FRANK GONZALEZ A few days ago, Robert Courts, announced that national cruises will resume on May 17 in England .
The announcement was made through a tweet on the 8th , after a virtual meeting of all the parliament parties in the maritime commission.
Although a detailed plan for the restart has not been made public, at this stage we would only be talking about cruise ships leaving or arriving in English ports .
The parliamentary committee (APPMPG), of which Courts is a member, confirmed to British media that it was in talks with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for an agreement on the restart of cruises in all UK ports.
According to the British newspaper “The Independent“, Courts conformed to the rest of the parliamentarians that the government is “working with home nations to launch national shipping across the UK ”.
Meanwhile, travel between English ports will likely restart on May 17 .
Reactions of the cruise companies
P&O Cruises
The announcement comes just days after both P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises canceled all international cruises from the UK announcing that they were sailing domestic itineraries throughout the summer.
P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow indicated that he is ” delighted ” with the news.
“We are delighted that the government has recognized that UK domestic cruise holidays can start from 17 May”
“While it will take a few weeks after this date for us to restart operations, we are eager to welcome guests on board this summer for our Ultimate Escape series of stays – UK Coastal Cruises.
The details of these, with the boats, the dates and the domestic itineraries will be announced at the end of this month”
Cunard Line
Today the Cunard Line shipping companyhas communicated its intention to offer domestic cruises during the summer of 2021 in the United Kingdom on board the Queen Elizabeth.
The bad news is that international cruises are canceled .
Cunard Line President Simon Palethorpe indicated
“ With the UK government confirming that domestic travel is close on the horizon, we are introducing a series of exciting shorter holidays for Brits looking for the perfect stay in the luxury of Cunard this summer.
These will be trips from Southampton, for UK residents, around the UK and will make the most of the summer sun. We will announce more details imminently “
Cunard Canceled Trips:
Queen Victoria itineraries are now canceled for departures through August 27, 2021 inclusive.
Canceled the cruise season with flights from the Mediterranean to the Queen Elizabeth and all outputs until October 11, 2021 inclusive.
The current schedule of departures of the Queen Mary 2 through November 12, 2021 inclusive is canceled.
The cruise line indicated that the new domestic routes in the United Kingdom aboard the Queen Elizabeth will go on sale at the end of March .