Out-of-action cruise liners could be turned in to floating hospitals for coronavirus patients.
The holiday company Saga, which specialises in travel for the over-50s, has offered two vessels to the NHS for extra capacity if it is overwhelmed by the virus.
The ships, Spirit of Discovery and Saga Sapphire, are currently anchored at Tilbury Docks after the Kent-based company suspected journeys last week.
It follows advice from the government urging those over 70 not to go on cruises.
Spirit Of Discovery has a capacity to accommodate 999 people.
Saga Sapphire, meanwhile, usually carries up to 720 guests.
No decision has been made as yet on whether they will be used by the NHS.
However, it comes amid fears that the pandemic will force doctors to ration access to ventilators and hospital beds if serious cases continue to surge.
Northwick Park Hospital in London declared a critical incident yesterday due to a surge in patients with the potentially fatal illness.
In a message to staff, the hospital said it has no critical care capacity left and has contacted neighbouring hospitals about transferring patients who need critical care to other sites.
Although the critical incident was ‘stood down’ on Friday evening, on the same day, Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust was also forced to turn patients Covid-19 away.
Some of those infected were transferred to other neighbouring sites to help ease the pressure on overrun staff.
The Government is planning to rent eight thousand private hospital beds to relieve pressure on the NHS as it battles the crisis.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has also previously described hotels as "ready-built facilities for looking after people" if extra beds are required.
The coronavirus pandemic has meanwhile forced a number of cruise lines to temporarily suspend a number of sailings throughout March and April.
Princess Cruises, Saga and Viking Cruises have all been forced to suspend all cruise operations, while Virgin Voyages has delayed the launch of its first cruise ship Scarlet Lady.
On Friday, Brits stranded on a cruise ship floating off the coast of Brazil were told they would finally be airlifted home.
More than 100 British passengers on board the Silver Shadow had been stranded on board while being held at the port of Recife, after a 78-year-old Canadian holidaymaker fell ill with coronavirus .
