Marella Cruises UK announced its plans to welcome passengers back onboard its liners when the UK Government travel advice changes. Customers can book and sail with confidence due to "Marella Promise" providing quarantine-free voyages and flexible changes.
The company hopes its ship Marella Explorer will set sail from Corfu Island (Kerkyra, Greece) on October 2.
Marella Promise is focused on 5 key commitments to ensure travellers can have the safest voyage. In case there are any significant changes to a Marella itinerary or facilities that would prevent the sailing from happening, the cruise will not go ahead, and passengers would be offered various options. Extra cleaning measures are to be implemented and excursion safety guidelines to be checked. The cruise company will only operate quarantine-free sailings and will not cruise to destinations with isolating measures in place.
Marella Cruises added additional flexibility for bookings made before September 30, 2020, so if clients no longer wish to sail, they can have a free amend so they can move to a later date.
An extensive range of measures have been put in place: before boarding, clients will be asked to take a health screening which includes a temperature check and a questionnaire. Passengers may be also asked to wear face masks at times either onboard or ashore. There will be fewer guests to help adhere to social distancing measures. Luggage will be disinfected before it is taken to their stateroom and there will be signs for one-way systems around the cruise ships. Public areas and cabins will be thoroughly and regularly deep cleaned and there will be more hand sanitizer stations around the vessel.
Marella Cruises will continue to offer a cashless service using clients onboard accounts and passengers will be encouraged to use the line's Navigate app to book restaurants and shore excursions. Customers will be taken to tables in buffet restaurants and will be served by the crew, the entertainment programs will operate as normal but adhering to social distancing guidelines and the pool will feature reduced capacity with the sunbeds spaced further apart.
All crew members will be given COVID training and will be wearing protective equipment.
Passengers are able to cancel a booked shore excursion up to 24 hours prior to its beginning.