P&O launches UK ‘voyages to nowhere’ – and passengers must be vaccinated

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. P&O Cruises says only people who have received both Covid-19 jabs, and waited a further week, will be allowed onboard the first voyages the company plans to operate since April last year. A new P&O Cruises vessel, Iona, will operate a series of week-long cruises starting on 7 August, which will including anchoring off her namesake Scottish island of Iona – but without the opportunity to land. “Also, we really will look at the weather forecast each cruise and aim to take our ships where it is warm and sunny.” Prospective passengers are told by P&O Cruises: “Given the advanced progress of the UK vaccination programme and strong expressed preference on the part of our guests for this limited series of UK coastal cruises, these sailings on Britannia and Iona will be for UK resident, Covid-19 vaccinated guests only. “For these cruises the definition of ‘vaccinated’ is a minimum of seven days following the second dose of the currently approved Covid-19 vaccines being administered.” The cruise line has yet to say what will constitute an approved form of evidence, though Mr Ludlow told BBC Breakfast “a letter from your GP will suffice”.