Princess Cruises has announced the cancellation of the delayed inaugural sailing of the Sun Princess.
- Originally set to depart from Barcelona, the inaugural cruise was rescheduled to sail from Rome due to a ‘mutual agreement’ with Fincantieri.
- Technical requirements necessitated further work at the shipyard, delaying delivery of the Sun Princess to Princess Cruises.
- The company has expressed regret and apologised for the disruption, offering refunds and future cruise credits to affected passengers.
- Support measures for affected passengers include refunds for hotel and dining expenses in Rome, as well as coverage for flight change fees.
Princess Cruises has cancelled the much-anticipated inaugural sailing of its new ship, Sun Princess. Initially scheduled to embark on its maiden voyage from Barcelona, unforeseen circumstances forced a ‘mutual agreement’ between Princess Cruises and Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri to alter the departure to Rome. This change, however, has encountered further delays due to additional technical work required at the shipyard.
The company had planned to take delivery of the Sun Princess on Wednesday, yet necessary technical requirements have postponed the completion of this process. Consequently, the inaugural voyage set for February 18 has been cancelled, with the new departure rescheduled for February 28 from Rome. In a statement, Princess Cruises president John Padgett clearly expressed his understanding and empathy regarding the passengers’ disappointment and frustration due to this profound disruption.
In an effort to mitigate the inconvenience caused to passengers, the cruise line is extending full refunds for the cruise fare and any pre-purchased onboard services. Additionally, affected passengers are being offered a 50% credit towards a future cruise, demonstrating Princess Cruises’ commitment to maintaining customer satisfaction despite this unexpected situation.
Furthermore, Princess Cruises has set in place comprehensive measures to support passengers who have already travelled to Rome or were yet to commence their journey. For those yet to travel, the company will provide up to $200 per person to amend flight change fees. Travellers already in Italy will be reimbursed for their round-trip airfare. To cover additional costs, including hotel and dining fees, refunds up to €450 per night and €140 per person, per day for dining will be issued for February 18 and 19.
In light of the initial cancellation, Princess Cruises has confirmed that agency commissions will be protected, demonstrating a continued commitment to its partners and stakeholders.
Princess Cruises remains committed to ensuring customer satisfaction amid the disruption caused by the Sun Princess inaugural delay, with comprehensive refunds and credits offered to affected passengers.
