The UK Foreign Office has completed the repatriation of 19,180 UK cruise passengers who were overseas as the coronavirus pandemic
More than 20 international governments as well as cruise operators and the military were involved in the operation.
Passengers on 59 cruise ships were returned home. The final group disembarked Costa Deliziosa in Genoa, Italy, today.
The first repatriation of British cruise ship passengers took place on February 21, with the 78 British nationals on Princess Cruises’ Diamond Princess, which was docked in Japan, flown home.
The efforts included the repatriation of more than 669 British nationals from MS Braemar in Cuba, 135 British travellers from Grand Princess in California, more than 350 from Coral Princess in Florida, and 211 British holidaymakers on HAL’s Zaandam and Rotterdam ships, also in Florida, earlier this month. The Mexican Navy and National Guard helped bring home passengers on board Marella Explorer II.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: “Ensuring the safety of British nationals overseas is our number one priority.
“This repatriation effort would not have been possible without the co-operation of partners across the world, including Japan, Cuba, Italy, Mexico and US, and I am extremely grateful for their assistance.”
