‘Dozens’ of cruise ships hit by Covid outbreaks

Meanwhile, another cruise ship has come down with a Covid outbreak, the third for the week out of Southern Florida alone, according to the Associated Press.

The passenger and crew aboard the Carnival Freedom might not be feeling so free as a Covid outbreak caused the ship to be denied entry to Bonaire and Aruba in the Caribbean.

Carnival said in a statement that passengers were required to be vaccinated and they were tested prior to leaving from Miami last Saturday.

Nevertheless, there were a “small number” who tested positive. According to AFP, the Carnival Freedom is just one of “dozens” of cruise ships found with Covid aboard.

Covid-related industrial action, planned closures and staff shortages due to the pandemic are also projected to jam up the works for transportation in the UK well into the new year.

Several rail services are currently facing disruption owing to staff being ill with Covid-19.

TransPennine Express, ScotRail, Avanti West Coast, Northern Rail, LNER and Greater Anglia have all reported an impact on services caused by a lack of available staff.

Southern’s Gatwick Airport trains are operating to and from London Bridge instead of London Victoria until January 3.

In the north, Leeds will have a reduced service between December 27 and January 3, including a “very limited” service on January 2.

Commuters and travellers to the capital can expect similar woes, with the Tube hit by planned closures.