P&O UK removes pre-departure COVID tests on 5x Iona ship cruises

   June 26, 2022 ,   Cruise Industry

P&O UK removed its pre-departure COVID testing requirement on selected Iona ship voyages in June & July 2022.

Passengers will not need to take a Coronavirus test prior to ship boarding if they are sailing on G220 June 25/G221 July 2/G222 July 9/G223 July 16/G224 July 23.

All of the sailings are Norwegian Fjord roundtrips out of homeport Southampton (England UK).

All passengers aged 12+ must be fully vaccinated. Those aged 16+ must have received a booster jab.

The line warned guests on other P&O itineraries they must continue to take a pre-departure COVID test as the requirement had only been dropped for those 5 sailings, but said the rule change could be extended to include additional voyages.

According to a spokesperson for the cruise line, as the health protocols for Covid continued to evolve across the world, P&O Cruises had changed its policy on Iona to remove the pre-departure testing for all guests.

“As a result, while all guests 12 years and over are still required to be fully vaccinated and those 16 years and over also need to have had a booster, all guests travelling on the following five cruise holidays – G220 June 25, G221 July 2, G222 July 9, G223 July 16, and G224 July 23 – will no longer need to purchase or take an antigen test prior to boarding the ship.

“For the moment, the removal of testing requirement will only be on these five cruises but should this be extended then we will advise guests as necessary.”