I have tears in my eyes," cruising enthusiast Maggie Bill said Thursday, as she boarded the MSC Virtuosa in Southampton for the first cruise sailing from a British port in over a year.
"It's about the first step, the first stage, out of an awful period of time, really starting to socialise and feel that we belong to the world," the 66-year-old told AFP.
However, there is little exotic about the four-night cruise, which is restricted to touring Britain's coastline, making a single stop at the island of Portland in south-west England.
It is the first in a series of so-called staycation sailings planned for this summer, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to keep much of the world beyond British tourists' reach.
Once aboard the Virtuosa – Europe's third largest cruise ship, at 331 meters long and 19 decks high – UK residents can still enjoy some of the typical highlights of a holiday at sea, such as pools, water slides, sports classes, sunbathing decks and bowling.
Britain, among the countries worst-hit in Europe by Covid-19, entered the latest phase in its lockdown easing this week, allowing some international travel to restart and cruises to resume within UK waters with up to 1,000 people.
Before the first passengers boarded the Virtuosa, which can hold more than 6,200 people, the crew was busy making final preparations, frantically cleaning tables and decks.
All those coming aboard undergo Covid-19 testing and are then given a bracelet that serves as a key to their room as well as a tracking system if coronavirus cases are reported on the ship.
Unlike some other operators, MSC Cruises does not require passengers to be vaccinated, but masks, social distancing and regular hand washing are mandatory.
"I wouldn't let that detract from the experience because we are happy we're here, we're celebrating and, yeah, it's great to have cruising back!" said Lindsay Garvey-Jones, celebrating her 59th birthday on Sunday.
"It's incredible to see the cruise industry returning, of course, and we want to be part of that, we want to be part of this big celebration," she added.
"Food, entertainment, celebration – [it's] just such a happy vibe and it's been such a long 14 months."
Antonio Paradiso, the company's general manager, argued the pandemic has made cruises, already considered relaxing and quiet, "even more appealing".
"For people who've been stuck at home, doing their own cooking, own dishes, this is wow," he told AFP.
"Every night you can dress up, looking smart, trying different dishes. I think they will enjoy it even more."
Britain's government currently only advises holidaying to a handful of so-called green list countries, where coronavirus is seen as adequately contained.
The list currently includes Portugal but not Britons' other European tourism favourites like Spain, France and Italy.
Paradiso believes those limits are attracting new customers to the staycation sailings.
He estimated that just over half of the passengers on the Virtuosa had never been on a cruise before.
"We call them tasters," he said, predicting many of the first-timers will become "cruise addicts".
-
Staff prepare to give the Covid vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech to patients at a vaccination centre set up inside Salisbury Cathedral, England. Getty Images -
An aerial view of the Etihad tennis centre, being used as a mass vaccination and drive-through Covid testing centre, in Manchester. Getty Images -
People queue outside a vaccination centre at the Science Museum in London. Reuters -
Prince William speaks to a member of staff during a visit to the Covid-19 vaccination centre at Westminster Abbey in London. Getty Images -
Heath workers queue for a vaccine in the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley. The museum was made famous as a set for the television show 'Peaky Blinders.' Getty Images -
A nurse draws up a dose as members of the public receive their Covid-19 vaccinations at Lichfield Cathedral, Staffordshire. Getty Images -
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson carries doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine for mobile distribution at Barnet FC's football stadium, The Hive in north London. Getty Images -
People arrive to receive the Covid vaccine made by AstraZeneca-Oxford at Battersea Arts Centre, south-west London. Getty Images -
A vaccination centre at Bristol City FC's Ashton Gate stadium. Getty Images -
Vaccinators are given a last-minute instructional talk before Northern Ireland's largest Covid-19 vaccination centre opens at the Odyssey SSE Arena in Belfast. Getty Images -
People leave a mobile vaccination centre set up on a bus in Bolton. Getty Images -
Members of the public queue to receive the AstraZeneca-Oxford Covid-19 vaccine at an NHS vaccination centre set up at Epsom racecourse. Getty Images -
The Riverside Stadium, home of Middlesbrough FC, opens as a Covid-19 vaccination centre. Getty Images -
Members of the public wait to receive a does at a temporary vaccine centre set up at City Hall in Hull. AFP
New customers could prove a lifeline to a devastated sector that employs 88,000 people in Britain alone.
The industry has generated £10 billion ($14.17bn) annually in the UK, according to Cruise Lines International Association.
But lost business from lockdowns last year led to a total economic blow of £2.37bn, it found.
"I get so emotional because the travel industry has been hit really hard," said Garvey-Jones as she prepared for her four-day jaunt.
"I think this is going to be really good."
