P&O Cruises Australia has extended their pause in cruise operations for three more months, until December 17th.Carnival, a Carnival-owned company, said that the decision was made in response to uncertainty surrounding a route to resume Australia-only cruises.Since October last year, the cruise industry has been working with government and health authorities to create a framework that will allow domestic-only cruising to relaunch.These talks have been ongoing for some time and we look forward the chance to agree on a pathway to start cruises that transport Australian residents on Australian itineraries.This article is about the livelihoods and small businesses of thousands of people, many of them family-owned, who depend on the cruise industry.ADVERTISEMENTThese businesses offer a variety of services, including entertainment, fresh food, and shore tours.Like every other business in Australia, they require certainty. I worry that they will find it more difficult to hold on to their position without a clear path forward.All guests whose bookings were affected will be notified via email or by their travel agent of the pause.Princess CruisesPrincess Cruises will cancel all cruises to Australia and New Zealand until December 19th.Princess has informed passengers who booked on a cancelled cruise that they will be moved to an alternative cruise in 2022 if the guests resume their bookings.
