DESTINATIONS UK RESTART | CRUISE
NEED TO KNOW
E Passengers sailing on MSC Virtuosa must present a negative Covid-19 test result – either antigen or PCR – at their embarkation port. The test must be carried out by a trained professional and taken within 72 hours prior to departure.
E Travel insurance is mandatory and must clearly include Covid cover on the document. If your policy falls short in this regard, you can buy Europ Assistance cover for £22. Call your insurance supplier from the port if you think your insurance does contain Covid cover to help you understand where the necessary details are on the document.
ABOVE AND LEFT:MSC Virtuosa’s features include robotic bartender Rob in the MSC Starship Club, the Savannah Aquapark, an LED Sky Dome and F1 Simulators INSET: Harry Kemble PICTURES: Anthony Devlin/Getty Images for MSC Cruises
since 1620, is around 45 minutes’ drive away. We are allowed off the coach to take pictures of the Giant, before driving on to our second destination. We must sit in our bubbles and exit the coach individually to avoid bumping into people in the aisle. As in most indoor settings right
now, we wear masks when moving around inside the country house and on the coach, though we can remove our face coverings when eating or drinking. However, our hosts at Minterne may have wished we had masks on after we reacted with mock horror to the cream tea served – with cream piled over the top of the jam! Later, back on Virtuosa, I meet
Mandy, a 52-year-old driving instructor from Bristol. She admits both she and her 59-year-old husband, Jeremy, avoided the shore excursion because they were concerned about being cooped up on a coach with people
travelweekly.co.uk
33First-time cruiser Jo tells me: ‘I’d never fancied a cruise before but the ship looked amazing. I’ve not been disappointed’
outside their bubble, although they would have explored Portland independently had it been allowed. And Kayla and Daniel, who also chose to remain on the ship throughout, tell me late on the third day after groups had returned to the ship that they had mild cases of “cabin fever”. The excursion provides a break
from the ship after two nights and a sea day on board, even if it does explore a part of the country
many of us have visited before. Excursions are available in
other ports around the UK, with 39 options including walking tours, city sightseeing and scenic drives. Whether passengers are keen to take up organised excursions in rather more familiar ports of call remains to be seen, but when it comes to life on board, this maiden voyage undoubtedly proved the appeal of a UK cruise.
Just speaking with new-to-cruise passenger Jo, 51, demonstrates what the line has accomplished in just two months. “I never fancied a cruise before,” says Jo. “I thought it would be a lot of people and you would not be able to find space. But the ship looked amazing online and [the sailing] was only four days. I’ve not been disappointed.” As we disembark, returning our wristbands in the process, this time it’s me rubbing my eyes – in disbelief at the long-awaited and very welcome return of cruising.
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E Once you’ve presented your test result and travel insurance cover, all passengers must take a nasal swab test in the port before boarding. The experience is swift but the sight of officials in PPE is slightly unnerving if you are not expecting it.
E Remember to bring a UK adaptor. Cabins are fitted with a mix of European and US sockets plus USB ports. You can borrow one from guest services for a refundable deposit of £30, but the line’s stocks are not endless.
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