With plans to begin sailing next October 2020, Virgin Voyages has worked with experts to create a safe environment so that the Scarlet Lady will welcome its first passengers while adhering to the recommendations of health experts and meeting customer expectations before, during and after the trip.
“The health and well-being of our passengers is our number one priority, so we worked closely with experts to innovate and create an even healthier way to travel while still offering our customers amazing holidays,” said Virgin Voyages CEO Tom McAlpin. “Given some people’s apprehension about traveling, we are committed to following expert advice to give our customers confidence to explore the world while feeling safer, more relaxed, and free to enjoy themselves.”.
The Voyage Well plan includes:
- Advanced health checks for passengers and crew prior to boarding, including the intention to be able to do COVID-19 testing.
- Temperature control of passengers and crew.
- Managing the overall occupancy of the ship to allow for adequate physical distancing in all public spaces.
- Use of onboard technology to limit contact, including the use of The Band for contactless payments, Service Chat for digital assistance, and virtual queues to book onboard experiences without having to physically line up.
- Implementation of best practices in cleaning and health controls on board.
- New air purification system that disinfects the air on board.
- Flexible booking policies: from moving final payment dates to 60 days before sailing (instead of 120 days), the possibility of cancelling up to 48 hours before and receiving a 100% future travel credit for cruises until December 16, 2020.
Virgin Voyages will be one of the first in the industry to invest in the installation of a 100% fresh air purification system, from bow to stern. The Scarlet Lady and its sister ships will be equipped with technology proven to eliminate 99.9% of viruses. Recent tests have confirmed that this device is more than 99.9% effective at neutralizing the coronavirus.
Virgin Voyages recently announced that it has changed its launch date to October 16, 2020.
