P&O Cruises
Australia Extends Cruising Pause Until Mid-January 2022
SYDNEY, Sept. 21, 2021 -- P&O Cruises Australia today
extended its pause in operations for cruises departing from
Sydney and Brisbane by a further month until mid January
next year to give guests greater confidence in planning their
Christmas and New Year holidays because of the uncertainty around
the return of cruising.
The voluntary pause will apply to cruises scheduled to depart
from 18 December, 2021 through to
14 January, 2022 (for Brisbane) and 18
January, 2022 (for Sydney).
P&O Cruises Australia also confirmed it was cancelling its
Melbourne summer season, which was
no longer feasible to deliver because of the latest extension.
"We recognise this is disappointing for our guests who were
looking forward to cruising with friends and family over Christmas
and New Year, however, we wanted to make this announcement as early
as possible to ensure they could plan with certainty for the
holiday period," P&O Cruises Australia President Sture Myrmell said.
"I would like to once again thank our guests for their loyalty
and support. We look forward to the day when we can welcome
guests back onboard to celebrate these special events on the
holiday calendar."
P&O Cruises Australia recently announced its intention to
resume domestic operations with cruises for fully vaccinated guests
and crew.
"Governments have made it very clear that vaccination thresholds
are the key to ending lockdowns, border restrictions and,
ultimately, re-opening Australia.
And part of returning to normal society is ensuring that the more
than one million Australians who choose a cruise holiday each year
have the opportunity to do so again," Mr Myrmell said.
"Unfortunately, we are not yet clear on the requirements from
governments and public health authorities for a phased return of
domestic cruising but we remain hopeful these conversations will
gather pace now there is real momentum around society
re-opening."
Guests whose bookings have been affected will be notified of the
pause and options available either directly or via their appointed
travel agent.
Guests can track the progress of their future cruise credit or
refund request via the tracking tool found on P&O's website at
www.pocruises.com.au.
CONTACT: Lyndsey Gordon, P&O
Cruises Australia, M: 0468 521 799, E:
lyndsey.gordon@pocruises.com.au