Carnival Corporation & plc is optimistic that it will be able to resume cruising from the UK in the near future, said Arnold Donald, President and CEO of the Anglo-American company.

Speaking at the Seatrade Cruise Virtual event, Donald said that the company has been in dialogue with authorities and other partners in the country regarding the resumption of cruising. “The present advice is that people should not cruise until some time next year, unless this changes,” he said.

On 2 October, the UK Chamber of Shipping, the trade association for the UK shipping industry, said it had worked closely with the cruise industry for over six months developing framework documents for cruise ship operators to implement new measures with enhanced public health protection, the organisation said in a statement.

Maritime Minister Robert Courts welcomed the launch of the new guidance saying: “Our cruise industry has been hit hard by COVID-19 and the government has worked alongside the sector to prepare for a safe and successful restart. This industry framework puts passengers and workers at its heart and is an important step forward to allow cruises to prepare to set sail when safe to do so.”