Virgin Voyages Eliminates Pre-Embarkation COVID-19 Testing for Cruises

Posted on 22 July, 2022 by Spacejunkie2

Virgin Voyages will remove the requirements for pre-embarkation testing, according to a press release.

Virgin Voyages has responded immediately to the CDC’s decision to discontinue their voluntary COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships and will mirror the rest of the travel industry in removing pre-embarkation testing for sailings from July 24 on EU sailings, and from July 27 on US sailings.

Vaccine requirements will remain in place for both Scarlet Lady, operating out of the US, and Valiant Lady in the EU. Virgin Voyages is currently evaluating this policy and will announce further updates in the near future, the company said.

Passenger and crew well-being is the major focus and they continue to follow the advice of their expert medical team. To clarify these updates:

From the dates mentioned above, passengers will no longer be required to complete a pre-embarkation COVID test, applicable across the fleet, including US and EU operations.
For US sailings, passenger vaccination requirements will now be marked at 90%. This opens the opportunity for passengers who are not vaccinated to contact Virgin Voyages’ Sailor Services to book a sailing if these thresholds are met.
Ship crew on all US and EU sailings will maintain their fully vaccinated status.

SES to Offer Global Connectivity Services Onboard the Explora I

Posted on 21 July, 2022 by Spacejunkie2

SES has partnered with Explora Journeys and will provide global connectivity services onboard the Explora I when it enters service in 2023, according to a press release.

SES’s mPOWERED connectivity service will offer low latency and the highest available throughput aboard, contributing to Explora’s vision of creating an “Ocean State of Mind”, according to SES.

Guests on the Explora I will have free, high-speed, and uninterrupted Wi-Fi access regardless of their location, and they will be able to stream their preferred content or share their cruise experience from any part of the ship.

Crew welfare and training, employee performance, motivation, and retention will all benefit from improved connectivity onboard through this partnership.

“Today’s guests simply expect seamless and uninterrupted connectivity comparable to on land as they want to share their experiences and stay online as much as possible. We are pleased to be able to offer this connectivity experience to our guests onboard Explora I thanks to SES’s services,” said Michael Ungerer, chief executive officer, Explora Journeys, MSC’s new luxury brand.

“Connectivity is one of the most important enablers for such travel experiences from both a guest and crew point of view. Our O3b mPOWER ultra-fast, low-latency connectivity is empowering a new experience that will revolutionise the ultra-luxury expedition maritime segment,” added Simon Maher, vice president of global sales and cruise maritime services, SES.

Azamara to Drop Pre-Embarkation Testing

Posted on 20 July, 2022 by Spacejunkie2

The line will ditch testing on Monday (25 July) in countries where the protocol is no longer legally required

The line will ditch testing on Monday (25 July) but will still require proof of vaccination prior to embarkation from all guests aged over 12.

Azamara said it recommends all guests departing from any port undergo testing before getting onboard – but results will not be needed to be shown in order to sail.

At ports where pre-cruise testing remains, guests must produce a negative Covid test before sailing.

Carol Cabezas, Azamara president, said the easing of the line’s testing policy “marks a step in the right direction towards a return to normalcy for the travel and cruising industry”.

“Cruising is one of the safest ways to travel, and our existing health and safety protocols onboard will ensure peace of mind for our guests and crew as we move forward,” she said.