THURROCK-based international cruise ship operator Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) has spoken with optimism about the future of the industry – despite expressing its disappointment at the lack of perceived support in the short term from the government.

Last week the cruise industry responded with criticism of the government after an updated briefing from the Foreign Office on travel.

While the government relaxed rules on quarantine for people returning from holiday to the UK and opened the door to air travellers by announcing a list of countries which it deemed safe to travel to, the government specifically came out and said cruise ships were still considered to be dangerous.

It advised all British people to avoid travelling on them. Minister for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Caroline Dinenage indicated this would stay in place "probably until October.

That prompted a backlash from the cruise industry which remains paralysed by the clampdown.

CMV was particularly disappointed, saying it has a good track record for safety and stressed that the health, safety and wellbeing of passengers and crew remains their top and overriding priority. The company has called for a review of the decision and says it awaits 'urgent clarity' on when the advisory notice will be reviewed and lifted.

A statement said: "Cruise & Maritime Voyages is the operator of six smaller to medium sized cruise ships (500-1400 passengers) operating ex-UK no fly cruises and experienced no reported Covid-19 cases onboard any of their vessels during the onset of Covid-19 and prior to cruise operations being suspended on 13th March 2020 and including the curtailed cruise repatriation voyages.

"CMV consider the updated advisory to be inconsistent with other sectors of the travel and leisure industry and the ongoing relaxation of travel restrictions and does not reflect the EU Healthy Gateway Covid-19 Interim Guidance for cruise travel issued on 30th June 2020.

"CMV already operate enhanced health guidelines and policies across their fleet and is developing extensive heightened protocols and introducing new measures to further protect passengers and their crew.

"CMV is working with internal and external health advisors, as well as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) who are developing enhanced protocols with leading medical and hygiene experts for the preparedness and resumption in cruising. More detailed information about CMV's new measures will be provided in due course."

Group Commercial Director Chris Coates, added: "While CMV is disappointed by the FCO's decision to apply a blanket advisory which does not take into account cruise ship size, confidence in ex-UK cruising holidays especially among our seasoned cruisers within our more mature demographic remains strong.

"The previous FCO advisory for Cruise Travel issued in March 2020 did not diminish this sector of the British cruise market's appetite for cruising. We continue to experience encouraging demand for 2021 with almost 50% of the program already sold. We very much look forward to welcoming our passengers back just as soon as we are allowed to do so."

And CMV is reporting that cruises are selling well for 2021, particularly those sailing scenic destinations from the London Cruise Terminal.