Cunard has extended its cancellation of cruises, meaning its growth in Australia will be curtailed this year. The first Aussie cruise we could find on its website is for a four day cruise from Adelaide to Melbourne on November 27.

Cunard is cancelling all sailings for Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria that were due to depart up to and including 1 November, 2020 and for Queen Elizabeth, departures up to and including the 23 November, 2020.

But the Queen Elizabeth will still spend around five months Down Under.

Cunard President, Simon Palethorpe, said, “With many differing restrictions across countries, people’s ability to move freely and safely across borders remains seemingly someway in the distance.

“For Cunard, where we celebrate having a truly international mix of guests and sail all over the world, this becomes particularly impactful. We also need to better understand the implications Covid-19 will have on board our ships.

“We are therefore working, at the highest level possible, with government bodies, including the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention – the CDC – and Public Health England, as well as the industry collective body – CLIA – and other expert medical professionals to review every aspect of a holiday with us.”

Guests who are booked on cancelled voyages will automatically be given a 125% Future Cruise Credit. This can be redeemed against any new booking made by the end of December 2021 on any voyage that’s on sale at the time of booking.

Full details of the changes to operations and options available to guests due to travel on cancelled voyages, can be found at www.cunard.com