P&O Cruises vessel Britannia skipping ports due to a technical issue and the Arvia and Iona facing disruptions due to external circumstances.
The Brittania issue, described as non-safety related, is being addressed by engineers, with the ship expected to resume normal operations soon. Compensation and alternative excursions are being provided to mitigate the impact on holiday experiences.
The Britannia experienced a power outage during a 14-night Caribbean cruise and consequently skipped planned calls in Aruba and St Lucia to return to its homeport in Barbados for essential land-based repairs. The issue has since been rectified, and the ship has resumed its scheduled itinerary.
The Arvia’s itinerary was significantly affected by U.S. military action and associated airspace closures in Venezuela, which caused flight disruptions for thousands of passengers travelling to and from Barbados to join the ship. The ship returned to Barbados multiple times to accommodate delayed passengers, leading to the cancellation of calls at Martinique and potential other ports.
The Iona had its departure from Southampton delayed due to numerous shipping containers (some carrying bananas and avocados) falling overboard from a nearby cargo ship, the Baltic Klipper, in the Solent. Authorities needed time to locate the drifting containers and clear the major shipping lane before the Iona could safely depart.
P&O has communicated with affected passengers, offering refunds, alternative options, or onboard credit as compensation for the disruptions. It is standard practice for cruise lines to alter itineraries for safety reasons, which are always the priority.
