Carnival Cruise Line and P&O Cruises Australia are pausing operations across their fleets in Australia.
Carnival Cruise Line is suspending its cruises across its Australia-based fleet from tomorrow and will resume them on 13 April while P&O Cruises Australia’s pause takes effect from today and the line plans to resume on 12 April.
P&O Cruises said the decision was in response to the government’s advice that gatherings should be limited to no more than 500 people and Australians should reconsider their need to travel overseas.
P&O will protect travel agent commission on bookings for cancelled cruises that were paid in full and for the total amount of future cruise credits.
P&O’s decision will affect cruises on Pacific Explorer, Pacific Dawn and Pacific Aria that were scheduled to depart Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide respectively.
Both Carnival ships currently at sea will continue their voyages and return to Sydney as scheduled.
Carnival Cruise Line said while it has not had a diagnosed case of COVID-19 linked to its operation, “we realise this situation is bigger than the cruise industry and we will continue to do our part to support public officials to manage and contain this unprecedented public health challenge”.
More in Travel Daily and Cruise Weekly on Monday.