Sponsored By

P&O Cruises Australia suspends operations for 30 days

P&O Cruises Australia’s decision to suspend operations for 30 days from Saturday will affect cruises by Pacific Explorer, Pacific Dawn and Pacific Aria.

Helen Hutcheon, Australasia correspondent

March 14, 2020

1 Min Read
Credit: Seatrade Cruise News

These were scheduled to depart Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide respectively.

April 12 resumption

The company plans to resume operations on April 12.

Pacific Explorer’s scheduled call at Eden on Sunday has been cancelled and the ship will return to Sydney as planned on Monday.

Pacific Dawn’s cruise from Brisbane Saturday will not proceed.

Pacific Aria, currently on a cruise to Tasmania, will now return to Adelaide on Monday.

Support for government efforts to contain the virus

P&O Cruises Australia President Sture Myrmell said the company is confident in its existing public health measures to maintain a healthy on-board environment for guests and crew.

However, Myrmell said the responsible course is to support the efforts of federal and state governments and their senior health experts as they work to contain the spread of COVID-19.

‘Cancelling or reducing the length of a cruise is the last thing we would ever want to do but these are extraordinary times and we have no hesitation in putting the health and well-being of our guests, crew and the wider community first,’ he said. 

200% future cruise credit

For passengers whose future voyages have been cancelled during the 30-day period, the company is offering a full refund or a future cruise credit equal to 200% of the cost of their original cruise.

Commissions protected

It will protect travel agent commissions on bookings for cancelled cruises that were paid in full and for the total amount of the future cruise credits.

About the Author

Helen Hutcheon

Australasia correspondent

Helen Hutcheon did her cadetship on a shipping magazine and worked in P&O’s Sydney office for seven years as a public relations journalist.

For 19 years she was deputy editor of Travel Week, which was Australia’s leading trade newspaper that covered major local and international industry events.

In 2008 the late legendary Rama Rebbapragada presented her with an award from Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd ‘in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the cruising industry.’

In 2010 she won the Neil Frazer Award for ‘outstanding contribution to the cruise industry,’ elevating her to CLIA Australasia’s hall of fame.

She has been the Australasia correspondent for Seatrade Cruise Review since 1997 and for Seatrade Insider (now Seatrade Cruise News) since its launch in 2000.

 

The latest cruise news, analysis and more straight to your inbox
Get the free newsletter read by industry experts

You May Also Like