Passengers criticise Sun Princess handling
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Customers affected by the cancellation of Sun Princess’ cruise yesterday have told Cruise News how several were not told they had flights or accommodation arranged despite Princess placing a team on the ground.
One customer booked on the cruise and two others who have relatives out in Singapore, commented on our story yesterday, criticising the cruise line for not sharing information sooner about both the cancellation and that flights had been arranged.
Dubbing the situation “badly handled” and “a shabby effort”, the cruise passengers were only told hours before their departure that the cruise was cancelled. It is not known when Princess was aware of the power malfunction.
Soon after Cruise News posted its story about the cancellation one reader, known only as Ian, said his in-laws were booked on the cruise and had been told at around 1.30pm Singapore time that the cruise would not go ahead. At 9.25pm in the evening (Singapore time) his parents had still not received accommodation, although a flight had been sorted for the next day (today). “Surely their representatives could have contacted the hotels they were staying at to get the an extra night so they had somewhere to stay?,” he asked.
Another reader, known as Adrienne, also had parents who were due to board the cruise and only knew it was the case when they reached the cruise terminal. She called a travel agency to book flights, only to be told Princess had booked them on flights earlier in the day and not informed her parents.
Holidaymaker Susan Walker said she jumped in a taxi when she heard of the cancellation and booked a flight herself from Singapore to Australia, which Princess will still reimburse.
Her comment read: “[There was] plenty of room on the plane shame more people didn’t do as I did…how can they [Princess] book 2,500 people into accommodation in Singapore in a short time? They can’t, when I read the words that they would reimburse if you decide to make your own way, I was out’a [sic] there; more should have followed as the cruise company cannot cope at times like this in such a port. Back home now and my thoughts go to those that are relying on others to fix them up.”
When Cruise News contacted Princess with these comments, a spokesperson said: “Princess Cruises has sent a special team out to assist passengers with accommodation and return flights home”.
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