P&O cruise passengers were furious after their ship was refused entry to New Zealand for a very mundane reason
Thousands of passengers on board a P&O cruise ship are angry and disappointed after their two-week journey through New Zealand was thrown into chaos when the ship was abruptly denied boarding.
The Pacific Adventure left Sydney on Monday for a 13-day Kiwi Adventure voyage, but the itinerary for the trip has now been changed to a tour of Tasmania after border control in New Zealand prevented the ship from entering its waters.
The ship’s hull was due to be cleaned in the Bay of Plenty, but bad weather prevented divers from taking on the job.
Due to New Zealand’s strict biosecurity regulations, the ship was turned around.
“We apologize that the itinerary has had to be adjusted,” a P&O spokesperson told 9News.
“A change in forecast conditions made it too dangerous for divers and therefore we cannot be cleared to enter New Zealand.”
The Pacific Adventure left Sydney on Monday for a 13-day Kiwi Adventure voyage, but the itinerary for the trip has now been changed to a tour of Tasmania after border control in New Zealand prevented the ship from entering its waters
The ship’s hull was due to be cleaned in the Bay of Plenty, but bad weather prevented divers from completing the job. Due to New Zealand’s strict biosecurity regulations, the ship was turned around
Instead, passengers will now come to visit Hobart, Port Arthur and Eden in Tasmania during their cruise.
P&O Cruises Australia said guests were warned before taking the cruise that ‘significant changes to the itinerary’ were possible due to New Zealand’s biosecurity requirements.
“Guests have received additional compensation in light of this change to their itineraries,” the spokesperson said.
A number of passengers took to social media to express their anger over the last-minute change to the itinerary.
‘We are not allowed to dock in New Zealand so we now have another 3 days on the ship before we finally see land. We now go to Hobart, the port of Arthur and Eden. Definitely not what I signed up for…,” said one passenger
“Holiday has become a nightmare,” one passenger wrote.
‘We are not allowed to dock in New Zealand so we now have another 3 days on the ship before we finally see land. We now go to Hobart, the port of Arthur and Eden. Definitely not what I signed up for…’
“This is just a turd covered in gold glitter,” someone posted.
“Get me off this boat and give me a full refund,” another passenger commented.
Another passenger urged others not to abuse staff due to the change in itinerary.
“I’m very upset and upset about this too, but the staff don’t deserve to be yelled at and berated for something they didn’t do,” they posted.