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International cruise holidays are finally coming back – here's how they will work

Cruise line off the Amalfi coast - Getty
Cruise line off the Amalfi coast - Getty

The news that cruise customers and lines have been eagerly awaiting was finally delivered by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps on Twitter last week, swiftly followed by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office replacing its year-long advice against sailing overseas with a long list of guidance which also covers fly cruises.

It’s clear that travel abroad won’t return to pre-pandemic normal overnight, and cruising will still face many challenges over the coming months. But here are answers to questions uppermost in the minds of holidaymakers keen to sail in international waters again.

When and where can I sail?

Domestic cruises from English ports have been operating since the maiden voyage of MSC Virtuosa on May 20 – though Scotland banned ship calls until this month.

P&O Cruises is currently carrying passengers on Britannia and waved off new ship Iona on her maiden voyage from Southampton on August 7. International cruises are due to start from September 25 with Britannia sailing to the Med and Iona to Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands.

Sister company Princess Cruises is planning to resume overseas cruises on Regal and Sky Princess from the end of September, with eight voyages sailing round-trip from Southampton. Their itineraries include an 11-night spin around the Canary Islands, a Belgium and Netherlands “sampler” of five nights and a “Mediterranean Adventure” that visits Spain, France, Italy and Gibraltar over two weeks.

Will only British travellers be allowed on board?

Along with his statement on cruising, Grant Shapps also announced that people arriving in the UK who have been fully vaccinated in the US and the EU will not have to quarantine. Industry body Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) understands that anyone who abides by the entry requirements to come to England will also be able to join a cruise from these shores.

Regal Princess - Princess Cruises
Regal Princess - Princess Cruises

What about visiting countries on the amber list?

Fully vaccinated Britons and children under 18 no longer have to quarantine on return from an amber-list country. Adults who haven’t had both jabs have to self-isolate for 10 days and take Covid tests. Itineraries may have to change at short notice due to changes in UK or other countries’ rules.

CLIA has said: “Cruise will be subject to international travel regulations such as the traffic light system, and these will evolve and change as international cruise restarts over the coming weeks and months.”

How have popular cruise destinations been affected?

At this time, popular destinations such as Spain (including the Canary and Balearic Islands), Italy and Greece are on the amber list – with France joining them from 4am on Sunday, losing its 'amber plus' listing. Concerns over fast-spreading variants in certain countries could lead to extra restrictions being hastily imposed, creating a nightmare for cruise line planners.

It’s also important to remember that some countries have their own restrictions on arrivals. For example, until August 30 Italy requires all arrivals from the UK to self-isolate in Italy for five days before taking a test – meaning shore excursions could be a problem.

What will the Covid rules be on the ships?

Cruise lines departing from the UK are being cautious about relaxing Covid restrictions too quickly once overseas sailings start.

With fly cruises, regulations rely very much on the laws of the country the ships are visiting. For example, Norwegian Cruise Line says on its website that because it requires all guests to be fully vaccinated, this means no masks, no social distancing and no restrictions on shore excursions. However, Britons joining Norwegian Jade in Greece found they did have to wear face coverings and some seats on board remained out of bounds to keep a space between different groups - though in ports guests were free to explore as they pleased.

Celebrity Apex, also sailing from Athens, has similar rules. But varying coronavirus rates between the Greek islands have shown how quickly conditions – and therefore restrictions – can change. Only official shore excursions were allowed in Mykonos, for example.

Couple jogging on deck of cruise ship - Getty
Couple jogging on deck of cruise ship - Getty

P&O Cruises is relaxing some rules after September 25 - customers will once again be allowed to book back-to-back cruises instead of having to leave at least a seven-day gap between sailings. Also from that date, unvaccinated children under 18 will again be welcomed if they can supply a negative PCR test taken within the 72 hours before boarding. Adults aged 18 and above will still need to be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before sailing.

Marella says guests must wear masks on board and only go ashore on official excursions during international cruises, but this may change.

CLIA guidance is that passengers should remain in a secure ‘bubble’ when leaving the ship on port visits. A spokesperson said: “While the policy will continue to be evaluated as circumstances evolve, it is a critical element of our risk mitigation during this transitional period, as all people onboard will have been tested and should stay in a controlled environment.”

What is the new Foreign Office advice?

The blanket guidance against cruise that has been in place for over a year has been replaced with a series of warnings and advice. The Foreign Office advises holidaymakers to ensure they are fully covered on their travel insurance, to research the medical facilities on the ship they are booking, and to comply both with cruise line regulations and those of the countries they are visiting.

Will it be easier to get travel insurance for my cruise?

In the last year, anyone going on an overseas cruise has had to take out extra cover for travelling against Foreign Office advice. A spokesperson for the Association of British Insurers said: “When the government relaxes its travel advice, your travel policy will operate in the normal way.”

However, it is important to ensure your policy covers medical costs that could arise from Covid and that it meets the specific requirements of the cruise line you are using – otherwise you could be refused boarding or be landed with a very expensive bill for treatment.

What’s been the experience so far?

According to Andy Harmer, the UK and Ireland director of CLIA, about 800,000 people have cruised around the world since last July with remarkably few Covid cases – and they were largely before vaccines were introduced.

Domestic cruises by 12 major lines in England have so far operated without major incident. Since ships started leaving US ports again this year, there have been isolated cases of passengers testing positive while aboard but most of the voyages have continued as scheduled. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which monitors the industry, maintains a colour-coded list of ships that have reported cases. Globally, some cruises have been cancelled or curtailed following positive tests on board.

What should I consider when booking an international cruise?

Aside from the Foreign Office advice, passengers should be prepared to be flexible. Port stops, rules and regulations may change, even during the voyage. A case, or cases, on board could delay disembarkation at the final port or otherwise affect the cruise. Mask wearing, social distancing and restrictions on shore excursions may vary from country to country, line to line and ship to ship. Overall, the advice is to get vaccinated, get insured and be prepared. Then you can enjoy the world’s seas again.

Are you planning your next cruise? Let us know in the comments section below.