SOUTHAMPTON — Cunard is extending its pause in operations until March 25, 2021 for Queen Elizabeth sailings, until April 18, 2021 for Queen Mary 2 sailings and until May 16, 2021 for Queen Victoria sailings.

Back in June the luxury cruise line said it would tentatively restart operations in November 2020.

Simon Palethorpe, President of Cunard apologized to impacted passengers. “We are so sorry to all those guests who were due to sail on any of the cancelled voyages and for the disappointment this news will cause,” he said. “After very careful consideration and reviewing the latest guidance, we simply do not feel it would be sensible to start sailing again with our current schedule so we have reviewed future itineraries.”

In addition to the pause in operations, Cunard has announced that all of Queen Elizabeth’s sailings scheduled to depart March 26, 2021 – December 13, 2021, in and around Australia, Japan and Alaska, are also cancelled.

Palethorpe says these voyages will be replaced with a program of shorter duration European holidays ranging from three to 14 nights, departing from Southampton with a tentative start date at the end of March 2021. The scenic voyages will sail around the coast of Cornwall, the west coast of Ireland and the Scottish Isles. There will also be short breaks to Amsterdam which will include an overnight, and voyages to northern and southern European destinations including Norway and the Iberian coast.

He added that Queen Elizabeth’s new program will be completed with a series of seven and 14 night voyages in the Mediterranean, sailing from Barcelona.  “It is an exciting new program which I am sure will have great appeal,” said Palethorpe.

All of the new itineraries onboard Queen Elizabeth will be available to book from Sept. 29, 2020.

Palethorpe also had updates about Queen Mary 2 sailings. Queen Mary 2’s 2020 World Voyage was curtailed, and the 2021 World Voyage was cancelled. However Palethorpe says Cunard is “delighted” that Queen Mary 2 will sail a classic World Voyage in 2022, replacing the ship’s scheduled sailings departing Jan. 3, 2022 to April 3, 2022, including the voyage to South America.

Queen Mary 2’s new 118-night adventure will depart roundtrip from New York on Jan. 3, 2022 and include calls to Greece, Dubai, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Australia and Bali before returning to Southampton via Abu Dhabi, Oman, Italy and Portugal. The ship will sail through the Suez Canal both on the outbound journey and on return.

Full world voyages as well as six individual sectors can be booked starting Sept. 8, 2020.

Cunard is contacting guests and travel agents who are impacted by the cancellations and, as before, all guests who have had their voyage cancelled will automatically receive an enhanced 125% future cruise credit or alternatively can fill in the website form for a 100% refund.

For more details see cunard.com.