| Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, all cruise lines suspended operations from various dates in March 2020. The third ship from Southampton was sailing with her first passengers on the 27th June 2021 as Britannia boarded happy people. It was a miserable day but she left at 6pm with 976 passengers. Due to stage 3 restrictions continuing until the 19th July, P&O had to reduce passenger numbers as the rule stated 1000 or 50%, whichever was lower. Several cruise lines, including Saga which began from Tilbury, also at 6pm, had jumped the gun despite all restrictions being up for review. Shieldhall was on the way in and they greeted each other by the pier. |
