17-deck cruise ship makes a splash in port
THE largest cruise ship built for the UK market is greeted by a water salute as she sails into Southampton ahead of her naming ceremony.
P&O Cruises’ Iona has 17 passenger decks, creating capacity for 5,200 holidaymakers before social distancing is taken into account. She will be used by the operator for its summer season of domestic sailings.
The vessel is the first British liner fuelled by liquefied natural gas, rather than being powered by diesel engines which emit nitrogen oxides, affecting air quality.
Iona – 1,132ft long and weighing 185,000 tons – will sail on her maiden cruise to the Scottish island she was named after on August 7.
Last night’s naming ceremony featured a performance by Take That star Gary Barlow, who is music director of an onboard entertainment venue.
The first major sailing following today’s lifting of the ban on cruises in England will be operated by MSC Cruises.
Its ship Virtuosa will set off from Southampton for a four-night trip beginning on Thursday.
Cruises operating in England will only be allowed to carry up to 1,000 passengers – or 50 per cent of their capacity if that is lower – until all limits on social contact are removed on June 21.
Meanwhile, staff at Portsmouth International Port are making final preparations to welcome back passengers heading for staycation cruises as lockdown rules are eased.
The Hampshire port has completed its cruise berth extension ahead of the reopening, leading to bookings from several major liners set for a summer schedule of UK sailings.
Viking Venus, the latest addition to the Viking Cruises luxury fleet, will set sail from Portsmouth today for its maiden voyage and naming ceremony, hosting journalist and broadcaster Anne Diamond as the ship’s ceremonial godmother.
The first passenger sailings will commence on Saturday as Portsmouth becomes the homeport for Viking Venus’ initial five voyages to England’s “scenic shores”.
flight could still bag a seat from just £164.
In Faro, tourism chiefs are preparing a “carnival atmosphere” to welcome holidaymakers this morning.
Joao Fernandes, head of the Algarve Tourism Association, said 7,500 visitors from across Europe are due to arrive.
Travellers will be given a welcome kit containing Covid masks and a promotional brochure of the region.
Mr Fernandes said it will include tips and suggestions “so they can make the most of their stay safely”.
Visitors have been warned they could be slapped with €100 (£86) fines if they fail to stick to Covid-19 guidelines in the country.
The rules include wearing masks when walking onto Algarve beaches and when inside restaurants, bars and toilets.Tourists will also be fined for using overcrowded beaches or failing to socially distance by 1.5 metres on the sand.
Bigger penalties of €1,000 (£860) will be dished out to hotels or beach operators who fail to sanitise sunbeds and other equipment.
Britons are predicted to spend £2billion on their holidays to Portugal this summer after months under lockdown.
More than 2.8 million of us are expected to spend their holiday in the country this summer and each will spend around £700.
The Algarve is currently rated as one of the cheapest destinations in Europe for the British to visit.
Everyday items including beer, wine, coffee and water cost less than other popular countries. Portugal’s
Covid vaccination plan is accelerating, with a new daily record of 125,000 jabs administered countrywide on Saturday.
Some 17,000 people have died from coronavirus in the country.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said people should not travel to countries that are not on the green list “unless it’s absolutely necessary, and certainly not for holiday purposes”.
He told Times Radio: “The red and amber list countries are places that you shouldn’t go to unless you have an absolutely compelling reason.”
The Government has pledged to update its lists on June 7, and will review its overall policy in relation to arriving travellers on June 28.
Scotland will permit foreign holidays from May 24.