Brits start cruising & Portland welcome

Last Thursday MSC Virtuosa, set sail from Southampton, the first UK cruise departure for 14 months.

This was followed on Saturday by Viking Venus from the rival Solent port of Portsmouth.  Both are brand new ships making their maiden voyages. The 181,541 gross tons, 1,085ft-long Virtuosa capacity is Covid-19 limited to 1,000 passengers although she has 1,600 lower beds.  For Venus, at 47,000 gross tons, the legal limit is 50% of its normal 950-passenger compliment.

Saturday also saw Portland joining the party, welcoming the brand new MSC flagship.  

Gianni Onorato, CEO, MSC Cruises, said: “Dedicating our brand-new ship MSC Virtuosa for UK cruises this summer bears testament to our absolute commitment to the local market and truly shines a light on its ever-growing importance to us.”

Gianni Onorato, CEO, MSC Cruises, said: “Dedicating our brand-new ship MSC Virtuosa for UK cruises this summer bears testament to our absolute commitment to the local market and truly shines a light on its ever-growing importance to us.”

Both vaccinated and non-vaccinated guests are welcome on board, as all guests are tested at embarkation, just one part of the company’s industry-leading and proven health and safety protocol developed by a Blue Ribbon Panel of experts. This protocol was first deployed on MSC Grandiosa in August 2020 and has since helped protect thousands of guests sailing on the ship in the Mediterranean.  MSC Virtuosa has live music performances, a choice of four full-scale theatre shows, 21 bars and restaurants.

The majority of cruise lines are now holding back until the Government publishes details of the current rules regarding ship capacity and mixing once on board.  BTN will publish when they are known, initially via Twitter.

www.msccruises.co.uk/cruises/ships/msc-virtuosa

www.vikingcruises.co.uk/oceans/ships/viking-venus.html

www.cruisebritain.org

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Jacob Smitt, Kilburn - London

We waited to book for Spain, and then decided that Amber for now was not on. Do we wait to book for a cruise until 21 June becomes firm?