Carnival Corporation’s UK brand, P&O Cruises has cancelled its international sailings through the end of this summer, but will offer a series of short break and week-long UK cruises that will go on sale later this month.
P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said: “Whilst holidays here in the UK will be the first to become a reality we will, of course, gradually see the return of international travel but first we want guests to be able to enjoy a proper summer holiday at sea with the best in relaxation, entertainment and dining choice.
“These sailings will leave from our home port in Southampton and sail around UK coastal waters enjoying the summer sunshine. More details of dates, prices and the experience on board will be announced later this month, but they will, of course, all have flexibility so guests can book with confidence.”
P&O head sees return to normality on the horizon
P&O however is canceling cruises on the Arcadia, Aurora, Azura and Ventura until the end of August and on the Britannia and Iona until the end of September.
The move follows a successful vaccine roll-out in the UK, which has inoculated some 30 percent of its population and hopes to offer inoculation to all priority groups by mid-April and all adults by the end of July.
“Following recent Government announcements and as the vaccine programme is rolled out across the globe we can all begin to feel a sense of reassurance and hope that this current lockdown period in the UK will come to an end. Life can, we hope, slowly return to some semblance of our previous normality as hospitality opens up and summer holidays can be booked with confidence,” Ludlow said.
All guests whose cruises have been cancelled will automatically receive a Future Cruise Credit worth 125% of what they paid and which can be redeemed against any new booking made by the end of December 2021, on any cruise on sale at the time of booking. Alternatively passengers may receive a 100% refund.
Royal Caribbean to sail from Israel
Earlier this week, Royal Caribbean International announced that it would debut its new Quantum Class ship Odyssey of the Seas from Israel, which has the world’s fastest vaccine roll-out.
With North American cruises still grounded, Royal Caribbean will offer vaccinated Israelis the chance to take 3-7 night cruises to the Greek Isles and Cyprus, with itineraries departing roundtrip from Haifa, Israel, to destinations in the Mediterranean, including Rhodes, Santorini, Mykonos and Athens, Greece and Limassol, Cyprus. Israel recently signed tourism agreements with Greece and Cyprus allowing vaccinated persons to travel between the countries without quarantine.
All crew and guests above the age of 16 on the Royal Caribbean Israel sailings will be vaccinated against COVID-19.
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