River cruises are built to slowly travel the rivers of the world with fewer guests on board and more time in amazing ports. This low passenger count combined with the high levels of attention, result in higher guest satisfaction. River cruises have been able to resume safely in Europe, during a time when larger mainstream ships have not been approved by the CDC.
Judging by the climate we’re in with regards to the Covid-19 pandemic, there is no more important time to ensure the safety of every traveler than now. With that in mind, Avalon River Cruises has taken the lead with sharing their plan of action as it pertains to keeping us safe. Reduced ship capacity will allow for more space onboard per guest.
Combined with the highest health standards and environmentally conscious practices in the industry, an Avalon Waterways river cruise gives travelers peace of mind throughout their vacation—from embarkation to the last goodbye.
Travel in 2021 With Peace of Mind
A complimentary 2021 Peace of Mind Travel Plan is attached to your booking. You can move to any other 2021 or 2022 date, destination, or itinerary prior to the final payment date.
Avalon River Coronavirus
Enhanced Health & Safety Guidelines
Before Your Go
All guests will be required to complete a pre-trip health screening. Travelers are also now required to provide one of the following printed and/or digital verifications upon arrival:
- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination at least 14 days prior to travel
- Proof of a negative COVID-19 test (NAAT/PCR or antigen) result within 72-hours of travel
- Proof of recovery from a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis within three (3) months of travel
In addition to unveiling new COVID-19 parameters required at the start of each vacation departure, the Globus family of brands announced that they will facilitate – and cover – additional COVID-19 testing, if required, for guests to return to their home country, as well as tests on trip if guests show symptoms.
Welcome Aboard
With Avalon, big things come in small packages. With fewer than 150 guests per cruise, you can rest assured that every inch of your ship is attended to with our famous attention to detail, including enhanced onboard protocols to help ensure a safe and healthy voyage for all. The lower guest count combined with our spacious ship design means you’ll always find extra room to make yourself comfortable—in your stateroom and around the ship.
New embarkation procedures to offer guests a safe start to their trip will including social distancing at check in, mandatory health screening including touch-free temperature checks for all guests & crew & luggage disinfection prior to boarding the ship.
Fresh air….inside and out. In addition to the open-air staterooms, the air on the ships is not circulated between staterooms. Only within an individual stateroom is air circulated and mixed with fresh, outside air.
Touching Hearts, Not Hands
The first point of order one on the ship, is decreasing the spread of bacteria and with that in mind, Avalon Waterways will have sanitizer stations throughout each of their suite ships, especially near every entrance, exit and food area. Required use of hand sanitizing stations when leaving or returning to the ship.
Self service buffets areas, specialty coffee & snacks will be replaced with crew service. Buffets will be replaced with a la carte menu choices. At a minimum, hourly if not more frequent disinfection of all public areas.
Crew members will wear masks for the duration of the cruise.
Masks will be provided to guests to wear during any events where social proximity could becoming an issue, such as safety drills or onboard shows.
Excursions will operate with less guests.
Crew Member Health
Crew member health and well-being is priority one as it pertains to not only the crew member, but guest as well. That said, there will not be one single crew member allowed to work if he or she is sick in any way, shape or form. A medical certificate will be required prior to the start of their contract. They will also have regular health screenings and daily temperature checks. Social distancing will be enforced in crew quarters.
Rigorous Cleaning Regimen
New technology has been added to every Avalon ship including electrostatic disinfecting systems and UV disinfecting systems. Ongoing crew training in protective equipment use and hygiene has been implemented.
Housekeeping staff will be on duty from 6am until 10pm daily maintaining each and every suite ship. Every stateroom will be cleaned not to mention checked not once, but twice a day.
Strict HACCP Guidelines will be used to secure the safety of materials used throughout the ship’s distribution chain. Furthermore, separate cleaning materials are used for different surface types. Lastly, Ecolab certified cleaning supplies & disinfectants will be utilized throughout every ship, twice a day, every day of the week.
Cabins will be deep cleaned between cruises including use of disinfectants and cleaning material that meet the highest standards. This includes mattresses, sofas, window coverings, chairs, etc. will be disinfected between cruises. Ship main areas including furniture, bicycles, umbrellas and all shared material will be deep cleaned as well.
Food Supply, Storage & Preparation Standards
Avalon has always had enhanced safety protocols when it came to food service. Here is an overview of their food safety standards.
Avalon will continue to review and updated Assurance initiatives, including adhering to and building upon the standard set forth by travel and health agencies across the globe including the CDC, the European Centre for Disease Control, the WHO, the Cruise Line International Association and the United States Tour Operators Association.
2021 & 2022 Avalon River Cruises
Browse Avalon Waterways 2022 river cruises and take advantage of early booking deals. Discover the European continent on its legendary rivers from the North Sea to the Black Sea. From the English Channel to the Mediterranean Sea, discover timeless tradition and beauty on the Rhine, Danube, Seine, and Rhône—to name a few. Explore South America with a cruise on the Amazon or an expedition to the Galápagos. Discover ancient traditions on the Mekong in Southeast Asia, the sacred Ganges in India, or the mysterious Nile in Egypt. Cruise your way with countless combinations of land vacations before or after your river cruise. Welcome aboard!
At the time this blog, we do not have any updated information from AMAWaterways river cruises, Uniworld River Cruises, Tauck River Cruises, Viking River Cruises or Crystal River cruises on their protocols. We will post separate blogs for each, once the information is available.
