International cruises will be allowed to resume from August 2nd, following restrictions in place since July 2020. A statement from the Department for Transport said: “Following close monitoring since the restart of the domestic cruise industry earlier this year, the UK government has given the green light to international cruises departing from England.”.
An ABTA spokesperson said: “ABTA welcomes today’s announcement that international cruising can resume from England, following the successful operation of several domestic UK cruises over the past few weeks, and we are pleased that the government has produced updated guidance to help passengers and the industry.
Nick Stace, CEO of Saga Travel, said: “We are delighted that the Government has confirmed the lifting of restrictions on international cruises. The entire cruise industry has worked closely with the Government to reach this point. Ensuring the safety of our guests and crew is our number one priority, and we have worked tirelessly to create the safest possible environment on board our ships.”.
Andy Harmer, CLIA's Managing Director for the UK and Ireland, said: “The decision to allow the resumption of international cruises is very good news for the industry. The success of cruises around Great Britain this summer has paved the way. The cruise industry has worked intensively over the past 18 months in collaboration with the Government, health authorities, ports, and other industry bodies to develop enhanced protocols that protect guests, crew, and the destinations we visit.”
