For cruise lovers who are miserable at being landlocked, unable to reach the shores of the Caribbean or Australia this year or, in the case of the Seychelles, until 2022 a cure may be found close to home.
In fact, theres a flutter of confidence that the hoops Britons must currently jump through to travel abroad could result in a surge of travellers looking to take to the waves around Britain.
Scotland and its islands, in particular, have been earmarked by cruise insiders as somewhere to watch, with one operator telling The Telegraph that despite such trips being domestic travel they will be very attractive for those wishing for a real escape.
Anticipation was raised further when Scotlands Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism, Fergus Ewing, set July 15 as a provisional reopening date for some businesses across the country as long as there are appropriate safety guidelines in place.
Since the industrys global voluntary pause in March, and with the larger international lines continuing in push back their restart dates, a key focus has been the exploration of home shores.
Viking Cruises stoked the embers of hope earlier this month when they announced that they were looking into the possibility of operating summer sailings around the UK. Dates and details on the itineraries have not been revealed, however, with the focus right now on feasibility and asking UK guests to register their interest.
The managing director of Saga Cruises, Nigel Blanks, said he expects a spike in interest for round-Britain cruises and that once they have the go-ahead from authorities they would be able to resume within three to four weeks.
There is still an appetite for cruise, said Peter Deer, the managing director of Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, adding: Some people will look to take their next holiday closer to home, and we can see that in our own numbers where UK cruises are some of the most searched for on our website. Cruise and Maritime Voyages, which last week moved their optimistic July 1 restart date back to August 25, reported an increase demand for 2021 British Isles cruises.
Domestic voyages appear to be the method in which operators are easing into post-pandemic sailing. Nicko Travel began Europes first river cruise since March when NickoVision set sail from Passau, Germany, on June 1. Hurtigruten begins a coastal service between Bergen and Kirkenes today, while A-Rosa and American Cruise Lines aiming to resume this week.
So will we see British holidaymakers following the same path? One of Telegraph Travels cruise writers thinks they should.
This could be an ideal time to explore Britains shores as our own country is a hidden gem when it comes to cruising, said Sara Macefield.
While many mainstream lines will not be operating this summer, theres a plethora of smaller specialist companies offering wonderful itineraries that explore Scotlands Western Isles, which are rich in marine life and different bird species, and cruises along the West Country coast or out to the Scilly Isles.
North of the border is where the loudest optimism is coming from. Various lines who operate small ships expressed confidence that they can provide safe, Covid-secure cruises that tick the box for those in need for time on the water while swerving strict quarantine rules.
And it would be a much needed boost to an industry that could lose millions in revenue due to coronavirus travel restrictions. More than 900,000 passengers had been expected to visit on ships this year, a 15 per cent rise on 2019.
One in 10 cruises begin in the Islands and the Highlands, according to industry body Martime UK, with those areas potentially losing more than 28 million.
Mary Waller and Scott Atkinson are the owners and crew of Red Moon Cruises. Theyve spent their lockdown aboard Red Moon, which usually offers cruises for up to four passengers but is often chartered as a private love boat by couples, and believe the west coast of Scotland is one of the most stunning sailing areas in the world.
We think that its highly likely that staycations in the U.K. will become more popular for the next few years and we hope of course that that will include cruises. We hope that British people will look harder at whats on offer here and investigate more unusual and alternative vacations.
They added: We are confident the appeal of the remote Scottish beaches and hidden anchorages we habitually visit will be very attractive for those wishing for a real escape.
St Hilda Sea Adventure said they definitely think that Scottish small ship cruising will become more popular and that they are receiving enquiries for 2020, while The Majestic Lines Fiona Forsyth told Telegraph Travel that its the small vessels that people are interested in.
I think people will be looking for the perfect, remote getaway and the west coast of Scotland would be appealing. As our ships only accommodate 11 to 12 guests we are a great alternative to the larger cruise ships, you are not mixing with a huge number of people and we can get into remote anchorages, and hopefully they will see more wildlife than they will people.
It would be a lot more viable to run the cruises if social distancing was reduced to one metre, she added.
Read more here:
Are cruises around Britain the answer for UK travellers in need of an escape? - Telegraph.co.uk
- Farallon Islands - Wikipedia - December 8th, 2016 [December 8th, 2016]
- Private Islands - AWE - awetv.com - December 18th, 2016 [December 18th, 2016]
- Petra Island - New York, United States - Private Islands ... - December 25th, 2016 [December 25th, 2016]
- Grasshopper Island - Ontario, Canada - Private Islands for ... - January 5th, 2017 [January 5th, 2017]
- Buck Island - BVI, Caribbean - Private Islands for Sale - January 5th, 2017 [January 5th, 2017]
- ORRO Private Collection The Name That Changed Diamond ... - January 20th, 2017 [January 20th, 2017]
- Best Private Islands: Belize's Cayo Espanto - February 2nd, 2017 [February 2nd, 2017]
- President Obama Is Posted Up with His Hat Backwards on Richard Branson's Private Island - Esquire.com - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Obama now holidaying on Richard Branson's private island - SBS - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Photos: Obama at Richard Branson's private island - The Mercury News - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Obama spotted on holiday in Richard Branson's exclusive private island - International Business Times UK - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Frommer: Dumbing down the cruise experience - News Chief - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Vomo Island Fiji Luxury beach resort and spa - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- How 30000 pieces of bamboo came together to create the private island of Cempedak - Web In Travel - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Tavanipupu Private Island Resort, Solomon Islands: The South Pacific's best kept secret - Blue Mountains Gazette - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- 5 Reasons the Cruise Lines' Private Islands Are Travelers' Favorite Ports - Travel Agent - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- Islands for Sale in United States - Private Islands Online - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- A Private Island in the Bahamas for $8.9 Million - Caribbean Journal - Caribbean Journal - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- 8 Best Caribbean Cruise Line Private Destinations - Cruise Fever - February 23rd, 2017 [February 23rd, 2017]
- Song Saa, Cambodia: Private island comfort at a new level - Ballarat Courier - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Seven island houses where you can shut out the world - AOL Money UK - February 25th, 2017 [February 25th, 2017]
- Your own private island for 7000: Seven of the most luxurious new ... - The Independent - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- Nobody at the NFL Combine is winning the island for their 40 time, sorry - SB Nation - March 6th, 2017 [March 6th, 2017]
- Royal Caribbean Signs Investment Agreement With Bahamas, Plans to Enhance Private Island CocoCay - Cruise Critic - March 9th, 2017 [March 9th, 2017]
- A Cruise Line Commits To Developing Private Island in The Bahamas - Caribbean360.com (subscription) - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- Private Islands - Cruise Critic Message Board Forums - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- Miranda Kerr and Evan Spiegel's Laucala Island honeymoon - Daily Times - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Fiji's astounding revival after Cyclone Winston - Gourmet Traveller Magazine Australia - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Dubai to Build $1.7B Man-Made Islands - Hospitality Net - Hospitality Net - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- This Destination Wedding Venue on a Private Island Is Actually AffordablePromise! - Brides.com - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Casual! Kim Kardashian Rented An Entire Island For Kanye West's 40th Birthday - ELLE - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Inside Faith Hill and Tim McGraw's $145 Million Empire: Private Islands, Record-Breaking Tours and More - E! Online - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Books to read on escape, or help you escape - San Francisco Chronicle - June 8th, 2017 [June 8th, 2017]
- Private islands of the rich and famous - AOL UK - June 8th, 2017 [June 8th, 2017]
- The Great Caribbean Private Destination Race - TravelPulse - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- London family who built a Greek island getaway: unspoilt Meganissi ... - Homes and Property - June 10th, 2017 [June 10th, 2017]
- Blackfire RED Aims to Save Consumers From 'Entertainment Islands' - StreamingMedia.com - June 12th, 2017 [June 12th, 2017]
- Miranda Kerr and Evan Spiegel's Honeymoon Needed No Filter - Observer - June 12th, 2017 [June 12th, 2017]
- 5 idyllic private island retreats - CNN International - June 13th, 2017 [June 13th, 2017]
- Luxury travel: The most remote resorts in the Philippines - CNN - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- World's Most Private Island Resort Opening September 1, 2017 ... - Benzinga - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- 5 Hotels With Private Islands - Successful Meetings - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- Development Beyond Learning: Breaking Rules and Igniting Leadership at Light-Speed on Sir Richard Branson's ... - Business Wire (press release) - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Peek at the private island for cruisers that just got a major makeover - USA TODAY - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Turneffe Island Resort Private Diving & Fishing Resort ... - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- National Harbor Is a Private Urban Island Designed for FunIf You Can Get There - Washington City Paper - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Four Caribbean Properties Named Among Five Idyllic Private Island Retreats - Caribbean360.com (subscription) - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Think a private island is just for Bond villains and billionaires? This Gwynedd estate is up for rent and you won't ... - Daily Post North Wales - June 22nd, 2017 [June 22nd, 2017]
- Four Resorts for a Private Island Vacation - New York Times - June 22nd, 2017 [June 22nd, 2017]
- Private Ocean Islands - June 22nd, 2017 [June 22nd, 2017]
- Are Private Island Cabanas Worth It? - TravelPulse - June 27th, 2017 [June 27th, 2017]
- The surprising places where tourism is growing fastest - Telegraph.co.uk - June 27th, 2017 [June 27th, 2017]
- Four resorts for a private island vacation - MyAJC.com - MyAJC - June 27th, 2017 [June 27th, 2017]
- 10 private islands you can rent from $400 a night - 9Honey - July 3rd, 2017 [July 3rd, 2017]
- Four resorts for a private island vacation - The Seattle Times - July 14th, 2017 [July 14th, 2017]
- Now you can buy your very own private ISLAND in the middle of the Pacific but it'll set you back a cool 5000000 - The Sun - July 14th, 2017 [July 14th, 2017]
- 10 Private Islands Starting at $5 Million You Could Call Home Today - TheStreet.com - July 14th, 2017 [July 14th, 2017]
- Bamboo Private Islands - July 14th, 2017 [July 14th, 2017]
- From elite retreat to public treasure, Jekyll remains the same - The Brunswick News (subscription) - July 15th, 2017 [July 15th, 2017]
- Historic Scottish castle with two private islands yours for 3.75m - Deadline News - July 15th, 2017 [July 15th, 2017]
- This Private Island Off the Coast of Maine Could Be Yours for $8 Million - TownandCountrymag.com (blog) - July 15th, 2017 [July 15th, 2017]
- $1.9M Private Lake Tapps Island Up For Sale: Wow! House - Patch.com - July 22nd, 2017 [July 22nd, 2017]
- Avoid the food, and other jet-set tips - Independent Online - August 4th, 2017 [August 4th, 2017]
- Dream Cabins: Four-level log home on private island listed for $1.99 million (slideshow) - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal - August 4th, 2017 [August 4th, 2017]
- Celebrate Eid at Niyama Private Islands - Trade Arabia - August 6th, 2017 [August 6th, 2017]
- Forget a Hotel RoomYou Can Rent These Private Islands for Just $300 a Night - Reader's Digest - August 6th, 2017 [August 6th, 2017]
- You can now rent an entire Caribbean private island on Airbnb - Metro - August 12th, 2017 [August 12th, 2017]
- Recruiting clients for an advisory board - Travel Weekly - August 24th, 2017 [August 24th, 2017]
- Locals try to win second largest Powerball jackpot of $700M - KXII-TV - August 24th, 2017 [August 24th, 2017]
- Australian Islands | Private Islands Online Australia - May 12th, 2018 [May 12th, 2018]
- Private Island Holidays & Resorts | Oxford Private Travel - June 18th, 2018 [June 18th, 2018]
- UPDATED: 12 private islands for sale in Florida - June 18th, 2018 [June 18th, 2018]
- Private Islands - AWE - July 28th, 2018 [July 28th, 2018]
- The Legal 500 Caribbean 2019 > British Virgin Islands ... - January 27th, 2019 [January 27th, 2019]
- Pumpkin Key - Florida, United States - Private Islands for ... - January 27th, 2019 [January 27th, 2019]
- Eagle Lodge Private Islands of Georgia Private Island ... - January 28th, 2019 [January 28th, 2019]
- Private Islands - Official Site - March 2nd, 2019 [March 2nd, 2019]
- Islands for sale - Private island homes - Bankrate.com - March 24th, 2019 [March 24th, 2019]
- Eight Private Islands for Sale Perfect for Long-Term Getaways - May 14th, 2019 [May 14th, 2019]
- Private Islands AWE - awetv.com - May 14th, 2019 [May 14th, 2019]