Cruise & Maritime Voyages? (CMV) ship Columbus is sailing on a 7842 nautical mile repatriation voyage directly back to the UK, with 907 passengers including 602 British nationals and 619 crew members onboard.
The voyage included a technical call in Colombo, Sri Lanka and is now heading for the Suez Canal with a final technical call in Malta. It is scheduled to arrive at the London Cruise Terminal, Tilbury on April 14.
Christian Verhounig, chief executive at CMV, said: ?On behalf of the directors, staff and especially our hard-working crew CMV would like to thank all our current passengers for their support, patience and understanding at this time.?
CMV is working with the UK Department of Transport, Border Force, UK Public Health, the Port of Tilbury, as well as the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), to confirm details of Columbus? arrival into London and the disembarkation process that will take place.
Remained under heightened levels of hygiene protocols and all passengers screening, CMV has recorded no COVID-19 symptoms or health issues onboard Columbus.
All other CMV cruise ships have returned to their home ports with the exception of the Vasco da Gama which is returning to London Tilbury with no passengers onboard and the Astor which is sailing on a repatriation voyage to Bremerhaven, Germany scheduled to arrive on April 12.
Columbus was sailing on a 120-night Grand Round the World Cruise which sailed from London Tilbury on January 6 when CMV announced a six-week suspension of cruise operations due to the global outbreak of COVID-19.
To see the Video footage from Columbus, go to www.vimeo.com/403311191
