P&O Cruises will extend its operations pause until Oct.
15, the Carnival Corp. brand said Tuesday.
“As a business our operational focus is not when can we
resume sailing but is instead how can we develop a comprehensive restart
protocol that will keep everyone on board -- our crew and guests -- safe and
well and still give our guests an amazing holiday,” said P&O president Paul
Ludlow in a release.
The British cruise line said it is focusing on working in
close coordination with relevant public health organizations to approve the
enhancement of its health and safety protocols.
“Our aspiration is to be adopting best practice in managing
COVID-19 within the travel industry,” Ludlow said, adding that the line already
has in place many of the protocols now being adopted for social gathering
venues such as hand-sanitizing stations and rigorous cleaning and disinfecting
procedures.
P&O’s Iona, a 5,200-passenger ship powered by liquefied
natural gas, was supposed to enter service in May. German shipbuilder Meyer
Werft has not set a new delivery date.