1st Jul 2021 09:10
(Alliance News) - Carnival PLC on Thursday said its Princess and P&O lines will not resume Australian cruises until mid-December due to "continued uncertainty" in the region.
The British-American cruise operator said it has cancelled its Princess cruise holidays in and out of Australia until December 19, whilst P&O Cruises Australia extended its cruising pause, also to mid-December.
The company said that P&O's pause relates to cruises scheduled to depart after September 17 or before December 17, with customers to be notified of their options directly or through their travel agent.
According to Carnival, Princess Cruise hopes to rebook customers on equivalent cruise services in 2022, thus protecting their 2021 fare. Otherwise, Princess customers can take a "future cruise credit" worth the equivalent of their paid cruise fare, plus a non-refundable bonus set at 10% of the cruise fare paid. Princess customers can also request a full refund.
Carnival noted that, since last October, the cruise industry has been discussing "a framework for the re-start of domestic-only cruising" with government and public health authorities in Australia.
President of P&O Cruises Australia, Sture Myrmell, said the industry was seeking a "clear pathway forward".
"More than one million Australians cruised in Australia prior to the pandemic – and more than half of these guests sailed with P&O Cruises Australia," the P&O president said.
"We look forward to the day when a pathway is confirmed for cruising's return so that we can welcome everyone back on-board," Myrmell added.
Carnival shares were trading up 2.3% at 1,698.80 pence each in London on Thursday morning.
By Scarlett Butler; [email protected]
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