A three-night cruise to Zeebrugge was abruptly cancelled just one day before departure, leaving dozens of would-be passengers scrambling.
P&O Cruises called off the sailing of its 25-year-old ship Aurora due to delays in its scheduled maintenance dry dock, sparking frustration among travellers who had already packed and, in some cases, travelled to the port.
The voyage, scheduled to depart 21st April from Southampton, was meant to be Aurora’s first trip post-refit – a standard five-year maintenance stop that began two weeks ago.
According to a statement from the cruise line, delays in completing the refit meant the ship would not be ready in time.
“Following a delay to Aurora’s refit, we need to cancel Aurora’s R505 cruise from Southampton to Zeebrugge,” the email sent to passengers read.
In compensation, guests were offered a full refund and a future cruise credit worth 20% of the fare paid.
The short notice has prompted a wave of criticism from cruisers, many of whom had already made non-refundable travel arrangements or taken time off work.
Among them were Cruising With The 4Bs – cruise vloggers who shared their reaction in a YouTube video shortly after receiving the cancellation notice.
“We even upgraded to a mini-suite – we were so excited for a short getaway with friends. Then, with less than 24 hours to go, boom – cancelled.”
The video delved into the possible reasons behind the cancellation and questioned whether P&O Cruises had built in enough buffer time post-refit.
It may just be that 14 days wasn’t sufficient for a ship of Aurora’s age, especially given the potential for unforeseen issues during refurbishment.
“This could have been avoided,” the vloggers said. “There was no wiggle room in the schedule. If they’d given just a couple of extra days, this wouldn’t have happened.”
The incident has sparked debate over whether cruise lines should more transparently communicate the risks of booking trips immediately following major refits.
While seasoned cruisers might be aware of the possibility of delays, most passengers aren’t aware of ship maintenance schedules when they book.
This isn’t the first time P&O Cruises has faced criticism for post-refit readiness. The vlogger said how they went on a cruise immediately after Britannia’s refit last year, where parts of the ship were still shut.
As for Aurora, the ship is now expected to return to service once refit work is fully complete and safety sign-offs are finalised.
Meanwhile, disappointed passengers will have to make do with cruise credit – and, as the vlogger put it, “lots and lots of Easter chocolate.”
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
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