Saga hopeful that all customers will be vaccinated by May
Saga customers who have not received a Covid vaccine two weeks before their holiday will be offered an alternative date or a full refund after the over 50s specialist said inoculation will be a requirement to travel with the company.
The firm said the policy of compulsory vaccinations had the full support of customers with a survey of 2000 holidaymakers showing 98% were in favour.
The jab must be administered two weeks prior to departure.
But with Saga due to re-start operations in May, it is far from certain whether all its customers will have been offered a vaccine by the time of their holiday.
Saga said customers in that position will have options.
"The latest government guidance suggests that the roll out will be well progressed for our planned return to service, but if for any reason customers need to change their cruise/holiday plans, we will offer them either a different date or a full refund," a spokesperson said.
Commenting on the compulsory vaccination policy, the company said:
"The health and safety of our customers has always been our number one priority at Saga.
"Our customers want the reassurance of the vaccine and to know others travelling with them will be vaccinated too. To allow our customers time to get vaccinated, we are moving the restart date for our Travel businesses to May."
The company said the vaccination policy will be in addition to ‘detailed arrangements we have already put in place for when cruises and other holidays restart’.
To ensure as many customers as possible have been vaccinated, Saga has delayed the resumption of ts cruise programme to 4 May, while its touring and river cruise holidays will now restart on 1 May.
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