Simon Calder on P&O's EMBARRASSING Last-Minute Cruise Cancellation

In this hard-hitting episode of Sail Away: Uncensored, we're joined by leading travel expert Simon Calder to discuss the latest cruise industry controversy - P&O Cruises cancelling Aurora's R505 sailing just 22 hours before departure. Simon doesn't hold back as he explores how P&O should have handled the situation, what passengers are legally entitled to when a cruise is cancelled, and why this latest debacle highlights what he calls a pattern of "corporate arrogance." He also sheds light on the Maleth Aero scandal, where hundreds of P&O cruise passengers have been left out of pocket, with over £500,000 owed and no sign of resolution. This is a must-watch for anyone booked with P&O, or anyone who cares about fair treatment of cruise passengers. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:14 - What did Simon first find out that P&O Aurora's cruise had been cancelled? 02:48 - Does Simon think communication was good enough with affected passengers? 04:55 - Did cancelling this cruise on a bank holiday weekend make a bad situation worse? 09:04 - Should passengers have been prepared for their cruise to be cancelled? 10:47 - P&O Cruises Official Statement 13:38 - Should P&O Cruises have given more in compensation? 16:45 - What does Simon think about passengers enduring the incidental losses? 18:30 - Should cruise lines label 'post-refit' cruises? 20:48 - Why are cruise cancellations worse at Carnival Corporation than other cruise companies? 22:42 - Are P&O and Cunard treat differently to other Carnival brands? 23:40 - What is the cruise line incentive to squeeze dry dock schedules and risk cancellation? 24:00 - What is the difference in consumer protection compared with air travel? 26:32 - Is time for cruise lines to stop treating cruisers like collateral damage? 28:02 - Is this situation comparable to P&O's attitude regarding the 'Maleth Aero Scandal'? 30:20 - Is there a risk that affected first-time cruisers will turn their back on the cruise industry? 33:00 - How damaging is it when P&O Cruises demonstrate such little regard for emotions? 35:20 - What's the long term damage for the cruise line and the industry as a whole? 37:21 - What should P&O be doing to repair the damage that they've done? 38:47 - What can customers do to prevent cruise lines like P&O from doing this again? 39:40 - What advice would you give to cruisers when booking a post-refit cruise in the future? 40:31 - Where do you stand with tipping on cruise ships? 45:03 - With what's going in the US and the uncertainty, will it affect the cruise industry? 46:32 - What is the cruise line to watch out for at the moment? 48:28 - What is your next cruise? Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share to support honest cruise journalism. Listen to the full podcast wherever you get your podcasts - just search Sail Away: Uncensored. #CruiseNews #POCruises #SimonCalder #MalethAero #SailAwayUncensored Addendum: Sail Away: Uncensored prides itself on hosting free and open discussions where guests share their personal opinions and experiences. While guests raise interesting points and points for debate, these are individual views and cannot always be independently verified. We encourage all viewers to seek their own advice and research when forming opinions about the topics discussed. Sail Away Magazine does not endorse or confirm the accuracy of all statements made by guests. Subscribe to Sail Away Magazine for just £3.95 every two months: https://sailawaymagazine.com/cruise-magazine/ YouTube: @sailawaymag Instagram: @sailawaymag Facebook: @sailawaymagazine TikTok: @sailawaymag Twitter: @sailawaymag Website: https://sailawaymagazine.com/ Contact us: info@sailawaymagazine.com Music Source: Sail Away: Uncensored Cruise Travel Podcast - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ?? You Can Check Out Our Other Videos Here : ? Are Older Cruisers Being Discriminated Against By Cruise Lines? Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QmZfsmVTys&t=112s ? Is Cruising REALLY That Good Anymore? Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt5XPd14tKc&t=66s ? American Tipping Culture is OUT OF CONTROL! Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyuXdIVJWZg ? Travel Blog Jamie: YouTube Scandals & Pet Peeves with Cruising Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXnryZEMNa4&t=1390s ? What's a SWINGERS CRUISE Really Like? Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzqUkD0bl3E&t=166s ? JANE BOULTON Spills Airline SECRETS You Never Saw on TV! Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6swIFbEEOuk&t=7s ? Virgin Voyages: Sex, Parties, and X-Rated Cruising! Link: https://youtu.be/eYQopfu_0tg?si=kkLmckV0ez-QVJlR ? Cruise Ship Officer Reveals What It's REALLY Like Working at Sea Link: https://youtu.be/bXbDyHy-KL8?si=LQm4PjCY0CtlncbM ? P&O Cruises vs. Maleth Aero: Who Owes Passengers £500K? Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cWi8fp1Tqc&t=266s