Luxury cruise line Cunard has bowed to the inevitable and cancelled the rest of 2020 and acknowledged changes to 2021 with new European sailings and 2022 World Voyage
Queen Elizabeth will be docked from November 2020 until March 25, 2021; Queen Mary 2 until April 18, 2021 and until May 16, 2021 for Queen Victoria.
“We are so sorry to all those guests who were due to sail on any of the cancelled voyages and for the disappointment this news will cause,” said Cunard president Simon Palethorpe.
So what’s next?
Queen Elizabeth changes affect Australia 2020/21 season
“Queen Elizabeth has returned to the UK and with ongoing uncertainty over the re-opening of many ports and countries, it is sadly not practical to continue her planned itineraries for 2021,” Mr. Palethorpe continued.
“Therefore, in addition to the pause in operations, all of Queen Elizabeth’s sailings due to depart between March 26, 2021 and December 13, 2021, in and around Australia, Japan and Alaska, will be cancelled.
“These voyages will be replaced with a programme of shorter duration European holidays ranging from three to 14 nights, departing from Southampton. These will start at the end of March 2021, with a series of scenic voyages around the coast of Cornwall, the west coast of Ireland and the Scottish Isles.
“There will also be short breaks to Amsterdam which will include an overnight in the city, as well as voyages to northern and southern European destinations including Norway and the Iberian coast, with several of these itineraries featuring overnight city stays.
“Queen Elizabeth’s new programme will be completed with a series of seven and 14 night voyages in the Mediterranean, sailing from Barcelona. It is an exciting new programme which I am sure will have great appeal.”
Originally scheduled to sail in March 2021, Australia’s first-ever Gardening Journey is also affected by the changes and will now re-start Cunard’s operations Down Under on December 14, 2021.
Leading gardening experts such as Jamie Durie and Graham Ross will join this highly anticipated eight-night sailing from Sydney to share their knowledge and the latest garden trends with guests during informative talks and dinners.
Queen Elizabeth’s entertainment program will have a green-fingered twist with opportunities to take part in a range of themed activities, hands-on workshops, trivia, special craft classes and lessons in cooking from your garden.
Excursions at the popular ports of Hobart, Burnie, Melbourne and Eden will feature beautiful gardens alongside a range of local activities and sightseeing options.
For further information and to join Cunard’s Gardening Journey, please click here. All new itineraries on board Queen Elizabeth will be available to book from September 29, 2020.
Queen Mary 2’s new World Voyage visits Australia
Mr Palethorpe continued: “Recognising the immense disappointment of those on board Queen Mary 2’s curtailed World Voyage this year, and the cancellation of her World Voyage in 2021, we are delighted that Queen Mary 2 will sail a classic World Voyage in 2022. This will replace her scheduled sailings departing January 3, 2022 to April 3, 2022, including the voyage to South America.”
Cunard will be contacting guests and travel agents who are impacted and, once again, all guests who have had their voyage cancelled will automatically receive an enhanced 125% Future Cruise Credit or alternatively can fill in the website form for a 100% refund.
Full details of the changes to operations and options available to guests due to travel on cancelled voyages, as well as the latest updates, can be found at www.cunard.com
