Portland first stop on UK's first cruise journey

At 8am this morning MSC Virtuosa arrives at Portland Port, hailing a turning point for the cruise industy, and the pandemic.

We're all used to seeing a number of ghost cruise ships occupying Weymouth Bay, benched by companies until it's safe to sail again.

But the MSC Virtuosa is full of life, and around 1,000 tourists embarking on the UK's first domestic cruise in 14 months.

Passengers set out from Southampton on Thursday night and has already spent a day at sea.

But the industry, like most, has had to adapt and there's a strict cap on capacity for the vessel which could carry as many as 6,000.

Ian McQuade is one of the Port's managers. He said:

"They're going to have plenty of space, I don't think social distancing is going to be any issue on board there.

"I think it's an ideal time for anybody wanting to go on a cruise, to get that experience. The amont of space and comfort they're all going to have on these early cruises is going to be something special.

"The whole system has been really well set up and it's been really fascinating to be involved in, and working with them."

Ordinarily, the cruise industry would create a massive boom in income for Weymouth and Portland's economy. But that won't be the case for a few months.

Passengers will have very little interaction with locals and will be strictly let off the ship in bubbles to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Instead, they'll be taken into the countryside to admire the views.

"We will monitor the government guidance and regulations and hopefully later on in the summer we'll see an easing of the rules.

"This is very much phase ne of what we hope will be a complete reopening of cruise operation over the next few months.

Next year around 55 cruises are booked to call at the port. Each visitor the port brings to the area spends around

Ian said:

"We're expecting getting close to 100,000 visitors coming in to Portland Port. The normal run means around 40-50% will take an official excursion."

That means they'll take a tour up to stone henge or other spots close by, but around 60% will head into Dorset's towns.

Ian added:

"Industry figures indicate around $100 per head gets spent for every passenger that comes in on a cruise ship.

"You can see it's good money coming in to the local economy."