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Cruise passengers free to explore VI under strict guidelines- Hon Malone

- all guests over 16-years-old must be fully vaccinated to enter territory
With less than a day before the Virgin Islands (VI) accepts its first official passenger cruise call since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, new details were revealed regarding the freedoms of vaccinated tourists who will arrive as passengers of the Celebrity Millennium. Photo: Internet Source
The Health Minister further revealed that while on land, cruise travelers must be in accordance with the existing BVI public health protocols as do all local businesses working in this sector. Photo: GIS/Facebook
The Health Minister further revealed that while on land, cruise travelers must be in accordance with the existing BVI public health protocols as do all local businesses working in this sector. Photo: GIS/Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - With just a day away before the Virgin Islands (VI) accepts its first official passenger cruise call since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, new details have been revealed regarding the freedom of vaccinated tourists who will arrive as passengers of the Celebrity Millennium.

The ship, part of Royal Caribbean Group’s Celebrity Cruises, will call to the Territory on July 1, 2021, at 8:00 am and all guests over the age of 16 years will be required to be fully vaccinated along with a fully vaccinated crew, the Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL) said.

Hon Malone was at the time addressing the territory during yesterday’s June 29, 2021, COVID-19 update broadcasted on Facebook and via local media outlets in the VI.

Strict COVID-19 measures in place 

“Further, testing, pre-screening and embarkation measures are in place, along with other onboard mitigation measures to ensure the health and safety of the communities which the ship’s guest, may visit,” he said.

The Health Minister further revealed that while on land, cruise travelers must be in accordance with the existing local public health protocols as do all local businesses working in this sector.

He said guests will also be permitted to access tours independently and explore the islands; however, they must follow local public health measures.

“These include the wearing of face masks by guests and crew in public and communal settings, physical distancing of 6 feet must be observed during both embarkation and disembarkation as well as for on-island and sea-based excursions, and handwashing and sanitising must be easily available during excursions.”

Get ready to welcome return of cruises - Hon Malone 

According to Hon Malone, the management of Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park will also make an upcoming announcement to detail how the cruise call will affect daily operations at the facility.

“But we ask all vendors, taxi operators, tour guides and all other industry stakeholders to get ready to welcome the return of Cruise Tourism to the BVI while adhering to all approved health measures,” he said. .

“As we embrace the countdown to this ship’s berthing on Thursday, let us all get ready to welcome our guests with BVI Love, while remaining safe as far as humanly possible,” Hon Malone urged citizens.

16 Responses to “Cruise passengers free to explore VI under strict guidelines- Hon Malone ”

  • ..... (30/06/2021, 08:04) Like (12) Dislike (6) Reply
    we ffffff wee fffff
  • Damn (30/06/2021, 08:12) Like (25) Dislike (9) Reply
    The walking dead takes on a new meaning..... honestly this can be a horror/scifi that can be shot and produced in the bvi. Depicting how Global Elite use tourism as a means to carry out biological warfare and using people to transport and transmit their weapons created by scientists. The vaccine doesn't stop you from getting the virus but allows these mouth breathing Neanderthals who live for consumption to live comfortably while transmitting it around the caribbean, perfect way to reach isolated countries. We can call it "Pandemic Paradise....Covid's Little Secret"
    • Lucifer (30/06/2021, 10:33) Like (9) Dislike (10) Reply
      So let me get this right, its vaccinated people on cruise ships who are to blame if you get sick? If you had any knowledge of how vaccines work you would understand that they do not guarantee against infection. They do however prime your immune system to identify a threat and deal with it minimizing the risk of falling seriously ill. Who do you think is more likely to spread infection, an unvaccinated individual with symptomatic infection coughing and sneezing everywhere, or a vaccinated individual who is infected but asymptomatic?
      • @Lucifer (30/06/2021, 16:57) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
        The person who is coughing and feeling sick tend to stay home or limit their movement due to discomfort while asymptomatic will be all over the place talkin in your face, hugging and shaking ur hand after digging dem nose unknowinglt spreading to all 4 corners of the island. U a couple brain cells short to understand this logic.
    • Tvip (30/06/2021, 16:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Seriously?!?
  • resident (30/06/2021, 08:41) Like (5) Dislike (4) Reply
    Corona coming
  • dua (30/06/2021, 10:00) Like (16) Dislike (7) Reply
    @Damn, Get the vaccine, It doesn’t stop you from getting it, but it will save your life, It's your choice fool.
    • Lb (30/06/2021, 11:53) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply
      It is also a false sense of security. Vaccinated people think they are free as birds and can be carrying around and spreading the virus. While the Unvaccinated would be more cautious.
      • Lucifer (30/06/2021, 14:59) Like (4) Dislike (6) Reply
        The false sense of security is with those that think they fight off covid just using herbs and bush tea. Why should the vaccinated have to limit their activities because certain people would rather believe social media science than real science. The unvaccinated make their choices and now they can face the consequences of those choices which is they are at a far higher risk of falling ill
  • fear (30/06/2021, 11:03) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Stop panicking Corona was here and is here even before this ship set sail to the BVI. Nothing about here comes Corona just do your part and help to not spread it.
  • hmmm (30/06/2021, 12:24) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    16 unvaccinated persons on board ship will be allowed to roam free. Children or not it should not be
  • Complainer (30/06/2021, 13:23) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Most of the people who are scared now are the same people who saying open up the tourism. They don't want no vaccine. They don't want to be left out of the tourism jobs. When you give them what they want they complain. If you put restrictions on who could work the Opposition jumping up to criticize. You relax the restrictions they complain that it not tough enough. Some people just out of control for no reason. You can't have it both ways.
    • It will work. (30/06/2021, 14:49) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      We cannot fail ourselves without trying... We going to have the ships come, its not going to be perfect, but we will fix and adjust as we go along....
  • Cruise Bookings Record (30/06/2021, 15:52) Like (4) Dislike (5) Reply
    Cruise ship bookings as of the ene of May had hit a 10 year high, Its predicted that November this year to December next year 2022, will be the busiest in 10yrs, thats the latest cruise update,, People get Vaccinated, theere are money to be made, stop listening and following civil servant with their vaccine negativity, their salary is sure....Be wize, get vaccinze,, Time make all the money that we have lost....
  • HMMM (30/06/2021, 17:02) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    If we really care about the health of people we would ban all the refined sugar and limit the amount of sodas in our schools. Better yet we should put a cap on the number of burgers and ears 1 can have at the lunch and dinner table or at a bar. I mean with all the diabetes and obesity goin why stop at covid?
  • Don't come here to make me sick (01/07/2021, 15:45) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Make sure that evry passenger coming ashore be reminded that mask wearing is madatory here. Too many of those folk think they have a right not to wer them anhave a right to infect others if they are infected. Some willful behaviors have been observed throughout Virgin Gorda over the past four weeks by tourist.

    Anyone that cmes in my proximity with that foolish behavior will be in for harsh verbal repremand.


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