It has been a week since the UK Government hindered the passenger shipping industry, with the FCO (UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office) advising against cruise ship travel.
However, things are looking up, as the FCO updated that advice saying it relates only to ‘international travel’ on ‘sea-going cruise ships’. Under FCO's advice, British travellers considering ship cruising should now be able to embark on river cruises or sea cruises around the British Isles.
According to the latest advice, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office advised against cruise ship travel due to the ongoing pandemic and was based on medical advice from Public Health England.
“Cruise ship travel means staying overnight for at least 1 night on a sea-going cruise ship with people from multiple households. Our advice against cruises applies to international travel on a ship that is exclusively for pleasure or recreation, providing overnight accommodation and other leisure facilities such as entertainment venues or swimming pools. Our advice does not include ferries or privately-rented boats. The government will continue to review its cruise ship travel advice based on the latest medical advice.”
The advice against cruise ship travel came just a week after the UK government released a list of countries and territories deemed okay to travel to. When visiting one of the countries on the list Brits won't have to quarantine for 2 weeks upon arrival and return to the United Kingdom.
Countries on the list include Holland, Austria, Germany, Hungary and France, all popular countries to a river cruise in. Under the new advice, travellers appear to be able to safely book a river cruise.
The news is a welcome relief for Hurtigruten (Norway), who recently released a list of mini-break expedition cruises in the UK scheduled to set sail in September.