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Travel updates: Cruises around Britain could be on this summer

Cruises around Britain's coast and islands, such as the beautiful Isle of Mingulay, could be available this summer
Cruises around Britain's coast and islands, such as the beautiful Isle of Mingulay, could be available this summer

There is a glimmer of hope for Britons looking for their cruise fix this summer after Viking teased the possibility of operating summer sailings around the UK.

Dates and details on the itineraries can’t be revealed yet, a spokesperson told The Telegraph, with the focus right now on “feasibility and asking UK guests to register their interest”. The news, reported by Benjamin Parker. comes shortly after P&O Cruises extended their pause until the middle of October, with sister line Cunard paused until the end of July.

Cruises around Britain should sidestep the quarantine requirement that the Government plans to introduce from June 8 – for both passengers and crew.

Meanwhile, British holidaymakers will be "most welcome" in Portugal this summer, the country's foreign minister has said. Augusto Santos Silva told the BBC he hoped an 'air bridge' agreement of mutual quarantine exemption would be in place with the UK by the end of June. Mr Santos Silva described travel quarantines as "an enemy of tourism".

Mr Silva's comments come as Italy reopens to European travellers today without quarantine restrictions and allows free internal movement in a bid to revive tourism – and the country's economy – despite still reporting dozens of new cases every day. International flights are only expected to resume in the three main cities of Milan, Rome and Naples.

The Home Secretary, Priti Patel, in a statement to the House of Commons, said the government's quarantine plans for international arrivals will initially be reviewed on June 28, after they come into effect on Monday, while discussions begin to establish 'travel corridors' or 'air bridges'.

Follow the latest news below.