Sun Princess inaugural cancelled again, days before departure

A maiden voyage has been pushed back for a second time.

Princess Cruises has cancelled Sun Princess’ already-delayed inaugural voyage, which was set to depart this Sunday (Feb. 18), according to reports.

The move comes less than a month after Princess cancelled the ship’s original Feb. 8 launch out of Barcelona due to delays at Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri.

Affected customers received an email on Feb. 13 about the latest cancellation, reports Cruise Trade News.

The email from the line’s president John Padgett confirms that the company is still taking delivery of Sun Princess on Feb. 14, but "the ship must remain alongside in the shipyard to allow for additional technical work to be completed.”

“We share in your deep disappointment and frustration, and sincerely apologize for the extreme disruption the late cancellation of this voyage creates,” Padgett wrote to customers.

Guests booked on the sailing will receive a full refund of the cruise fare along with any additional onboard services that were pre-purchased, as well as a 50 per cent future cruise credit (FCC) that can be used on any future Princess voyage booked by Nov. 30, 2024 and sailed by Dec. 31, 2025, the email says.

“Rest assured, your booking will be automatically cancelled, and you do not need to take any action to initiate the refund process,” Padgett wrote.

It appears some travel expenses will also be covered.

Princess says it will offer guests who have not yet started their travel with up to $200 USD per person to cover change fees related to their flights.

If guests have already arrived in the region, prior to Feb. 14, the line will reimburse them for the entire cost of their roundtrip airfare.

Sun Princess is set to be the brand’s first Sphere-class cruise ship (and Princess' largest), promising new features, including multi-story dining rooms, a dedicated suite category with its own restaurant and lounge, a panoramic Piazza atrium space, and a glass-enclosed geodesic dome, which covers an indoor-outdoor space that is also part pool deck, part entertainment venue.

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