Two cruise ships at anchor in Portland Harbour, Dorset, UK on Wednesday (July 1) have joined others that are in Weymouth Bay as the cruise industry cannot sail.

Both of the ships join others as the cruise and travel industry have taken dramatic job losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The owner of the P&O Cruises and Cunard brands has more than halved in value over the past three months because of the coronavirus crisis.

Two more cruise ships, at anchor in Portland harbour today (1st July), have joined others that are in Weymouth Bay as the cruise industry cannot sail.

SOUTHAMPTON-based cruise operator Carnival – which is planning a “large number” of redundancies – is set to drop out of the FTSE 100 list of biggest companies.

The owner of the P&O Cruises and Cunard brands has more than halved in value over the past three months because of the coronavirus crisis.

It could be the biggest reshuffle since the 2008 financial crisis, analysts say
Helal Miah, investment research analyst at the Share Centre, said: "This reshuffle looks set to be one of the biggest in many years. We expect a minimum of four in, four out - but depending on market moves we could see more."

He said the "clearest candidate" to slip from the top index is Carnival, which has seen shares dive nearly 60 per cent since the crisis first hit Europe as travellers were left stranded on quarantined ships for weeks.

Further cruises have been halted and bookings have dried up, meaning its market capitalisation has continued to slide despite raising more funds to support the business.

Carnival told staff in May that it was proposing a large number of redundancies. It refused to reveal to the media how many jobs were likely to go, but sources suggested 450 posts were at risk.