The Foreign Office has updated its cruise travel advice, clearing the way for Britons to embark on river cruises, and seemingly ocean cruise around the British Isles.

It’s been a week since the government issued coronavirus travel advice advising British nationals against all cruise travel, be it ocean or river, international or national.

However, things are looking up for the cruise industry, as today (16 July) the FCO has updated that advice saying it relates only to ‘international travel’ on ‘sea-going cruise ships’.

This means, under the FCO advice, Britons looking to cruise should be able to embark on a river cruise or even an ocean cruise around the British Isles.

The updated advice reads:

“The Foreign & Commonwealth Office advises against cruise ship travel at this time. This is due to the ongoing pandemic and is based on medical advice from Public Health England.

“Cruise ship travel means staying overnight for at least one night on a sea-going cruise ship with people from multiple households.

“Our advice against cruises applies to international travel on a ship that is exclusively for pleasure or recreation, providing overnight accommodation and other leisure facilities such as entertainment venues or swimming pools.

“Our advice does not include ferries or privately-rented boats.

“The government will continue to review its cruise ship travel advice based on the latest medical advice.

“If you have future cruise travel plans, contact your cruise line, travel operator, or the travel company you booked with, for further advice. For information on cruises in UK waters contact the Department for Transport: [email protected].

“The Foreign & Commonwealth Office continues to support the Department for Transport’s work with industry for the resumption of international cruise travel.”

The latest advice could be welcome news to Hurtigruten, who recently announced a list of British Isles short break mini-cruises for September.

The four sailings will depart from Portsmouth (2 September), Liverpool (7 and 17 September) and Glasgow (12 September), and visit the Scottish Highlands, Welsh and Northern Irish coastlines and the English south coast.