FCO cruise advice change: 'Horse has already bolted'

That was the damning verdict of agency boss Miles Morgan during a TTG Agent Matters panel assessing the fallout from yesterday’s FCO announcement, which came as a shock for the trade and another unwelcome blow for the embattled cruise sector.

Citing medical advice from Public Health England, the announcement on Thursday (10 July) advised “against cruise ship travel at this time”.

Morgan said the move was “reminiscent” of June’s derided quarantine announcement. “We all said that was closing the stable door after the horse had bolted – and this is exactly the same thing again.

“Why now? And what’s the point when most cruise lines aren’t even operating? To come out with something as mad as this with no sense to it whatsoever – I think it’s crazy.”

Mundy Cruising managing director Edwina Lonsdale said the timing was “puzzling”.

“It’s not as if cruise lines are clamouring to get back out there,” she said. “We have a really responsible industry, collaborating and addressing the issues in a way we haven’t seen any other sector do – or indeed the government.”

Cruise1st managing director Dale Sourbutts said the lack of clarity in the FCO’s update had prompted calls from concerned customers due to sail in November and December.

“Clarity is absolutely key to this,” he said. “If we in the industry don’t know the ins and outs, how are consumers supposed to [know]?”

Morgan said how the FCO would lift the advice was his “biggest concern”.