Carnival UK is likely to make a number of cuts “across all levels” of the business after redundancy consultation began with staff.

Southern Daily Echo said the Southampton-based company, which employs 1,600 people and is the parent company to P&O Cruises and Cunard, will make as many as 450 redundancies.

A Carnival UK spokesman said: “We have begun a period of consultation with our staff in Southampton across all levels of the business.

“Our priority is to treat everyone with fairness and respect and to have open and honest conversations. These changes, whilst very difficult, are to ensure the future sustainability of our business.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has not only affected the holidays of our guests but it has also impacted every part of our business; our future deployment; the guest experience; our supply chain and our people on ship and on shore.

“During our pause in operations we have tried to create as much certainty and stability as possible for our staff in Southampton and crew on board our ships.

“Unfortunately though and like many businesses, as Covid-19 has continued to impact our way of life it is necessary to make changes to our organisation to build a stable platform for the time we phase our ships back into service and for future growth.”