Foreign Office advises against all cruise ship travel

The move to upgrade its advice against cruises was announced on the FCO website on Thursday (9 July). TTG understands the advice includes all cruises and is based on Public Health England’s assessment.

“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,” said the FCO in an updated statement.

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

Previously, the FCO had advised over-70s and those with “underlying health conditions” not to take cruises in March as the Covid-19 crisis took hold around the world.

Industry association Clia said in a statement: “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.”