As you may be aware, the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) currently advises against cruise ship travel. Our highest responsibilities and our top priorities continue to be operating safely, protecting the environment, and being in compliance everywhere we operate in the world. While this FCO guidance is in place, it’s not advisable for us to resume operations.
As such, P&O Cruises is extending its current operational pause for another month until 12 November 2020, and also cancelling a number of longer duration cruises which were due to depart before the end of March next year – Aurora’s Caribbean and South America Adventure and Arcadia’s World Cruise holidays sailing from January to March 2021.
We need to ensure that we adhere to the FCO guidance as it stands, as well as recognising the complexity and length of these long-haul itineraries and the planning involved with current restrictions.
We know that these cruises, in particular, are holidays of a lifetime and a number of colleague concession bookings are affected as a result of this announcement. We are so sorry for the disappointment that these cancellations will cause. Like our Guests, you’ll be contacted with alternative options.
We recognise that this may be frustrating to hear as pause operations for both P&O Cruises and Cunard have been extended numerous times already. But, as P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow explains in his video below specifically recorded to update colleagues ashore and on board, while the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office guidance is in place, it’s not advisable for us to resume operations.
Understandably, this announcement raises questions about Cunard’s pause in operations, but there is no update at this time. Rest assured, should this change, full details will be shared with all Carnival UK colleagues.
We continue to work in partnership with public health agencies at the highest level as well as Department for Transport, EU Healthy Gateways and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the industry governing body. We will follow all applicable guidelines to enhance our already stringent measures to keep our crew and Guests healthy and well, and we will not resume sailing until this approved framework is in place. Fundamentally, we will be adopting best practice within the travel industry.
A huge thank you to our contact centre colleagues who continue to support all our Guests to update their booking as a result of our pause extension announcements. Through your personal conversations you’re reinforcing brand confidence, preventing cancellations and helping us to secure future bookings.