How much am I entitled to after Covid cancelled both of my cruises?

Simon Calder answers your questions on replacement holidays and more

La Palma, the fifth-largest of the Canary Islands, is a popular destination for cruise-goers (Getty)

Q Early in 2020 I booked direct with a cruise company for a trip to the Canaries in the spring of 2021. When the departure date neared, all international travel was banned because of Covid and so it was cancelled.

The company offered a choice between a full refund and a postponement to an identical cruise. I thought I was being smart in choosing the latter, which I rebooked for 2022, because the price of the new one was at least £300 more than I had originally paid. But everyone had to take a test before boarding and unfortunately mine was positive, so obviously I couldn’t go.

The cruise company said I could have a “future cruise credit” – but only to the value of the original cruise. That seems most unfair because I will have to add hundreds of pounds to the credit to pay for something I was due to experience two years ago. Can I at least get a full refund in cash of my original payment, or claim something from travel insurance?