A cruise ship has steered away from the island ahead of a scheduled visit next month due to the cost of Covid requirements.

However, the Government said it expected a “close to normal” cruise ship schedule for 2022 based on early numbers.

Carnival Cruises, in an e-mail to travellers booked on next month’s Carnival Legend cruise to Bermuda, said it had “modified its itinerary” because Covid-19 requirements would have resulted in additional costs for passengers.

The email said: “This decision was necessary since we learnt of additional Covid-19 testing and reporting requirements that would have resulted in you having to pay additional charges.

“While we are hopeful this will be resolved for future sailings, we felt this was the best alternative for this cruise.

“We sincerely regret the disappointment as we know you were looking forward to visiting Bermuda.”

The e-mail added that affected customers would receive $150 in on-board credit.

The Carnival Legend – which has a maximum capacity of 2,600 – was scheduled to arrive in Dockyard on November 17 and depart on November 19.

Lawrence Scott, the Minister of Transport, declined to say what the cruise line’s specific complaint was about the island’s Covid-19 regime.

He said: “Our testing requirements are put in place to protect the country and our population.

“As we have had robust conversations with the cruise lines in the past, especially last year, they are well aware of what our testing regime is.

“Any cruise line that is not willing and/or able to meet that bar, to meet those testing requirements, they will not be allowed to service the island.”

Mr Scott added: “With that said, with the numbers we are looking at now, we are anticipating a very close to normal cruise ship season in 2022.”