Princess Cruises’ latest and largest ship, Solar Princess, is shifting her deployment plans a bit and her March 19, 2026 departure has now been cancelled.
Impacted company have been notified of the cancellation, however with none particulars as to why the voyage will now not happen.
“Please be suggested that as a consequence of adjustments in our deployment program, your 6-day Mediterranean with France & Italy voyage on Solar Princess has regrettably been cancelled,” the notification learn.
The 6-night cruise was to have departed Barcelona on March 19, following a quick upkeep dry-dock in Spain. Port visits to Gibraltar, Marseille, and Genoa have been on the itinerary earlier than Solar Princess was to have arrived in Civitavecchia (Rome) on March 25.
As a result of the cruise is now cancelled, company are receiving full refunds of all cash paid to Princess Cruises. Moreover, they’re additionally going to get an extra future cruise credit score (FCC) equal to twenty% of their unique base fare.
The FCC does include some fairly harsh restrictions, nonetheless. The brand new cruise should even be aboard Solar Princess on a Mediterranean itinerary between March 2026 and October 2026. Visitors should additionally ebook their substitute cruise no later than April 30, 2025 to reap the benefits of the FCC.
Usually, when a cruise line should cancel a voyage and provides company a future cruise credit score or low cost as compensation, they’ve extra choices for rebooking – no less than on totally different ships or in numerous areas if they like.
In fact, cruise traces aren’t obligated to supply any credit or reductions in any respect in these circumstances. Whereas the cancellation is unlucky and is certain to be disappointing to company who have been wanting ahead to their cruise, solely a refund is critical.
The 178,000-gross ton Solar Princess first set sail in February 2024. She will welcome 4,300 company aboard and can be dwelling to 1,600 worldwide crew members – irrespective of the place and when she is crusing.
The ship has solely just lately arrived in Europe for her 2025 Mediterranean season, throughout which she is providing departures from Barcelona, Rome, Athens, Naples, and Istanbul.
Solar Princess will return to the US and her homeport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in mid-November. By the winter, she is providing 7-night Jap Caribbean and Western Caribbean itineraries.
What Is Taking place to Solar Princess‘s Schedule?
The cancellation notification does no less than present clues about what is occurring to the Sphere-class ship’s total schedule.
Now, the ship might be providing a brand new 9-night Mediterranean & Greek Isles voyage departing Rome on March 19, 2026 – the identical day the ship was to have been leaving Barcelona.
This means that the dry dock work is probably going being moved ahead or shortened and Solar Princess will be capable to return to service before initially anticipated.
No additional particulars can be found concerning the subsequent cruise or two, which can be equally impacted because the ship’s schedule is tweaked to accommodate her new out-of-service interval.
Learn Additionally: How A lot Are Princess Cruises Gratuities?
Visitors booked on any adjoining voyages might be notified individually if their sailings have to be adjusted or cancelled.
Solar Princess is just not the one cruise ship to have her schedule adjusted just lately as a consequence of dry dock adjustments.
Carnival Cruise Line just lately introduced that Carnival Magic is including new sailings in November 2025. Carnival Magic was additionally scheduled for dry dock, however that schedule has now modified.
Whereas shipyards do attempt to preserve the schedules they’ve set, adjustments are inevitable as new ships are ordered, labor staffing adjustments, or emergency dry dock upkeep wants come up.
Each Princess Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line are owned by the identical father or mother firm, Carnival Company & plc.
Fortuitously, the change to Solar Princess‘s deployment and the cruise cancellation is 11 months away, giving company loads of time to decide on another crusing or alter their trip plans.
Within the meantime, the second Sphere-class ship and sister to Solar Princess, Star Princess, is underneath building on the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, and is scheduled to debut in October 2025.
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