TUI outlines safety measures for passengers on Marella Cruises
When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters.Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer.Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights.You can unsubscribe at any time.
TUI has suggested its cruise line Marella could launch some UK cruises this year. The “test” routes have not yet been confirmed, though TUI UK managing director Andrew Flintham has said the company is looking at a number of options.
The news follows the likes of P&O Cruises and Viking Cruises who have both launched itineraries spanning the British Isles to allow UK holidaymakers a chance to sail before the year is out.
TUI teased the UK cruise latest on its Facebook page.
In an update, the cruise line said: “We’re really pleased to announce we’ll be offering domestic cruises sailing from the UK this year.
“We can’t wait to welcome you back onboard. More details will be revealed soon.”
The exact path of the cruises, as well as any potential port stops, have not yet been unveiled.
However, if the cruises are anything like the ones on offer from P&O Cruises, they are likely to be well received.
Since announcing its plans for its UK itineraries, P&O has reported an “overwhelming” number of bookings.
The UK sailings went on sale on Monday morning and received an “unprecedented” response from customers.
DON’T MISS
Holidays overseas to be made ILLEGAL – £5,000 fines for Britons [INSIGHT]
Holidays: Matt Hancock warns ‘wait & see’ – ‘risk’ of foreign travel [COMMENT]
P&O Cruises: ‘Overwhelming’ number of UK coastal cruises booked [UPDATE]
The three, four and seven-night cruises will take place on flagship Britannia and new ship Iona.
P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said: “It is very demonstrable evidence that a holiday at sea, with all that it has to offer, is a popular and much longed-for option this summer.
“We always hoped that these domestic cruises would be popular, given the uncertainty around holidays abroad, but we have never before seen such significant and immediate demand and it certainly shows the effects of lockdown and everyone’s need for a holiday.
“Many thousands of guests have already made bookings and Iona’s maiden voyage to the Scottish islands is already very well sold and will be a very special cruise.”
Guests must be vaccinated in order to sail.
Viking Cruises is also offering its own range of UK holidays.
The cruise line has announced plans to resume sailing from May with the new domestic routes.
The England’s Scenic Shores sailings will span eight days.
Cruises are currently scheduled to depart from May 22, May 29 and June 5.
Further details on the holidays are anticipated to follow in the coming weeks and months.
Viking Cruises’ Chairman, Torstein Hagen, said: “We welcome the UK Government’s support for the return of safe domestic cruises as an important component in the travel industry’s recovery.
“In recognition of this support, and to celebrate the fact we have a British godmother—the esteemed broadcaster and journalist Anne Diamond—we have chosen to name our new ship, Viking Venus, in the UK on 17 May.
“We are in a position to restart operations quickly and to start sailing again in May because we have kept our ships crewed during warm lay-up throughout the past 12 months.
“We have been implementing our additional protocols, including daily quick and easy non-invasive saliva PCR tests for our crew, for almost six months now.
“With our new protocol enhancements in place, we believe there will be no safer way to travel the world than on a Viking voyage and we look forward to welcoming UK guests back on board very soon.”
Source: Read Full Article