5million Britons have already taken advantage of cheaper prices and booked to travel abroad to amber list destinations, with the majority planning to head to Spain, France and Greece.
The largest cruise ship built for the UK market arrives in Southampton on Sunday ahead of its 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, which the operator described as “one of the cleanest fuels in the world”.
Iona was built in Germany (P&O/PA)
Ships of her size are normally powered by diesel engines which emit nitrogen oxides, affecting air quality.
She will sail on her maiden cruise to the Scottish island she was named after on August 7. Sunday night’s naming ceremony will feature a performance by Take That star Gary Barlow, who is music director of an onboard entertainment venue. The coronavirus pandemic means the event will be closed to the public but broadcast online. Dame Irene Hays, owner of travel agent Hays Travel, will be the ship’s godmother and will conduct proceedings. P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said: “Since the inception of Hays Travel there is no-one who has been more supportive of cruising or been more of an ambassador for the travel industry than Dame Irene Hays.
New buoy in town: P&O s Iona - the largest cruise ship built for the UK market - arrives in Southampton ahead of its naming ceremony boasting capacity for 5,200 passengers
P&O Cruises s Iona has 17 passenger decks and has capacity for 5,200 holidaymakers before social distancing
The ship, which is 1,132-feet long, 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, which operator described as a clean fuel
Domestic cruises can take place from Monday with 1,000 passengers or at 50% capacity (whichever is lower)