Cruises: Expert hopeful for 'July' return of holidays
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Due to the pandemic's ongoing restrictions, Saga has extended its temporary suspension of cruise holidays. The travel company will also delay the first voyage of its new cruise ship, Spirit of Adventure.
The cruise firm for over-50s holidaymakers was set to resume voyages in May.
However, it has now pushed this back to June 27.
Saga also planned to make the inaugural journey for its new cruise ship, Spirit of Adventure, soon.
But its first voyage will be delayed until July 26.
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© SagaSaga
The cruise company said that it was contacting affected passengers with a number of options such as rebooking or a refund.
Saga also offers holidays to its customers, helping them with hotel and tour bookings.
However, the company is extending the suspension of its holiday until May 17.
This is in line with when foreign travel is supposed to resume as part of England's roadmap out of lockdown.
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A spokesperson for Saga said: "The health and safety of our guests and crew has been our number one priority and throughout the pandemic we have made all decisions with their wellbeing in mind.
"Following the release of the Government's roadmap out of lockdown, we have taken the decision to delay the resumption of our Holiday and Cruise operations until the 17th May and 27th June, respectively," they added.
"As part of this decision, the inaugural cruise of Spirit of Adventure has been moved to 26th July. We have contacted all our guests who have been impacted by these changes and are discussing their options with them."
When Saga's holidays and cruises resume, tourists will still have to make sure that they have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.
© GETTYTravel
Saga customers have already been "very supportive" of this vaccination policy, according to the company's Holidays CEO.
The cruise firm offers both ocean and river cruisers.
It has two ocean cruise ships, Spirit of Discovery, which was launched in 2019, and Spirit of Adventure, which will sail for the first time this year.
On its website, Saga says that the Spirit of Adventure offers "world-class speciality restaurants, stunning contemporary design, and outstanding service".
© EXPRESSCruise
Foreign travel is currently banned for Britons under the national lockdown's restrictions.
However, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that the Government hopes British tourists will be able to go on holiday in May, provided they carry a vaccine passport to prove that they have received the jab.
But nothing is certain, and travel will only resume when it is safe for it to do so.
There will be a review in April to inform the British population of the Government's next steps in the roadmap out of lockdown.