DETAILS have emerged why a P&O cruise ship is currently moored off the coast of Weymouth.

The Arcadia ship, usually based in Southampton, arrived off the coast of Weymouth yesterday morning just before 7am - and is expected to be a regular site for beach lovers for the foreseeable future.

P&O Cruises has said the ship, which was built in 2004, will not set sail again until this summer - and is currently moored in Weymouth Bay due to a number of cruises being cancelled due to staff shortages.

A spokeswoman from the cruise ship firm said: "Arcadia is in Weymouth Bay following the impact on airlines and the wider hospitality industry caused by Covid-19 which has resulted in disruption to crew members available to join our ships.

"Therefore we have moved crew members from Arcadia to other ships in our fleet in order to maintain the service standards. Arcadia will then begin sailing once again from July 5."

The P&O vessel had resumed service at the end of March following the suspension of services due to the pandemic and the company has cancelled seven sailings between April 12 and June 23. Affected customers have been issued a refund.

Confirming the cancellation of seven cruises, P&O Cruises said: “The current and extraordinary impact of Covid-19 in the UK, in the wider hospitality, service and airline industry as a whole has resulted in a temporary disruption to crew members available to join our ships.

“As a result, P&O Cruises will be re-deploying crew from Arcadia to other ships in the fleet. This is being done in order to maintain the company’s high standards of service of which we are very proud, across the other five ships in the fleet.

“We are so sorry but as a result of this re-deployment, the following seven cruises will be cancelled: J205, J206, J207, J208, J209, J210, J211. Guests who are booked on these cruises will receive a full refund of all monies paid and a future cruise credit and on board spending money to use on a new P&O Cruises holiday to be booked before December 31, 2023."

The ship, which is 285 metres long and 32 metres wide, has two pools, spa, a range of restaurants and bars and entertainment onboard.

Prior to its arrival in Weymouth Bay yesterday morning, the cruise ship was last recorded as being moored at Southampton, on Tuesday (April 12) before departing at 6.55pm.