| Pacific Sun burns angry passengers

WA clients will have to pay for
airfares to Sydney and Brisbane
to take alternative cruises,
while Victorians get free flights.
THE sale of Pacific Sun has prompted three
days of venting on P&O’s Facebook page,
which is followed by 54,000 clients.
Passengers booked on cancelled cruises have
used the site to express anger and
disappointment about their “ruined”
Christmas, holiday and honeymoon plans.
Many are unhappy about alternative cruises
offered – but some are grateful for better options.
The harshest criticism came from WA, where
customers are expected to pay for airfares to
new departure ports, while Victorians have
been offered free flights.
In relation to this discrepancy, Carnival
Australia spokesman David Jones told Cruise
Weekly: “We would like to have offered air
travel to all passengers but, in addition to giving
more than nine months notice, the costs involved
from Fremantle were simply prohibitive.”
He said the company had anticipated that
the sale of Sun would be “a significant event”.
“While considerable notice has been provided,
we appreciate that some passengers might
have difficulty in rescheduling their holidays.
“We of course apologise for any inconvenience
in this regard and that we don’t have cruise
alternatives departing from Fremantle.
“As such, we fully understand if Fremantle
passengers elect to take up the refund option
rather than an alternative cruise.”
Jones said the company had received positive
feedback from many customers who were
switched to Pacific Dawn, Jewel or Pearl.
“They’re excited about a cruise on one of our
superliners, at the same cost as their Pacific
Sun cruise, because of extra features like Salt
Grill by Luke Mangan and La Luna restaurants,”
he said.
According to Jones, “there are no immediate
plans” for another ship to be based in Fremantle.