By now, the passengers booked to sail from Southampton on Queen Mary 2 should be halfway across the Atlantic. Cunard, the owner of the world’s only ocean-going liner still in passenger service, promises a “new eclectic programme of entertainment” as well as unlimited meals before docking in New York on Sunday 30 April. But the passengers booked on the one-week voyage will not, after all, experience the joy of approaching Manhattan by water this week.
The Cunard flagship is still in the Hampshire port, “due to a technical issue which needs to be resolved prior to sailing”. The return voyage from New York to Southampton has also been cancelled.
“Our friends travelled from the Isles of Scilly on Friday for the Sunday transatlantic crossing of QM2,” one reader reports. “They were waiting for their taxi to pick them up from hotel in Southampton when the taxi firm phoned and said the cruise is cancelled. It was going to be their first foreign holiday together after 49 years of marriage as they’re self-employed and can never get away.”
Others were told bluntly by an email sent out at 9.30am: “Queen Mary 2 arrived into Southampton late last night for assessment of a technical issue. Unfortunately, after further investigation, it has been confirmed that this work will take longer to resolve than anticipated and the ship is unable to sail until this is completed.”
From all points of view this is a cause for dismay. The 1,250 officers and crew will not be able to deliver the journey that 2,000-plus passengers were expecting. I calculate the twin cancellations will cost Cunard at least £10m in lost revenue. But the collective disappointment for travellers is immeasurable – from honeymooners who set their hearts on the transatlantic crossing to people planning their first, or possibly last, cruise.
A spokesperson for Cunard told me: “We apologise to all guests affected by this cancellation. Our customer-care team and travel agent partners have been liaising with impacted guests and we are doing everything possible to provide support and make alternative travel arrangements.” The cruise line assures me it will meet reasonable out-of-pocket expenses – including the £2,000 that a 91-year-old passenger was obliged to pay out for travel insurance. (Policies do not cover the risk that the insurance cover itself will be…
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