Columbus guests arrive home after month-long repatriation

Cruise & Maritime Voyages’ ship Columbus has arrived back in London Tilbury at the end of a month-long repatriation voyage to the UK.

The cruise line had to perform a “unique passenger transfer and repatriation operation involving 239 passengers” from Vasco da Gama, a sister vessel, off the coast of Phuket, Thailand, after it was refused access to the port.

CMV said it has recorded no coronavirus cases with any guest or crew members on board Columbus or any other ships in their fleet of six.

Columbus untook a 7,842 nautical mile voyage back to the UK with 907 guests including 602 British nationals and 619 crew members on board. The voyage includes a technical call in Colombo, Sri Lanka then via the Suez Canal.

Five guests were repatriated via tender to Malta and Gibraltar before Columbus arrived today at the London Cruise Terminal at Tilbury at 8am on Monday.

Vasco da Gama undertook a 2,837 nautical mile voyage directly back to Australia with 952 guests including 907 Australian and New Zealander nationals and 552 crew members on board back to Fremantle (Perth).

Christian Verhounig, CEO at Cruise & Maritime Voyages said, “We are tremendously proud of our onboard and shoreside teams for their fantastic job organising this repatriation voyage to bring our passengers home. On behalf of the directors, staff and especially our hard-working crew, CMV would like to thank all of our passengers for their support, patience and understanding at this time.”

All other CMV cruise ships have returned to their home ports except Vasco da Gama, which is returning to London Tilbury with no guests on board and is due to arrive on April 30. 

CMV said it has been in regular contact with UK Department of Transport, Border Force, UK Public Health, the Port of Tilbury, as well as Clia to confirm details of Columbus’ arrival into London Tilbury.

It added a strict phased disembarkation process incorporating social distancing measures will take place.

Columbus was sailing on a 120-night Grand Round the World Cruise, which sailed from London Tilbury 6 January 2020.