P&O Cruises Cancels Zeebrugge Voyage, 1,900 Passengers Impacted

P&O Cruises abruptly cancelled a three-night Aurora cruise from Southampton to Zeebrugge just one day before departure, citing delays in the ship's scheduled refit in Rotterdam. Nearly 1,900 passengers, many of whom had made non-refundable travel arrangements and taken time off work for special occasions and celebrations, were left frustrated by the short notice and the cruise line's limited customer service availability on Easter Sunday. Passengers criticized P&O Cruises' poor communication, with many only learning of the cancellation via email and finding no way to contact staff for further information or assistance. While the company offered a full refund and a future cruise credit worth 20% of the fare paid, affected travelers found this compensation inadequate to cover additional costs such as flights, accommodations, and other pre-paid expenses. The incident has sparked broader debate about cruise lines’ scheduling practices and the risks of booking trips immediately after ship refits. Many guests are now calling for more realistic compensation and greater transparency regarding operational uncertainties.