26 April 2021
The Department for Transport has issued strict rules on the number of guests allowed on UK domestic cruises this summer, capping the number of guests allowed onboard at 1,000 or 50% capacity, whichever is lower.
This is valid from 17 May, when cruises are permitted to begin, until 21 June.
The first ship scheduled to set sail is MSC Virtuosa, which has a capacity of almost 5,000 so will only be able to sail at about 20% capacity.
There is no government mandate that guests are vaccinated although several cruise lines have made it compulsory.
From June 21, it hopes to remove all social distancing limits on cruise ships, meaning cruises could potentially operate at full capacity.
