For Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, Cunard is cancelling all sailings due to depart up to and including 1 November, while cruises onboard Queen Elizabeth have been axed up until 23 November.

The line will be contacting all impacted guests and their travel agents.

Affected customers booked on cancelled voyages will automatically be given a 125% future cruise credit – redeemable against any new booking made by the end of December 2021 on any voyage on sale at the time.

The announcement comes a week after sister line P&O Cruises suspended its operations until 15 October. 

Cunard president Simon Palethorpe said: “With many differing restrictions across countries, people’s ability to move freely and safely across borders remains seemingly someway in the distance. For Cunard, where we celebrate having a truly international mix of guests and sail all over the world, this becomes particularly impactful.

“We also need to better understand the implications Covid-19 will have onboard our ships. We are therefore working, at the highest level possible, with government bodies, including the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Public Health England, as well as the industry collective body Clia and other expert medical professionals to review every aspect of a holiday with us.

“Whilst we have always taken pride in having the highest levels of health and safety we are looking at enhanced protocols across all aspects of ship life and experiences onshore. We will only return to service when we have a comprehensive restart protocol with the stamps of approval and accreditation from the most trusted and informed sources.”