Saga is understood to have been in talks with the Government and to have offered two of its cruise ships to be used as floating hospitals for coronavirus-infected patients.

The offer was made in order to help expand the capabilities of the NHS, which is currently under significant strain due to the mounting number of cases of coronavirus in the UK.

Two of Saga’s ships – Spirit of Discovery and Saga Sapphire – are currently docked in Tilbury, after the cruise line made the decision to suspend sailings following the government’s advice not to allow anyone over 70 to cruise, announced last week.

Saga announced last week that it would temporarily suspend its cruises for six weeks until 1 May 2020. It will be offering customers a full refund or credit for future sailings.

In a statement this morning, the cruise line explained: “The health and safety of customers and colleagues is our number one priority.”

Meanwhile, Carnival Corporation, which owns many cruise lines including Princess Cruises, Cunard and Carnival Cruise line, made a similar offer to the US government.

In his press conference yesterday (19 March), president Trump announced he had been in talks with the chairman of the corporation, Micky Arison, who has agreed to make the company’s ships available for coronavirus relief if necessary.

Visit gov.uk for the latest coronavirus travel updates.