Cunard Postpones Southampton Boarding for Unexpect...

A voyage round Norway’s fjords will start a bit of later than deliberate for passengers crusing aboard Cunard’s Queen Anne this weekend.

The UK-based cruise line has notified friends booked on the ship’s June 21, 2026, departure from Southampton, England, that embarkation will start 90 minutes later than initially scheduled. The explanation? Crew are performing some further cleansing onboard.

In a message despatched to booked passengers, Cunard mentioned the extra time would enable crew members to finish enhanced cleansing and sanitation measures earlier than friends board the ship for its subsequent crusing.

Passengers have been requested to reach an hour and a half later than the embarkation time listed on their boarding passes. The cruise line additionally warned that staterooms might not be instantly accessible upon boarding whereas the resort workforce works to organize lodging following the ship’s arrival.

Learn Additionally: The Essential Guide to All Southampton Cruise Terminals

The discover comes forward Queen Anne’s 14-night Norway and North Cape voyage, which is scheduled to depart Southampton on June 21 to go to Olden, Trondheim, Tromsø, Honningsvåg, Åndalsnes, and Ålesund, Norway, earlier than returning on July 5, 2026.

The three,000-passenger ship, considered one of 4 in Cunard’s fleet, is wrapping up a 12-night British Isles voyage that departed Southampton on June 9, 2026. That journey has already known as in Edinburgh, Invergordon, Stornoway, and Oban, Scotland; Belfast in Northern Eire; and Liverpool, England.

The ship is at the moment having fun with a sea day and can arrive in Cork, Eire, on June 19 forward of her Southampton return.

Cunard Cites Elevated Sickness Ranges

Whereas Cunard didn’t particularly point out a motive for the improved cleansing procedures, the cruise line mentioned its hygiene and sanitation protocols are designed to adapt to altering well being situations, together with “present elevated ranges within the UK.”

The discover additionally inspired friends to clean their arms usually, notably earlier than consuming and after utilizing the restroom, and to make use of hand sanitizer when handwashing amenities are unavailable.

Mentioned Cunard, “All through the voyage, we’ll proceed to take care of strong hygiene and sanitation measures. These protocols have been developed along with main regional and international well being authorities and are designed to adapt to altering well being situations, together with present elevated ranges within the UK.”

The extra cleansing measures come at a time when well being protocols stay prime of thoughts throughout the cruise business and aboard Cunard ships.

Earlier this yr, passengers aboard Cunard’s flagship, Queen Mary 2, reported a widespread respiratory sickness outbreak throughout a transatlantic voyage. The sickness, informally dubbed the “Cunard Cough” by some passengers, was described as persistent coughing and flu-like signs spreading by the ship.

Extra lately, the cruise business confronted heightened scrutiny after a deadly hantavirus outbreak in Could was linked to an expedition voyage.

In response to the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a number of passengers grew to become critically sick and a number of deaths had been reported after publicity to the uncommon virus.

Though the sicknesses concerned very totally different causes, it’s a reminder of how shortly well being issues can emerge the place massive numbers of individuals share eating venues, leisure areas, elevators, and different widespread areas.

Cunard has not indicated that any sickness outbreak is going on on Queen Anne and that the measures are a cautious strategy.