P&O Cruises UK’s Britannia set sail on Sunday from Southampton, carrying her first guests in 15 months, set to enjoy a four-night summer cruise, sailing around the UK coast.
Britannia’s sister ships, Ventura, Arcadia, and Aurora, and Cunard’s, Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Victoria, celebrated the occasion with a resounding whistle-sounding departure salute as Britannia left the Port of Southampton at 6.00 p.m. local time.
Britannia is sailing a series of three, four, and seven-night UK coastal cruises until September 25, 2021, when Western Mediterranean itineraries will start prior to her winter Caribbean season, with P&O UK’s newest ship Iona undertaking her maiden voyage on August 7, sailing a series of weekly seven-night scenic coastal cruises, before beginning Atlantic coast holidays.
P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said, “We’ve been on the countdown to this moment and are elated to be welcoming guests back on board”, adding, “A huge thank you to our guests for their patience as we fully recognize that it’s been a period filled with anticipation and thwarted plans”, and “We’ve spent this time working hard refining and enhancing our holidays so time onboard can be enjoyed to its very fullest”.
He added, “Our restart is a celebration for the crew, guests, our staff, Southampton and also the industry as we return to playing our key role supporting the array of local growers, suppliers, hotels, B&Bs, restaurants and taxis drivers for whom the cruise industry is so vital.”
Over in London’s Tilbury Docks also on Sunday evening, Saga Cruises’ Spirit of Discovery also set sail on her first round Britain tour since March 2020, calling at Portsmouth on June 28, Portland on June 29, the Isles of Scilly on June 30, and Falmouth on July 1.
Nigel Blanks, CEO of Saga Cruises, said, “Our guests are so excited to be back cruising again and our crew members are all looking forward to giving them an incredible experience on board”, adding, “We have a great itinerary, taking in some of the most stunning parts of the West Country”, and “There really is no better place to see our beautiful coastline than from the sea.”
He added, “We work to the highest standards and every detail has been thought-through to respect current social distance rules from the onboard entertainment to the dining experience, spa and fitness facilities and personalized customer service”, and “All our guests can board knowing we take their health and well-being incredibly seriously”, adding, “In addition to the observance of strict safety protocols, guests must have had both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine prior departure and all our crew on board have also been fully vaccinated.”
Saga’s Spirit of Adventure, will leave on her inaugural cruise on July 26.
In the meantime, here in Australia, any progress on cruising restarting continues to be painfully slow or at a full stop, whatever those apparently involved say, with CLIA and the major cruise operators P&O and Royal Caribbean all refusing, despite requests, to provide Global Travel Media with any updates regarding what is currently being discussed with the Federal Government and what the stumbling blocks are.
This apparent secrecy is a mystery, leaving the travel industry at large and the cruise and associated sectors continuing to wallow in the dark, at least until the next biosecurity determination cruise ban is reviewed again on or around September 17.
A report by John Alwyn-Jones, Cruise Editor.
.jpg){kind=tracking}