P&O Cruises has extended its suspension of sailings until mid-November and cancelled a pair of long-haul itineraries next year following Foreign Office guidance.
The line has paused operations until 12 November and also cancelled two longer sailings due to depart in January 2021 – Aurora’s Caribbean & South America Adventure and Arcadia’s World Cruise.
In his latest video update, P&O president Paul Ludlow said that while the FCO’s advice against ocean cruising was in place “it is not advisable for us to resume operations”.
“Given long-term planning, combined with the complexity and length of these long-haul itineraries and evolving border restrictions, we need to ensure that we adhere to the guidance as it stands,” he said.
“I know that these January cruises, in particular, are holidays of a lifetime and we are so sorry for the disappointment that these cancellations will cause.”
In acknowledgement of FCO guidance we’ve extended our pause until 12 November 2020 and cancelled a number of longer duration cruises sailing before 31 March 2021. We are so sorry for the disappointment that these cancellations will cause. Here’s P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow: pic.twitter.com/hPZ0IVypFa
— P&O Cruises (@pandocruises) August 11, 2020
Ludlow said P&O would “continue to work in partnership” with public health agencies “at the highest level”, as well as Department for Transport, the EU‘s Healthy Gateways programme and Clia.