The UK-based new cruise company and travel brand Virgin Voyages responded to the new COVID Omicron by implementing new safety protocols onboard its liners.
Since Virgin requires full vaccination of the travelers, masks are not required. However, in the new changes, referring to the passengers that recently sailed to African areas where Omicron cases appeared, they oblige them to wear masks indoors on the cruise ship and require additional COVID-19 testing.
With the recent updates of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding travel restrictions from threats of the new variant, sailors who have traveled through the following regions within 14 days of the voyage (Botswana, Eswantin, Malawi, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe) will be subject to extra precautionary measures on board the ship, including mask-wearing while indoors (not in cabin), taking a COVID test on day 3 of their cruise and reporting any symptoms to the medical center. In case Sailors don't wish to follow the precautions, they'll be offered a Future Cruise Credit to move their voyage.
The new restrictions are an addition to the current vaccine requirement and testing at the cruise terminal before boarding.