Major cruises will resume this week with the maiden voyage of a vessel around the coast of the UK. MSC cruise line's Virtuosa will leave Southampton on Thursday for a four-night cruise, followed by three and four-night mini-cruises. Andy Harmer, director of the Cruise Lines International Association, told the PA news agency that the cruise industry was one of the first to suspend operations because of the pandemic over a year ago. 'The industry has been working with governments and public health officials and we have created a set of UK protocols for the resumption of sailing.' Mr Harmer said the industry is worth £10 billion to the UK economy every year and supports 88,000 jobs, adding that 18 ships are due to sail in domestic waters this summer

Source: Daily Mail May 20, 2021 17:09 UTC