It comes after both MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line revealed plans to base a ship back out of the UK.

Voyages to Antiquity is already calling at Falmouth and Dartmouth this year, with a turnaround in Dover on its 350-passenger ship Aegean Odyssey, however managing director Jos Dewing told TTG the line was “strongly indicating its intention to have some ex-UK cruising in 2017”.

“We’re seeing increased demand for our product in and around the UK,” he added.

Dewing said since the line’s launch in 2009, it had largely focused on eastern and western Mediterranean itineraries, but that customers were now asking for something different.

He insisted however the line was not pulling out of the region due to safety concerns.

“For some lines that may be the case, but for us that is not the reason. Our loyalty passengers are asking for new itineraries. We’re not moving out of the eastern Mediterranean, but we want to give more variety; we’re responding to demand.

“The obvious place is northern Europe and the British Isles is perfect,” he added. “We’re planning to offer some really unique [UK] itineraries that you wouldn’t expect to see. It’s going to be very different”.