Today (20 April) marks the one-month countdown to the start of a summer of UK cruises, as MSC Cruises prepares to welcome guests on board when MSC Virtuosa sets sail from Southampton on 20 May.

MSC Virtuosa will initially offer three and four-night mini cruises from Southampton to Portland, Dorset, as well as seven-night cruises from 12 June with embarkation points in Southampton, Liverpool and Greenock, and calls at Portland and Belfast.

MSC is one of many lines running UK cruises this summer.

UK & Ireland MD Antonio Paradiso: “It’s finally time for travellers across the UK to start discovering again and we are proud and privileged to take them on this journey.

“With MSC Virtuosa, our newest ship, and with a whole host of new activities and experiences, we know our guests are going to create lifelong memories on board this summer.

“This landmark moment of restarting cruising from the UK has been long awaited and we are delighted to be counting down to when we can set sail again, just one month from now.”

The line has confirmed that vaccinated and non-vaccinated guests will be welcome on board, “under the protection of MSC Cruises’ tried and tested health and safety protocols”.