Small ship ocean cruises lead the restart of operations by US operator Tauck in Europe this summer.
The company plans to reopen in stages with selected departures on Iceland and Aegean itineraries in June and July.
The resumption European river cruises will follow in August with sailings on the Rhone, Seine in France and Douro in Portugal planned.
Tauck plans to restart cruises on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers – and the bulk of its remaining European land tours – in early autumn as border openings permit.
A spokesperson said: “We’re definitely seeing strong interest in the UK, particularly with our European river cruises.
“Our 2022 pre-season UK river bookings are more than double where our 2020 pre-season bookings were at this point in 2019.
“Last year’s pre-season bookings for 2021 don’t really present a comparison, given the effects of the pandemic.”
The company plans to make its debut on the Douro with new vessel, the 84-passenger Andorinha.
Features include a pop-up restaurant that rises from the stern of the vessel’s top deck on hydraulic lifts.
Also scheduled for July are the resumption of the company’s cruises in the Galapagos Islands as well as Tauck Bridges family adventures in Costa Rica. Guided safaris in eastern and southern Africa will resume in August, as will land tours in Spain, France and Portugal.
Tauck has already resumed operations in the US.
Chief executive Dan Mahar said: “All the hard work and meticulous planning we’ve put into our relaunch in the US has paid off and we’ve proven conclusively that we can deliver the Tauck-level experience our guests expect while still following all of the necessary safety protocols.”
Tauck’s return to Europe comes as the company marks 30 years on the continent.
Maha added: “Our chairman Arthur Tauck Jr first brought Tauck guests to Europe in 1991 and after the events of the past year, restarting our operations there is an especially meaningful way to mark our 30th anniversary.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to be back, and we can’t wait to share the incredible wonders of Europe with our guests once more.
“One thing we’ve learned time and again over our 96 years is that travel denied is really travel deferred.
“When people are unable to travel, it only fuels their desire and determination to do so. And now – with 97% of our guests having been vaccinated – we’re seeing demand come roaring back.”
“2022 has the strongest advance bookings of any year in our 96-year history, and April was our strongest booking month since 2007.”
The company operates more than 70 land tours, river cruises and small ship ocean cruises across Europe, including Tauck Bridges family trips and a number of small group land tours averaging just 24 travellers