Princess Cruises has announced new restart dates for Island Princess and Diamond Princess.

Island Princess will now return to service with a series of cruises to the Caribbean in spring 2022, prior to its 14-day Panama Canal Ocean to Ocean voyage on 27 April 2022.

Meanwhile, Diamond Princess will also return to service in spring 2022 with a season of Japan sailings. Princess said more information will be revealed shortly.

The changes mean that the line has cancelled its 2021-2022 South America & Antarctica programme and its 2022 world cruise, along with two December 2021 Island Princess voyages.

For guests booked on a cancelled cruise, Princess will offer to move them to an equivalent future cruise with the added benefit of protecting their 2021/2022 fare on their future cruise.

Alternatively, guests can choose a future cruise credit (FCC) equivalent to 100 per cent of the cruise fare paid or a full refund to the original form of payment.

The FCCs can be used on any cruises booked by and sailing by 31 December 2022.

The line said it will protect travel agent commission on bookings that were paid in full “in recognition of the critical role they play in the cruise line’s business and success”.

Princess Cruises president Jan Swartz said: “Following our successful restart in Alaska and the UK, we look forward to welcoming our guests back on board as we continue our return to cruise operations, keeping the health and safety of our guests and teammates our top priority.”

Princess recently resumed operations from the UK with a series of domestic cruises from Southampton.

Regal Princess is sailing a series of three to seven-night UK coastal voyages until late September and will be joined by Sky Princess from 30 August.

Both ships are offering scenic cruises and itineraries with ports of call.