The lines said the decision came following the recommendation by Clia for cruise companies to voluntarily and temporarily suspend operations for 30 days.

P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said its ships would return to Southampton and suspend any new cruises and, due to travel restrictions in Norway, the company would be “looking at Iona’s itineraries” and providing “an update to guests when we have more clarity”.

“This pause in operations has been done in an abundance of caution to support the global effort to contain the spread of Covid-19,” he said. 

All impacted guests will be given a 125% future cruise credit applied automatically to their guest account for use on a P&O sailing departing before the end of March 2022.

Ludlow added: "These truly are unprecedented times, the likes of which we certainly have never seen before. We are so sorry that the holidays of many of our guests will be disrupted but our priority is to safeguard the wellbeing of our guests and crew and, by taking these extraordinary measures, we will be able to do so."

Cunard said Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria would be returning to Southampton, while it was currently “reviewing Queen Elizabeth’s planned itineraries”. 

All guests impacted directly by the temporary suspension are being contacted by Cunard regarding their voyage and their options.

President Simon Palethorpe said: “We are really sorry for the disruption and disappointment that this extraordinary measure will cause. We hope everyone will understand that we have to take these measures in the interests of protecting the wellbeing of our guests and crew.”