It seems the UK is ready for the return of what was once an American favorite: the short “cruise to nowhere” that takes passengers on an ocean cruise with no port calls, but all the amenities of a modern cruise ship.
A series of 3-to-7-night roundtrip cruises announced by P&O for UK residents, sailing from (and to) Southampton has been selling briskly since it was announced, and at least one other company, Viking, is planning the same trick.
The P&O sailings, which will run from June through September, are aboard two of the line’s ships, Britannia and the new Iona. The two ships will cruise the coast looking for the best weather. Two exceptions to the pattern: On her maiden cruise, Iona will sail north and anchor until sunset off the Scottish island it’s named for, and one of Britannia’s sailings will call at Liverpool.
P&O’s president told press that “We always hoped that these domestic cruises would be popular, given the uncertainty around holidays abroad, but we have never before seen such significant and immediate demand and it certainly shows the effects of lockdown and everyone’s need for a holiday.”
Perhaps, even after the pandemic ends, there will be cruises to nowhere.
UPDATE Mar 26
The popularity of the ‘staycation’ cruises is apparently drawing more companies into the market. On Friday, Disney announced that its Disney Magic will offer a series of 2- and 3-night voyages from London Tilbury, Newcastle, Liverpool and Southampton.