| P&O furthers NZ pause

P&O Cruises Australia has extended its pause in operations in NZ to departures on and before 25 Apr, planning to commence a 150-day season in Jul.

Initially scheduled to begin sailing from Auckland from 06 Feb, Pacific Explorer’s operations were previously paused to 04 Mar, and have now been extended again.

P&O Australia said it was continuing to work with government and public health authorities on an appropriate time to restart sailing, with the cruise line’s President Sture Myrmell saying the new year brought renewed optimism.

However, Myrmell admitted it was important to remain realistic about the immediate future.

“We know that much better days lie ahead and we remain positive about the resumption of cruising,” he posited.

“While we’ve paused operations, P&O Cruises together with the wider industry has been using the time wisely to plan for cruising’s return.

“As we work towards this goal, we wanted to provide our Kiwi guests with as much certainty as possible and flexibility around their 2021 bookings and an opportunity to reschedule their cruise holiday.

“I want to thank our New Zealand guests for their loyalty to P&O Cruises Australia during this time and we look forward to welcoming them back onboard.”

P&O will make contact with guests whose cruises have been affected, either directly or via their travel advisor, to let them know of this development and the options available to them.

Guests who have not yet received an offer are entitled to a full refund, or bonus onboard credit, if they choose a future cruise credit.

P&O will pay refunds to travel advisors, and will also protect commissions on all bookings for cancelled cruises paid in full as of 05 Jan.

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.

In Australia, Pacific Adventure is currently scheduled to begin sailing from Sydney on 30 Apr, while Pacific Encounter is due to call Brisbane home from 07 May.

Both Adventure (former Golden Princess) and Encounter (former Star Princess) are on track for delivery, with P&O noting additional voyages may be added earlier, depending on the timing of the return of cruising.

“We can’t wait to resume cruising because it also means opportunity for our devoted crew who do so much to deliver exceptional cruise holidays and for whom 2020 was a particularly tough year,” Myrmell said.