Key Facets:
- A strong storm within the UK delayed P&O fly-cruise passengers from on-time embarkation.
- Passengers had been issued an apology and compensation for a missed cruise day.
- Nonetheless, delayed visitors of the earlier voyage say they didn’t obtain the identical courtesy.
A strong winter storm that swept throughout the UK on January 9, 2026, induced widespread journey disruptions for P&O Cruises’ fly-cruise program
The storm, often called Goretti, introduced excessive winds, snow, and icy situations that grounded plane, delated departures, and compelled airways to reshuffle planes throughout a number of airports.
Based on the Met Workplace, the system carried wind gusts nearing 100 miles per hour.
These situations straight impacted passengers scheduled to fly from the UK to Barbados to board Britannia’s January 9, 2026, Caribbean cruise.
Flights out of Manchester and different UK airports had been delayed by almost 24 hours, leaving passengers unable to succeed in the ship on embarkation day.
Because of this, some visitors didn’t arrive in Barbados till January 10, lacking the ship’s scheduled in a single day keep in port and a full day of onboard actions and excursions.
In a letter despatched to these inbound passengers, P&O Cruises acknowledged the disruption and supplied a pro-rated future cruise credit score to cowl the missed day.
“While the delay to the beginning of your cruise can have been very disappointing, we do hope that you’ve had a pleasing flight to Barbados and stay up for welcoming you on board Britannia and having the ability to offer you an exquisite vacation throughout your time with us,” the cruise line wrote.
Learn Additionally: Barbados Cruise Port – Getting Round, What’s Close by and Information
The letter additionally reminded the visitors that the cruise line was not liable for refunds or compensation for the flights and directed passengers to contact the airline, Norse Atlantic, on to file a declare.
Stormy Seas
Whereas passengers flying to Britannia acquired apologies and compensation, a special expertise awaited these flying residence after the earlier cruise concluded.
Passengers disembarking from the 143,000-gross-ton vessel’s December 26, 2025, crusing additionally discovered themselves delayed by Storm Goretti as they tried to return to the UK.
However one passenger, conscious of the letter acquired by incoming visitors, mentioned no such letter was acquired.
“My mother was on the delayed flight out from Manchester on Friday (the one we had been flying BACK on) and we had been additionally delayed by 24 hours, but she has already acquired an apology from P&O with a future cruise refund for the 24-hour delay,” a passenger shared.
Whereas she was glad her mom’s difficulty was addressed shortly, she expressed concern that after a number of disruptions onboard Britannia and the delayed return flight from Barbados, she had acquired no related outreach.
The response has fueled frustration amongst some passengers as Britannia skilled technical points that compelled the ship to overlook scheduled port calls in Aruba and St. Lucia and return to homeport for repairs.
Following the voyage, P&O Cruises confirmed that no compensation could be supplied for the missed ports or itinerary modifications tied to the technical breakdown.
In the meantime, Britannia is now crusing its subsequent journey by way of January 23, 2026. She’s going to go to the ABC Islands, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, and Antigua, barring no additional points.
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