Princess Cruises has announced another cancellation for the Sun Princess’ inaugural journey.
- Delays with the shipbuilder Fincantieri have impacted the ship’s readiness.
- Guests will receive refunds and future cruise credits for any inconvenience.
- Additional compensation is offered to cover travel-related expenses.
- Princess Cruises remains committed to delivering exceptional future experiences.
Princess Cruises has once again made the difficult decision to cancel the long-awaited inaugural voyage of the Sun Princess, which was scheduled for 18 February 2024. This decision follows a prior delay that pushed the initial departure date from Barcelona on 8 February, due to complications with the Italian shipbuilder, Fincantieri. As a result, the ship will remain at the shipyard for further technical work.
In a communication sent to travel agents and guests, John Padgett, the president of Princess Cruises, expressed his regret over the situation, stating, “We share in your deep disappointment and frustration, and sincerely apologise for the extreme disruption the late cancellation of this voyage creates.” Despite the setback, Princess Cruises will officially take delivery of the vessel on 14 February.
Guests affected by this cancellation will be compensated with a full refund of their cruise fare along with any additional onboard services that were pre-purchased. Additionally, they are offered a 50% future cruise credit (FCC) applicable to any Princess voyage booked by 30 November 2024 and sailed by 31 December 2025. Padgett reassured guests by saying, “Rest assured, your booking will be automatically canceled, and you do not need to take any action to initiate the refund process.”
For guests who have yet to embark on their journey, Princess Cruises will provide up to $200 USD per person to cover any change fees related to flight adjustments. Moreover, for those who have already made their way to the region prior to 14 February, the cruise line promises reimbursement for the entire cost of their roundtrip airfare. This gesture underscores the company’s recognition of the inconvenience experienced by its patrons.
Princess Cruises is also offering to cover accommodation costs for the affected guests. Specifically, the company will refund up to €450 per night for hotels covering the nights of 18 and 19 February, in addition to providing a per diem of €140 per person, per day for meals and other expenses during this period. Padgett further emphasised their commitment by inviting guests to look forward to extraordinary experiences with the cruise line in the future.
Princess Cruises is addressing the delays by offering comprehensive compensation to ensure customer satisfaction.
