Virgin Voyages and Ponant ease Covid restrictions
Virgin lifts limit on unvaccinated passengers, while French line Ponant no longer requires a negative test before embarkation
Virgin Voyages and Ponant are the latest cruise lines to further ease Covid restrictions.
Virgin will allow unvaccinated passengers to travel on board Valiant Lady from September 18 and Scarlet Lady from September 21.
Previously, the line allowed only 10 per cent of customers to be non-fully vaccinated. Now the cap has been removed, unvaccinated guests will still be required to provide evidence of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of embarkation.
A Virgin Voyages spokesperson said: “The health and safety of our sailors [guests] and crew are most important, and we’ll continue to emphasise our Voyage Well protocols.
”We’re excited to see cruising make its way back to 2019 sailing levels and to welcome onboard both new and returning cruisers seeking a different kind of adventure on the high seas.”
Meanwhile, Ponant has dropped the requirement for guests to provide proof of a negative Covid test prior to embarkation.
Passengers must either have three vaccine doses, two doses of the vaccine providing the second has been taken within nine months of embarkation, or one vaccine dose taken more than two weeks prior to the sailing.
Face coverings are no longer compulsory, but the line recommends they continue to be worn on ships and ashore. Crew who come into contact with guests will still have to wear a mask.
The line said: “In all cases, Ponant will increase its measures to the level required by countries visited where they may be more restrictive.”
