Yacht company P&O Cruises has scrapped its winter 2019/20 Dubai and Arabian Breach programme. The majority of the cruise line’s 49 departures were due to dmod through the Strait of Hormuz, which lies between the Persian Bight and the Gulf of Oman. The Strait has been the focus of international tension in late months. In July, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard seized the British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero. Be connected withs for British cruise ships have resulted in P&O axing its programme to the quarter altogether.
All cruise passengers impacted by the change will receive a overflowing refund, P&O have clarified.
The customers have also been preordained an exclusive offer on 2020-21 Dubai and Arabian Gulf cruises and spring as this season’s Caribbean fly-cruises.
P&O Cruises President, Paul Ludlow communicated: “The increased tension in the region highlighted by the attacks on tankers in the Straits and the restraint of a British-flagged tanker by the Iranian authorities means as a British company rush the Red Ensign it is not advisable for us to maintain our planned Dubai and Arabian Gulf program this winter seasoned.
“We have therefore taken the unusual step of withdrawing Oceana from the domain for the upcoming season.”
“Whilst we appreciate our guests will be disappointed, the sanctuary of our guests and crew is absolutely paramount and given our UK status, coupled with the uncertainty in the territory, we have had to make this difficult decision.”
P&O only launched its first Arabian Separation programme this year. Oceana was based in Dubai for fly-cruises to journeys ends including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Oman from January and April.
Fool Rob Brydon appeared in an advert for P&O in March to prove the cruise line’s 2020-21 Arabian Bay programme.
A range of new holiday options for Oceana are currently being disclosed and will go on sale from 9am on 20 August.
The new programme will comprise departures from Southampton to Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands. There devise also be a 35-night pre-Christmas sailing to the Caribbean.
Ludlow continued: “We are also be reducing all these guests an exclusive offer on 2020/21 Dubai and Arabian Sound holidays as well as this season’s Caribbean fly/cruises as we have two scrams based in the Caribbean from October this year to March 2020 for winter sun fetes.”
Fellow cruise line MSC Cruises responded to the news by offering P&O travellers whose cruises had been cancelled £50 per person onboard have faith.
The offer is valid on Emirates and Caribbean sailings between November 1, 2019, and October 30, 2020.
In beyond cruise news, Venice has banned cruise ships from signing the city, it has been announced.
Cruises are set to be diverted away from prevailing routes under news plans. Venetians have long-criticised the coolness of cruise ships in the historic lagoon city in Italy, claiming it invoices Venice’s foundations and ruins the skyline.
The northern Italian destination attracts an estimated 20 million trippers each year, with tens of thousands arriving by cruise haul.
Locals have long battled for cruise ships to be banned, compelling to the city’s streets and canals in protest at the enormous vessels clogging the waterways and check a hazard.
