Virgin Voyages Health & Safety Protocols

Outlined below is Virgin's Voyage Well plan for tackling COVID 19 - from ambitious goals for redefining health measures at sea, to new industry-leading partnerships with EcoLab and AtmosAir Solutions, all the key points for what you can expect before, during, and after your voyage are outlined.

Virgin Voyages Onboard Safety

Virgin Voyages' goal is to prevent viruses from ever getting onboard in the first place - so they established the Voyage Well Expert Advisory Group to review and guide decisions. This team is helping to develop enhanced protocols and health screenings, implement new technologies on board, and guide the approach to quick and effective COVID-19 testing.

• Work with medical testing developers, with an ambition to find a reliable, quick and simple test, that will ensure only those who test negative for COVID-19 are allowed to board.
• Notify Sailors and Crew 14 days after leaving the ship (through the use of ethical contact tracing and health tracking app) if you've come in contact with anyone who has tested positive for the virus on land or at sea.
• Adopting the use of advanced cleaning tools like fogging and UV technology - the same Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation methods used in hospitals and laboratories. Every single piece of luggage and delivery to the ship is fogged down, and all cabins will be fogged prior to Sailors stepping onboard, or in the case that you change cabins during the voyage.
• Incorporating the latest hygiene initiatives specifically for COVID-19; sanitizing dispensers in every public space, touchless faucets, increased hygiene signage, and leveraging hospital grade EPA registered disinfectants from EcoLab - all while using best practices to sanitize and disinfect.
• Utilizing a partnership with Ecolab, identifying specific high touch points across cabins, public spaces, restaurants, and recreational areas that will be disinfected on a frequent basis, so that you don't have to worry before touching a door handle or elevator button.
• Managing personal space by significantly reducing overall ship capacity for a start-up sailing period - meaning that all can easily adhere to appropriate social spacing/physical distancing recommendations. Additional measures include limiting large groups at events through virtual ticketing and keeping empty seats between one another, and leaving tables empty between groups at each eatery.
• Virgin Voyages doesn't have buffets or large dining rooms; purposely creating smaller eateries to limit large crowds. And there's no communal food sharing ? food is only prepared when it's ordered and delivered directly to you.
• When using the delivery food service onboard, ShipEats, contactless drop-off and pick up is available.
• Leveraging an already-digital onboard experience to limit contact; The Band (for contactless payment), Service Chat (for assistance digitally) and Virtual Queues (for getting in lines for onboard experiences without actually getting in physical lines).
• For masks, same guidance is followed as is recommended on land - so if people are advised to wear masks there, Virgin will do so at sea, as well.

Virgin Voyages Pre-Cruise Safety

• Following recommended CDC guidelines, working closely with the Voyage Well Expert Advisory Group in order to inform and update processes and procedures in real-time.
• Implementing additional and frequent pre-boarding health checks and screenings for both Crew and Sailors.
• Installing Thermal Camera technology in terminals and on board to monitor Crew and Sailors' temperatures.

Virgin Voyages Air Ventilation

• Installing the latest technology from AtmosAir Solutions - an air purification system that disinfects air on board. Leveraging bi-polar Ionization technology, this air purification system has been shown to kill 99.9% of viruses - making Virgin the first in the industry to treat 100% of the air onboard with this technology.
• Virgin's sea terrace ratio is one of the highest in the industry - allowing plenty of access to (salt-infused) fresh air.

Virgin Voyages Destination Safety

• Managing the arrival and disembarkation times of Sailors and Crew at the port terminals, so that necessary physical distancing is possible.
• For all Shore Things and at The Beach Club at Bimini, only activities on land that meet the sanitation or physical distancing requirements that are on the ship are suggested.

Virgin Voyages Crew Safety

• Routine temperature checks for the Crew, as well as routine testing for the COVID-19 virus.
• Any Crew members who come into contact with anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 will isolate and take part in additional health checks to stop potential outbreaks.
• Increased Crew uniform cleaning at laundry facilities with the latest cleaning technology installed; high temperature cleaning that eradicates viruses and harmful bacteria that can live on clothing.
• Required gloves and frequent hand washing for high risk areas of contamination like pre-health check terminal welcome areas, delivery areas, laundry and waste disposal areas.

Virgin Voyages Medical Facilities

• Basic COVID-19 testing and any cold or flu-like symptom health screenings are free of charge on board. Sailors and Crew have 24/7 access to the fully-equipped private medical health center.
• Increased medical capabilities with additional ve
ntilators, and increased inventories of oxygen capacity and PPE.
• Any Sailors or Crew who become unwell are routinely isolated in their cabins to protect others, and anyone who has come into close contact with the impacted individuals will do the same.
• Isolated Sailors and Crew will receive care from third-party medical providers onboard until they can disembark and receive any additional treatment that may be needed.
• Protecting the Crew who look after you through the use of masks and gloves, intense uniform cleaning, and extensive training and education around COVID-19 - from proper cleaning and disinfecting.

Virgin Voyages Post-Cruise Safety

• Set up a post-voyage notification process through which Sailors and Crew can inform Virgin if becoming unwell within 14 days of leaving the ship (the COVID-19 incubation period).
• Contacting Sailors and/or Crew who may have come in close contact with anyone who became unwell, so you can arrange any necessary follow-ups or care.