Princess cancels 11 sailings due to staffing challenges

The travel industry’s ongoing labour shortage continues to present challenges and Princess Cruises is the latest brand to feel the pressure.

Due to staffing challenges, the Diamond Princess cruise ship has cancelled 11 voyages on the U.S. west coast – including departures out of San Diego, California – resulting in a delayed return to service in the wake of the pandemic, it was reported on Tuesday (Aug. 9).

The cancellations impact voyages from the Sept. 1, 2022, through Nov.  13 period.

Guests who were booked on the cancelled Diamond Princess sailings can either get a cash refund, switch to an "equivalent cruise" with each passenger given $100 to spend on board, or choose a FCC for the entire value of the fare they paid, plus $100 per guest to spend on board.

Travel agent commissions on reservations fully paid as of Aug 8 will be protected, the cruise line said.

“Over the past year we have operated hundreds of cruises thanks to the tens of thousands of our Princess team members that have rejoined our fleet to deliver exceptional Princess vacations. However, like others in the global travel industry we have experienced some labour challenges,” the company said in a statement, as reported by USA Today. 

“With rising occupancy levels on the ships that have already returned to service and our commitment to guarantee the Princess experience is exceptional, Princess has made the difficult decision to cancel a limited number of voyages (11 sailings) on the Diamond Princess beginning September 1, 2022 through November 13.” 

This isn’t the first time the Diamond Princess has experience a pandemic-era setback.

The 2,670-passenger ship was thrust into global headlines at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic after a large COVID outbreak occurred in early 2020 – a situation that was later the subject of an HBO documentary.

The ship was quarantined off Yokohama, Japan, and the outbreak resulted in more than a dozen deaths and more than 700 COVID-19 cases.

Princess’ cancellations come as many cruise lines drop pandemic-era rules after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ended its COVID-19 program for cruise ships.

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