Double-jabbed sunseekers will be able to set off on cruise holidays from Britain under plans signed off by ministers

DOUBLE jabbed Brits will be able to cruise around the world and avoid quarantine on return, ministers have announced. 

Mega ships will be able to leave the UK and dock in foreign ports under the plans, with vaccinated passengers exempt from home isolation, providing they’ve only visited amber list nations. 

It comes as tourists from the USA and EU will be allowed to skip quarantine if they’ve been double jabbed as ministers seek to kick start foreign travel 

Boris Johnson signed off the plan to open up international travel at a Covid-O meeting today.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps conformed international cruises got the green light tweeting: "We're also able to confirm the restart of international cruises and flexible testing programmes to help key workers and drive our economic recovery."

In a statement, Mr Shapps added the move would help reunite families across both continents.

But the new rules will not apply to France, which remains on the 'amber plus' list.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “We’ve taken great strides on our journey to reopen international travel and today is another important step forward.

"Whether you are a family reuniting for the first time since the start of the pandemic or a business benefiting from increased trade – this is progress we can all enjoy.  

“We will of course continue to be guided by the latest scientific data but thanks to our world-leading domestic vaccination programme, we’re able to look to the future and start to rebuild key transatlantic routes with the US while further cementing ties with our European neighbours.” 

Health  Secretary Sajid Javid added: “Our vaccination programme is building a wall of defence against this virus so we can safely enjoy our freedoms again, with seven in ten adults in the UK now double jabbed. 

“By reopening quarantine-free travel for travellers who have been fully vaccinated in European countries and the USA, we’re taking another step on the road to normality which will reunite friends and families and give UK businesses a boost.” 

It means that Brits who are double-jabbed abroad will be able to head home quarantine free at the end of the month as ministers now recognise foreign vaccines.

It paves the way for hundreds of thousands of expats to come home without having to isolate for ten days.

Jabs administered in the EU and USA will be recognised – as long as they are by the same doses handed the green-light in the UK.

Currently only those who have been jabbed by the NHS in the UK are eligible for a “Covid pass”, allowing them the 10 day self-isolation period, when coming from an amber-list country.

It’s understood that expats will have to contact their GP to get their jab’s batch number processed and recognised before it is added to their NHS file.

The rule change will apply to Brits or people with British residency, but ministers will today discuss whether to open it up to tourists too.

Last week the vaccines minister, Nadhim Zahawi, said: “By the end of this month, UK nationals who have been vaccinated overseas will be able to talk to their GP, go through what vaccine they have had, and have it registered with the NHS that they have been vaccinated.”

It comes as Covid cases have now been falling for a seventh day in a row.

Boris Johnson is said to have become increasingly concerned the EU is now further ahead than the UK on enabling international travel and believes the UK risks “squandering its vaccine bonus”.

The UK economy is losing £639 million a day because of the squeeze on foreign tourists, research has shown.

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Today's decision follows a trial by Heathrow airport, BA and Virgin to address concerns over the complexities of different US states' paper and digital certificates.

In a bid to avoid long queues at passport control, airlines will be responsible for checking each traveller's vaccine status.

It was found the practical difficulties of verifying the vaccination status of travellers was overcome in 99 per cent of cases.

The new measures for EU and US travellers will initially only apply to England though the devolved regions are set to follow suit.

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