In Travel News for September 12th, 2022 we have travel restrictions updates from Japan, Virgin Voyages, and New Zealand.
Virgin Voyages Updates Health & Safety
Virgin Voyages is joining many other Cruise lines in revising their health and safety protocols. The new protocols will allow travelers to sail regardless of vaccination status. Unvaccinated travelers will still be required to provide a negative covid test taken within 72 hours before sailing. This new policy applies to guests only, crew are still required to be fully vaccinated. Virgin Voyages has two ships, the Valiant and the Scarlet Lady; the new policy will go into effect on the Valiant on September 18th and on the Scarlet Lady on September 21st.
New Zealand Relaxes Pandemic and Entry Restrictions
Government officials in New Zealand announced that they are phasing out most of their pandemic related travel restrictions. Unvaccinated travelers will now be allowed to visit, and the Mask Mandate is being scaled back. Previously only fully vaccinated travelers could visit, and masks were required in many public spaces and on public transportation including all Air Travel to or from the country. The change comes in time for New Zealand’s summer season which runs from December through February.
Japan to Announce Further Relaxing of Restrictions
Japan has been slowly reopening to travelers, however many requirements and restrictions are still in effect. All travelers to Japan need to have a Travel Visa provided by the Japanese government. Among the requirements for the visa, travelers must either be apart of an approved escorted tour group or have an approved Japanese Travel Agent to oversee their travels. These requirements have been, well difficult for many travelers. But that might be about to change. We are hearing that as early as this week the Prime Minister of Japan will be waiving the travel visa requirement for travelers from approved countries. This will include eliminating the requirement that travelers from these countries be apart of a tour or have a Japanese travel agent to oversee their trip.