Domestic cruises departing this summer are proving popular among guests, according to the boss of a luxury cruise specialist travel agency.

A number of cruise lines, including P&O Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Saga, Tradewind Voyages, and Cunard, are offering ex-UK departures this year.

Panache Cruises MD and founder James Cole said these itineraries are generating plenty of interest, as there is an “immense appetite to get away this summer”.

“Our customers are telling us that they can’t wait to get back on board a cruise ship, and if that’s just to circumnavigate the UK at the moment, then they are happy to take that,” he added.

“These domestic cruises are a great way of being assured of a summer holiday this year and an opportunity to take some well-deserved time away from home.

“The combination of fine dining, high quality accommodation, great service and fun entertainment is what we are all longing for after the year we have just had, and I believe they will sell out very quickly. They also represent a great opportunity for first-time cruisers to experience a cruise.”

Cole said that the “pent-up demand” for cruise, coupled with “the availability of some amazing deals”, would result in a “boom in cruise when the government gives the green light”.

He added: “Regular cruisers missed out on their cruising holidays in 2020, and now for most of 2021. For their next cruising adventure, they are telling us they want to spend more and travel further with many asking for what they call a bucket-list itinerary.”

Writing for Cruise Trade News in March, Cole explained: “We know that the market is on the very cusp of returning and we are hugely positive about the future of cruising, which is evidenced by world cruises selling out in record time, Azamara being sold to new owners who have already added a fourth ship, and other lines launching new ships.

“We also know that the pent-up demand is definitely there – we are poised and ready to get our customers sailing again.”