A French Protest Wave Just Erased a Port From a P&O Itinerary

P&O Cruises has rewritten part of the itinerary for Iona’s seven-night Spain and France sailing, which left Southampton on October 17, after protests and civil unrest in France. The Le Havre call scheduled for Sunday, October 18 was cancelled, according to the cruise line’s email to passengers, and Le Havre excursions booked through P&O are being cancelled and refunded.

The rest of the schedule shifted around the gap. Sunday became a day at sea, Vigo moved from Tuesday to Monday, October 19, and A Coruna became an overnight stay with arrival on October 20 and departure on October 21 rather than a single-day visit. The Bilbao-Getxo call on October 22 was unchanged.

The unrest stems from anger over government budget and service cuts, rising living and fuel costs, and frustration about education funding. Le Monde reported that more than 600 demonstrations were planned for October 17, and earlier protests have involved traffic disruption, fires and clashes with police. Planned road blockades could also have disrupted day trips from Le Havre to Paris, which is about a 2.5-hour drive.

For travelers with French ports on upcoming itineraries, the episode is a reminder that cruise schedules are designed to bend. Booking shore excursions through the cruise line can simplify refunds if a stop is dropped, while independent tours usually require contacting the provider directly, so it helps to know which kind you have booked.

Sources: Cruise Hive