TRADEWIND Voyages has announced the cancellation of its 2022/23 Australian season for Golden Horizon. Ongoing uncertainty surrounding the resumption of cruising in Australia and the projected status of the country’s interstate and international borders has forced the United Kingdom-based cruise line to cancel its maiden summer season Down Under. The...
TRADEWIND Voyages has announced the cancellation of its 2022/23 Australian season for Golden Horizon.
Ongoing uncertainty surrounding the resumption of cruising in Australia and the projected status of the country’s interstate and international borders has forced the United Kingdom-based cruise line to cancel its maiden summer season Down Under.
The recently launched 272-passenger Golden Horizon was originally due to arrive in Australia for her inaugural season in local waters this Dec but pandemic restrictions forced Tradewind to announce plans for the 2021/22 season to be deferred to 2022/23 a few months ago (CW 09 Aug).
Tradewind said long-term planning was needed to operate and market voyages in Australia and ongoing & restrictive conditions, and a lack of clarity for cruising and freedom of travel, made the season unviable to operate.
Cruise Traveller has already contacted all Australian guests and travel advisors affected by the cancellation and is processing full refunds.
“While we have had to advise hundreds of booked guests of the changed program for Golden Horizon, it has been more than encouraging for so many of them to clearly indicate they are keen to sail on her in the Mediterranean in 2022 or 2023,” said Cruise Traveller Managing Director, Craig Bowen.
“As I have come to expect from Tradewind Voyages, they have managed the delivery of these unavoidable changes with total professionalism and commitment to the Australian market.”
There are hopes Tradewind’s ship could grace Australian shores in 2023/24, the cruise line said.
There are now plans for Golden Horizon to sail in the Caribbean in the northern winter of 2022/23 instead of Australia, with details to be released in coming months, with hopes Australians can patronise the season once outbound restrictions are eased.
Fares for the 2022/23 Caribbean season will be announced soon, Tradewind said.
