Oceanwide Expeditions' ship MV Plancius is expected to become the first cruiser to visit the Falkland Islands since their reopening to tourism.
The ship is scheduled to dock in Port Stanley on Friday, December 10, with her full occupancy of 108 guests. Passengers will then be free to explore the port town and nearby areas.
Strict COVID measures remain intact both in the Falklands and onboard MV Plancius. All Oceanwide Expeditions' staff and guests were vaccinated and required to take tests both before and during their voyage, which will be 17 days into the 19-night total by the time MV Plancius reaches Port Stanley.
MV Plancius underwent extensive upgrades before the voyage, such as Pathogen-killing UV filtration for HVAC systems, dedicated quarantine cabins with independent air vents, and fever-detecting thermal cameras for common areas, which are just some of the measures Oceanwide Expeditions have taken.
Port Stanley businesses have developed additional protocols. These include enhanced cleaning routines, self-declaration forms, contactless payment, efforts that have earned the approval of the World Travel & Tourism Council.
Both Oceanwide passengers and Falkland Islands' residents will benefit when MV Plancius docks in Port Stanley, leading the way for polar operators returning to the sub-Antarctic.