Pacific Star Cruise Cancelled

MEDIA STATEMENT
Thursday August 9, 2007

Pacific Star Cruise Cancelled

P&O Cruises has this morning cancelled Pacific Star’s scheduled eight night cruise from Auckland to Brisbane to enable further repairs to the ship.

P&O Cruises Chief Executive Officer Ann Sherry apologised to passengers for the cancellation of their cruise.

“We realise this experience has been very frustrating for our passengers and apologise unreservedly for the disappointment and inconvenience we have caused them,” Ms Sherry said.

Ms Sherry said the ship’s 1145 passengers would receive a full refund and a 25 per cent credit on a future cruise. The ship would also waive all onboard expenses incurred by passengers since their embarkation on Tuesday.

Pacific Star had been scheduled to depart Auckland on Tuesday February 7, but has remained in port to enable repairs to a ventilation duct.

“We had expected to sail last night but it became apparent during the course of the night that there was still need for a further review of the problem area.

“We have taken the view that the prudent thing to do is to move Pacific Star into dry dock so that this issue can be fully addressed.

“While this has inconvenienced our passengers, we are a company that always errs on the side of caution in the interests of passenger safety,” Ms Sherry said.

Ms Sherry said the company would be focusing its efforts today on assisting its passengers to return home.

The eight-night cruise from Auckland to Brisbane was scheduled to visit Mystery Island, Noumea and Isle of Pines.

ENDS

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