Cunard has confirmed that Queen Victoria won’t return to service until 5 June.

In an announcement on its website, the cruise line said the ship will be ‘staying in the Caribbean for longer than planned’.

Queen Victoria was originally due to resume sailing on 22 April. The delay means more cruises from Southampton to a number of British and European destinations have been cancelled.

Queen Victoria is currently moored off Barbados, where it is understood to be acting as an isolation vessel for crew who have been infected with COVID on other ships sailing in the Caribbean.

After returning from Barbados, Queen Victoria will go into dry-dock before resuming existing itineraries from 5 June.

Its first cruise will be a 16-day voyage from Southampton to Hamburg, stopping at ports in the Mediterranean.