P&O Cruises and Cunard have updated their coronavirus reassurance cancellation and transfer policy as the situation with the virus continues to develop.

The two cruise lines’, owned by Carnival Corporation, new interim policy applies to all guests with bookings departing prior to 31 August 2020, providing them with ultimate flexibility.

The policy includes:

· All guests with existing and new bookings on holidays departing before 31 August 2020 may now cancel up to 48 hours prior to departure.
· Cancelled bookings will receive a Future Cruise Credit equivalent to the cancellation fees and refunds will be given on any remaining monies paid.
· The Future Cruise Credit may be redeemed against any sailing until the end of March 2022 (bookings to be made before December 31, 2021).
· The Future Cruise Credit is non-refundable, but may be used on multiple sailings.

Guests booked to travel with either P&O Cruises and Cunard before August this year will receive additional money to spend on board. The extra credit only applies to bookings made before 11 March 2020 and differs between the cruise lines.

On P&O Cruises, those guests sailing one to three-night itineraries can get £100, four to seven £200, eight to 14 getting £400 and those sailing 15-night plus itineraries receiving £600.

On Cunard, those sailing one to three nights will get $150, four to seven will get $300, eight to 14 $600 and 15 nights plus receiving $900.

Additional amendments include guests who cancelled bookings between 1 February 2020 and 11 March 2020 for sailings before the end of August 2020, but who did not opt to convert their cancellation charge into a Future Cruise Credit, will have this automatically credited to their account for use on a future cruise.

Guests travelling after August 2020 are also able to transfer free of charge to any alternative cruise date, prior to paying the balance of their holiday.

The Future Cruise Credit given to P&O Cruises guests following Arcadia’s itinerary changes will now be extended until the end of December 2021.

Guests should continue to refer to the cruise lines’ websites for the latest travel advice and policies as the situation evolves.

Cunard and P&O Cruises are the latest in a line of cruise lines that have recently altered their cancellation policies in light of the virus outbreak.

For the latest advice on coronavirus, visit gov.uk.