Cunard cancels all cruises until next spring and makes radical changes to itineraries

Cunard has extended its pause in operations until 25 March 2021 for Queen Elizabeth, until 18 April for QM2 and until 16 May for Queen Victoria.

It has also made changes to its 2021 itineraries with new European sailings to replace Australasia and Alaska voyages, and a new 2022 world cruise.

It blamed the FCO advice against all ocean cruises and the complexity of operating world voyages for the changes.

President Simon Palethorpe said: "We are so sorry to all those guests who were due to sail on any of the cancelled voyages and for the disappointment this news will cause.

"After very careful consideration and reviewing the latest guidance, we simply do not feel it would be sensible to start sailing again with our current schedule so we have reviewed future itineraries."

"Queen Elizabeth has returned to the UK and with ongoing uncertainty over the re-opening of many ports and countries, it is sadly not practical to continue her planned itineraries for 2021.

"Therefore, in addition to the pause in operations, all of Queen Elizabeth’s sailings due to depart between 26 March 2021 and 13 December 2021, in and around Australia, Japan and Alaska, will be cancelled.

"These voyages will be replaced with a programme of shorter duration European holidays ranging from three to 14 nights, departing from Southampton."

Queen Elizabeth’s new itinerary will start at the end of March with a series of voyages around the coast of Cornwall, the west coast of Ireland and the Scottish Isles.

There will also be short breaks to Amsterdam which will include an overnight in the city, as well as voyages to northern and southern European destinations including Norway and the Iberian coast, with several of these itineraries featuring overnight city stays.

"Queen Elizabeth’s new programme will be completed with a series of seven and 14 night voyages in the Mediterranean, sailing from Barcelona. It is an exciting new programme which I am sure will have great appeal," added Simon.

All new itineraries on board Queen Elizabeth will be available to book from 29 September.

Simon added: "Additionally, recognising the immense disappointment of those on board Queen Mary 2’s curtailed World Voyage this year, and the cancellation of her World Voyage in 2021, we are delighted that Queen Mary 2 will sail a classic World Voyage in 2022. This will replace her scheduled sailings departing 3 January 2022 to 3 April 2022, including the voyage to South America."

The new 104 night adventure will depart from Southampton on 10 January 2022 and include calls to Greece, Dubai, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Australia and Bali before returning to Southampton via Abu Dhabi, Oman, Italy and Portugal.

Cunard will be contacting guests and travel agents who are impacted and those who have had their voyage cancelled will automatically receive an enhanced 125% Future Cruise Credit or alternatively can fill in the website form for a 100% refund.

Full details of the changes to operations and options available to guests due to travel on cancelled voyages, as well as the latest updates, can be found at www.cunard.com