they would not be sailing here until August 31.
P&O Cruises today announced it was extending its halt in operations in Australia and New Zealand until August 31 in response to continuing travel restrictions due to the impact of COVID-19.
P&O Cruises President Sture Myrmell said: “Australia and New Zealand have led the world in flattening the COVID-19 curve, which adds to our optimism for the future. However, we also recognise that a further extension is the prudent and responsible course.”
The extended pause in operations will affect sailings on Pacific Dawn scheduled to depart Brisbane between June 16 – August 26, 2020. These itineraries are: W031N, W032N, W033, W034, W035, W036, W037, W038, W039, W040, W041, W042 and W043.
Pacific Explorer’s cruises from Sydney will now be paused between June 24 – August 24, 2020 and this affects: X027, X028, X029, X030, X031, X032, X033, X034, X035 and X036.
Pacific Aria’s scheduled cruises from Auckland will be postponed from July 4 – August 23, 2020: A036, A037, A038, A039, A040 and A041.
Guests are eligible for a full refund or a future cruise credit equal to the cost of their original cruise plus an onboard credit offer.
In a statement from Miami last night, the line said: “Carnival Cruise Line advised guests and travel agents today of our plan to phase in a resumption in our North American service this summer, beginning on August 1 with a total of eight ships from Miami, Port Canaveral and Galveston.
“In connection with this plan, our pause in operations will be extended in all other North American and Australian markets through August 31.”
The line was also quoted as saying any resumption of cruise operations—whenever that may be—is fully dependent the cruise line’s continued efforts in cooperation with federal, state, local and international government officials. Any return to service will also include whatever enhanced operational protocols and social gathering guidelines that are in place at the time of the resumption of cruise operations.
“All Carnival Spirit Alaskan cruises from Seattle will be cancelled, as well as the Carnival Spirit Vancouver-Honolulu cruise on September 25 and the Honolulu-Brisbane transpacific cruise on October 6. All Carnival Splendor cruises in Australia from June 19 to August 31 will be cancelled” said the statement.
Meanwhile MSC has extended its pause to July 10.
Does that also include Sapphire Princess cruises around Australia from July?