P&O Cruises sells Oceana

All guests with holidays booked onboard the vessel will be offered a 125% future cruise credit or a refund.

P&O parent Carnival Corporation announced last month it would accelerate the sale of ships across its brands due to the heavy financial impact of Covid-19.

The cruise giant said “preliminary agreements” were in place for the disposal of six ships, slated to leave the fleet in 90 days, adding it was “currently working toward additional agreements” to offload more ships.

Oceana joined the P&O fleet in 2002 after originally entering service in 2000 as Ocean Princess sailing for Princess Cruises.

P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said: “While we and many of our guests will miss Oceana, her departure will allow us to focus on our remaining ships in the fleet, as capacity expands with the delivery of Iona later this year followed by her sister ship, scheduled for 2022.

“During this pause in our operations, we need to fit the fleet for the future and ensure we have the right mix of ships once we resume sailing.

“I am so sorry to disappoint those guests who were booked on Oceana but I hope they will be able to find a similar alternative holiday, whether that is ex-UK from Southampton or a fly-cruise itinerary.”