Cruise operator Carnival reveals limited return to the waves in March for its Italian line Costa Cruises

Carnival, the world’s largest cruise operator, has confirmed its Italian arm Costa Cruises is returning to the water in a glimmer of hope for the hard-hit sector.

The dual-listed FTSE 250 firm, behind Carnival Cruise Line, P&O Cruises and AIDA Cruises, said that two Costa ships are "ready to set sail again and offer guests holidays filled with leisure and relaxation, along with enhanced health and safety protocols”.

These include limited capacity, swab tests for all guests and crew, temperature checks when disembarking and re-embarking the ship, protected shore excursions, physical distancing on board and at the cruise terminals, and face mask use “where necessary”.

Costa Smerelda and Costa Luminosa will re-start from March 27 and May 2, respectively, with all other Costa trips previously scheduled until the end of May cancelled.

The firm recently announced further delays to its tours around the Canary Islands, and the extension of its suspension of all US departures until the end of April.

It comes as the UK’s travel industry leaders warn new hotel quarantine measures will deal a further blow to businesses, and ministers urge holidaymakers not to book in for trips until there is further progress with the vaccination program.

Shares in Carnival have plunged by nearly 60% over the past 12 months, and the firm has raised billions to help it see out the pandemic.

Shares were up 0.3% to 1372p on Wednesday morning.