Last Wednesday on my day off I was out and about when my phone rang, It was my mum breaking the news of the P&O Redeployment of the Oceana from Dubai for Winter 2020! My Mum, Dad, Auntie & Uncle were due to sail from Dubai this November! There will be lots for disappointed people but safety is a priority.
Paul Ludlow, P&O Cruises’ President, said in a statement: “The increased tension in the region, highlighted by the attacks on tankers in the straits and the detention of a British-flagged tanker by the Iranian authorities, means as a British company flying the Red Ensign, it is not advisable for us to maintain our planned Dubai and Arabian Gulf programme this winter season.
P&O are currently working on some brand new itineraries for Oceana, sailing out of Southampton to Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands. These will be available to book from 20th August. P&O also still plans to have the Oceana in the UAE for the 2020/2021 season. Fingers crossed this is all resolved by then !
Celebrity Cruise line announced on Monday that they will be redeploying the revitalised Celebrity Constellation from Dubai to Tampa but have stated this has nothing to do with the conflicts in the Gulf.
Currently MSC & Royal Caribbean still plan to have their ships sailing from Dubai this winter but is it really safe for any cruise lines carrying British Nationals? P&O do carry the British flag but are they really at more risk than others? It would be a shame if MSC & Royal Caribbean do have to redeploy their ships, everyone looks forward to their well-deserved cruise and when things like cancellations happen it can be upsetting and stressful trying and find something else. My Mum has rebooked the Canary islands with Marella, She was really looking forward to cruising with P&O for the second time this year and the fact the UAE would be really warm in November was also a bonus.
If anyone effect by this needs help to find something else, I will be happy to help 🙂