P&O Cruises Extends Pause in Operations in Australia and New Zealand
MIAMI, July 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- P&O Cruises today announced it was
extending its rolling pause in operations across Australia and New Zealand to
October 29, 2020 in response to the current impact of the global pandemic on
the way we travel and holiday.
P&O Cruises President Sture Myrmell said while everyone hoped sailings would
resume soon, it had become increasingly clear that more time was needed for
society to reinstate many modes of travel and community gatherings.
"The path to society reopening fully is continuing to evolve – and cruising
will return when science and public health align and people again feel
comfortable to meet. With this in mind, we have reviewed the current end
date of our pause in cruise operations," Mr Myrmell said.
"We will continue to use this time to liaise with authorities, public health
experts and others in the industry to develop enhanced public health measures
for when the time is right to resume sailing.
"This is by far the most challenging time the travel sector has ever
experienced. However, like so many of our loyal guests and partners, we look
forward to better times ahead when we can cruise again. We thank everyone for
their unswerving loyalty, patience and goodwill."
The latest changes in operations are:
Australia
In Australia, P&O Cruises will extend its pause in operations to October 29,
2020 (inclusive) – an extra 42 days to what had previously been announced.
It will affect the following cruises:
Pacific Explorer: X040, X041, X042, X043, X044N, X045N, X045P and X046
Pacific Dawn: W047, W048, W049, W050, W051, W052 and W053
Pacific Aria: A048, A049, A050, and A051
New Zealand
In New Zealand, P&O Cruises will return for its next season of sailings
departing from Auckland in 2021. Additional cruises affected by this new pause
are:
Pacific Aria: A042, A043, A044, A045, A046, and A047
Other cruises
As a result of the extended pause in operations and international travel
restrictions, P&O will cancel Pacific Adventure's inaugural 18-night cruise
(V059) from Singapore to Sydney.
Compensation for cancelled cruises from July 23, 2020
P&O will make direct contact with guests whose cruises have been affected to
let them know of this development and to apologise for the disruption. All
guests are entitled to a full refund or bonus onboard credit if they choose a
future cruise credit. P&O will pay refunds back to travel agents for guests
who booked through that channel.
P&O will protect travel agent commissions on all bookings for cancelled
cruises that were paid in full and for the total amount of the future cruise
credits.
Guests with bookings affected by the pause in operations, can track the
progress of their future cruise credit or refund request via a new tracking
tool found on P&O's website.
CONTACT: Lyndsey Gordon, P&O Cruises, M: 0468 521 799, E:
lyndsey.gordon@pocruises.com.au
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