In a short statement released by the company on Sunday, the cruise operator said it would be making the U-turn.

The statement read: “Costa confirms that travel partners in the UK will continue to be able to sell Costa Cruises thru the ’Costa Click’ internet booking engine at an appropriate commission.

“Servicing of the UK trade will take place through the Genova call centre.”

A spokesperson for the company confirmed that the operator would continue to honour all previous commercial arrangements agreed upon with UK agents. He added this strategy would remain in place for the foreseeable future.

The decision is a complete change of heart from Costa, which only last week said it would go direct from February 15, 2016.

In a statement the Carnival-owned cruise giant said it was “introducing a different business model in the UK that will see all passenger bookings made directly through our call centre and online sales platform.”

It added that the decision had been made “in response to current and anticipated shifts in the UK consumer market, including the digitisation of travel sales”, and that the move was only being implemented in the UK.

It later added it would honour all commission payments made for 2016 to agents.