P&O Cruises Australia has today followed a long list of lines in pausing its cruise itineraries for 30 days “following advice from the country’s public officials that mass gatherings should be limited to no more than 500 people”.
The pause means:
- Pacific Explorer’s scheduled call to Eden tomorrow has been cancelled and the ship will return to Sydney for arrival as planned on Monday.
- Pacific Dawn’s cruise from Brisbane today will not proceed.
- Pacific Aria currently on a cruise to Tasmania will now return to Adelaide on Monday.
P&O will resume normal cruise operations from 12 April with a 10-night cruise on Pacific Aria from Auckland to the South Pacific (subject to the New Zealand Government’s clearance at that time).
It will be followed two days later (14 April) with Pacific Explorer departing Sydney on a 10-night cruise to the South Pacific. On 18 April, Pacific Dawn will depart Brisbane on a three day Comedy Cruise.
Carnival said in a statement: “While Carnival has not had a diagnosed case linked to our operation we realise this situation is bigger than the cruise industry and we will continue to do our part to support public officials to manage and contain this unprecedented public health challenge. ”
Other lines like Cunard and Ponant have also announced that they will halt operations.
Ponant has also stopped the operations of their entire fleet from March 15, until further notice. All our global teams are also mobilized in order to best manage the cancellation of future cruises, at least until April 19, says Ponant CEO Jean-Emmanuel Sauvée in a letter on the line’s website.
Guests will be contacted personally by Ponant and offered a Future Cruise Credit, valid over a period of 18 months to allow you to reschedule your cruise.
Cunard has also suspended new cruises on its ships until April 11.
”Having reviewed all of our ship operations and industry recommendations, we have decided no new guests or crew will be joining our ships as we suspend operations until April 11, 2020.
“This pause in operations has been done in an abundance of caution to support the global effort to contain the spread of Covid-19.”
All guests impacted directly by this temporary suspension are being contacted regarding their voyage and their options.
Crystal Cruises say that no further changes will be made to their ocean fleet which has announced cancellations earlier.
Crystal Cruises have cancelled sailings on Crystal Serenity which was on a world cruise and Crystal Symphony which was scheduled to sailing Asia out of Singapore.
Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony are set to recommence sailing on April 21 and May 8 respectively.
The line’s yacht Crystal Esprit’s April 10 sailing has also been cancelled.
All guests on these cancelled sailings will receive a 100% refund of the cruise fare paid along with $500 per person for air consideration. Guests will also receive a Future Cruise Credit of 25% of the base cruise fare paid per segment as a gesture of goodwill. The FCC can be used on any of Crystal’s experiences including Ocean, River, Yacht and Expedition for voyages commencing on or before December 31, 2021. Port charges will be refunded to the original form of payment made.
My son and i are booked on Pacific Dawn 12/09/2020. Are there any changes as of yet ?
What should we do?
Does Pand O know if the comedy cruises in the beginning of
May will still go ahead with the virus or will we be able to book for a later date also some being health care workers may have their leave cancelled.
We have a Cruise booked for 21st April, 2020, how is this affected with the
Government’s lockdown?
We have booked a short cruise within Australia on the 11/5 what are the chances of us sailing. Pacific Explorer
Well done to P&O for giving their customers fast and generous information it’s a pity Cunard did not do the same for the cruise on the 26th march on the Queen Elizabeth we are 10 days away and they cannot make a public announcement that the cruise is going ahead I shall not be booking them again they are a discrace all they think about is money.
Myself and my husband very worried about QE voyage from Sydney to SAN Francisco on 9 of May.
It is difficult to get any information from Cunard Sales Team. I understand it’s a very difficult situation what’s going on because of Caronavirus, but this uncertainty makes us very upset.
We just have to wait. So we are follow all the news about Cunard Voyages.
Thank you P&O for this important and understandable information.
I was so looking forward to embarking on my first cruise, a trip to New Zealand on the Pacific Aria.
I absolutely understand the reasoning and need for this to be cancelled. For me I am accepting that I need to “postpone” my holiday. I am not looking to cancel or receive a refund.
This is not an easy time for anyone including businesses and I want to support P&O and all who benefit from the tourism industry once It is safe to do so.
Kindest Regards
Katherine
You have suspended australian cruises for 30 days, bravo.
What if i want to suspend my cruise (new guinea) on 4 may 2020 to a later date or another cruise, can i do that without penalty as i am fully paid up for that cruise.
I dont see why it should be a one way decision by p&o
I still have concerns will mine cruise still leave Sydney on the 14/4 ? Will I get a refund if if does not go ahead ?
How does the 200 percent credit work ?
I have paid $4500 for a mini suite with a $650 bonus.
What happens when I re book.