P&O Australia announced that the company will extend the pause in operations across Australia & New Zealand until October 29, 2020, in response to the impact of the global pandemic.
The cruise company said it will extend its pause in operations for an additional 42 days to what had previously been announced.
According to Sture Myrmell, President of P&O Cruises and Carnival Australia, while everyone hoped sailings would resume soon, it had become increasingly clear that more time was needed for society to reinstate a lot of modes of travel and community gatherings.
"The path to society reopening fully is continuing to evolve – and cruising will return when science and public health align and people again feel comfortable to meet. With this in mind, we have reviewed the current end date of our pause in cruise operations.
"We will continue to use this time to liaise with authorities, public health experts and others in the industry to develop enhanced public health measures for when the time is right to resume sailing.
"This is by far the most challenging time the travel sector has ever experienced. However, like so many of our loyal guests and partners, we look forward to better times ahead when we can cruise again. We thank everyone for their unswerving loyalty, patience and goodwill."
The announcement will affect the cruises departing from Australia onboard Pacific Explorer with cruise code X040-X046, Pacific Dawn W047-W053, and Pacific Aria A048-A051.
In New Zealand, P&O is scheduled to return for its next season of sailings departing from Auckland next year. Additional trips affected by the new pause are onboard Pacific Aria A042-A047.
P&O Cruises will also cancel Pacific Adventure's inaugural 19-day voyage from Singapore to Sydney.