Tag Archives: Department for Transport

Hurtigruten still in talks with the government over UK cruises

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Sneak peek at Hurtigruten's new hybrid ships | Hurtigruten UK

Two of Hurtigruten new Hybrid ships.

Hurtigruten remains in talks with the UK government over plans to run a series of short sailings around the British Isles.

The Foreign Office has updated its advice against cruise ship travel to confirm that it only related to international travel on “sea-going” ships.

The updated advice would appear to exclude cruises in UK waters from the blanket ban, although no further clarity has been given. The FCO’s guidance says those seeking information on such cruises should contact the Department for Transport.

The DfT has yet to respond to a request for clarification from Travel Weekly.

Hurtigruten’s series of UK cruises are set to depart in September and remain on sale as the cruise line continues to liaise with relevant authorities.

Anthony Daniels, general manager for UK and EMEA, said: “We are working with the authorities; the short breaks remain on sale, with the reassurance to customers of a full refund if sailings are cancelled.”

He stressed that he was encouraged by today’s news and was hopeful of “further positive discussions with the Department for Transport.

“We are encouraged by the news coming from the UK government regarding travel advice for cruise ships. We look forward to furthering, positive discussions with Department for Transport and PHE over the safe return of expedition cruising, with a specific focus on Hurtigruten’s short breaks series in UK waters departing in September.”

The short break expedition cruises come with a flexible booking policy to ensure guests receive a full refund if sailings are cancelled. The line said it would operate at a reduced capacity of 350 guests (roughly 65%).

Daniels added: “Health and safety of guests and crew is Hurtigruten’s number one priority, and we comply with all Covid-19 regulations and policies in the waters, coasts and ports we visit.”

FCO advises against Cruise ship Travel

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The government has issued advice against cruise ship travel.

The hardened advice follows on from FCO guidance against over-70s and those with existing health conditions taking cruises, which was issued in March as the Covid-19 pandemic hit Europe.

The government updated its advice on Thursday, saying: “The Foreign & Commonwealth Office advises against cruise ship travel at this time.

“This is due to the ongoing pandemic and is based on medical advice from Public Health England.

“The government will continue to review its cruise ship travel advice based on the latest medical advice.”

The FCO added: “If you have future cruise travel plans, you should speak to your travel operator, or the travel company you booked with, for further advice.

“The Foreign & Commonwealth Office continues to support the Department for Transport’s work with industry for the resumption of international cruise travel.”

Updated advice against cruise travel follows changes to the global advisory against non-essential travel, the FCO added.

Cruises from the UK have been halted since March but Hurtiguten announced plans this week to run a series of departures from UK ports in September.

The FCO’s previous advice on March 12 said that British nationals aged 70 and over, and those with underlying health conditions such as chronic diseases and diabetes, should not to travel on cruise ships in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

A Clia UK and Ireland spokeperson said: “We have noted the advisory issued today.

“The health and safety of guests and crew is an absolute priority for our member lines.

“Since the voluntary suspension of operations, we have been working collaboratively with the government on the road map to resumption involving a ‘door to door’ strategy – from the time of booking through to the passengers’ return home – with enhanced health protocols.

“We look forward to completing this planning exercise with government and for the advice to be updated.”

Carnival UK president Simon Palethorpe said: “We acknowledge the FCO’s guidance and P&O Cruises had already extended the pause in operations for all sailings up to October 15, 2020 and Cunard had extended the pause in operations until November 2020.

“Our current focus is to work in partnership with public health agencies at the highest level as well as Department for Transport; EU Healthy Gateways and Clia, the industry governing body.

“We will follow applicable guidelines to further enhance our already stringent measures to keep our guests and crew healthy and well and we will not resume sailings on either of our brands until this framework is in place. This will include rigorous protocols pre-boarding, on ship and in the destinations we visit.

“Confidence in cruising is strong and we are seeing increasing demand from our guests, who we look forward to welcoming back on board when the time is right.”

Travel Weekly is awaiting a response from the FCO to confirm whether the advice relates to both ocean and river cruises.

Cruise restart protocols to go ‘way beyond’ other sectors

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CLIA Announces President and CEO Transition - Cruise Industry News ...

The UK cruise sector is working closely with the government, public health bodies and maritime authorities on restart protocols that will go “way beyond” other sectors, according to Clia.

Andy Harmer, director of Clia UK & Ireland, said a focus on the resumption of air travel and safety measures at airports was being mirrored by cruise lines and ports.

In a column on Travel Weekly’s website, he said: “A lot of work is going on in the background to transform the experience of taking a cruise. The industry is working in collaboration with the government on a ‘door to door’ strategy – from the time of booking through to the passengers’ return home – that will go way beyond protocols in place or proposed for any other travel sector.”

He added: “Clia has been working closely with the Department for Transport, Port Health, Public Health England and the Maritime & Coastguard Agency to develop the roadmap to resumption – what will happen from the time of booking to embarkation at the port, onboard, ports of call, disembarkation and customer follow-up.

“We are also engaged with public health professionals as we review the customer journey, from minimising the likelihood of onboard cases by a screening of each guest before departure, through comprehensive onboard management and repatriation plans should case occur on board.”

Harmer welcomed comments made recently by the prime minister that cruise was a “great British industry” which would be supported by the government “in any way that we can”.

And he said plans for a pan-European framework should pave the way for the sector’s restart, adding: “We expect interim guidance from [joint action scheme] EU Healthy Gateways to be published this week, supporting the resumption of cruise activity in a coordinated way.”