Princess Cruises has announced another extension of its pause in operations, this time applying to Australasia.

The cruise line has revealed that cruises departing from Australia and New Zealand have been cancelled, up until May 2021.

The extension of pause in operations is due to uncertainty about when international travel restrictions will be lifted.

Ongoing travel restrictions are a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Guests booked onto a Princess Cruises cruise departing from Australia or New Zealand before the new restart date are being given a choice of options.

Guests can choose from a refundable future cruise credit (FCC) equivalent to 100 per cent of the cruise fare paid.

Those opting for the FCC will also receive a further 25 per cent of their cruise fare paid – which is non-refundable.

Guests not wanting to receive cruise credit are able to get a full refund for all the money paid on their booking, using an online form.

Those opting for a refund will have until 30 November 2020 to do so, or they will automatically receive Future Cruise Credit.

Despite sailings being cancelled, Princess Cruises has promised to protect agent travel commissions on booking for cancelled cruises that were paid in full.

This move is to recognise the hard work and critical role agents are playing in the return of the cruise industry.

Princess Cruises is currently aiming to restart operations on 15 December 2020, 10 months after the line was forced to suspend operations due to Covid-19.

The cruise line has also cancelled its early 2021 ‘World Cruises’ and ‘Circle South America’ cruises onboard Island Princess and Pacific Princess, respectively.

Recently, the line announced it is speeding up the transition of two of its ships to sister company, P&O Cruises Australia.

Star Princess and Golden Princess will move to the P&O Australia fleet, a move that was announced in 2018.

Under their new names as Pacific Adventure (Golden Princess) and Pacific Encounter (Star Princess), the two ships are anticipated to sail in 2021.