NEW RULES FOR CRUISING AFTER COVID-19
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection just announced enhanced health and safety protocols. The company is reviewing current procedures and considering every touchpoint and interaction between crew and guest. New measures will be added to every facet of the cruise experience. These will include onboard dining, service of guest suites, excursions and crew etiquette.
“At Uniworld, the health and wellbeing of our guests and our crew are paramount. As we prepare to join the world community in reopening our homes, businesses, ships and lives to one another, we have carefully reviewed protocols and procedures to ensure that the touchpoints between the people we care about the very most are managed with intention, respect and utmost care.”
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Ellen Bettridge, President & CEO of Uniworld
Bettridge said that common practices such as having candy jars in the lounge and displaying coffee table books will be reviewed. Some of these will be reimagined across the company
New Cruise Ship Sanitation Measures
As an extension to the rigorous sanitation procedures Uniworld already has in place, other new guest measures include:
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All guests must complete health screening prior to embarkation.
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Fruits, cookies, chips, nuts, and other treats will be served to individual guests by the crew only. These are no longer available for self-service.
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Disinfect wipes will be available throughout the ship, including at coffee stations and in the public restrooms.
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Any onboard payments will be processed using a contactless payment method. Credit card machines will be wiped after each pin entry.
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All restaurant dining will have reserved seating. Guests will sit at the same table, and with the same people, each day.
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Items like bread and butter will now be served to each person individually.
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Gloves, face masks and bottles of hand sanitizer will be available for all guests.
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For excursions, the maximum occupancy per bus will be adjusted. This is to reduce the total number of people together at one time.
Cruise industry health authorities
In addition to regularly reviewing procedures and protocols to ensure best practices, Uniworld is also closely monitoring recommendations from world health authorities.
These include:
“We have been scrupulous in our process to consider every moment that may present an unnecessary concern. This is why all coffee table books, magazines and brochures, for example, have been removed from public use. Instead, guests will be able to access these reading materials via our complimentary PressReader app on their personal devices.”
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Ellen Bettridge, President & CEO of Uniworld
Training for Cruise Ship Crews
According to Bettridge, Uniworld’s already stringent crew protocol has also been reviewed and enhanced. The crew already receive extensive and required professional health and hygiene HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) training.
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In addition, they will receive regular health screenings and are expected to adhere to social distancing requirements, all public and private crew quarters are sanitized regularly; plus now, crew meals are served – no self-service allowed.
According to Bettridge, Uniworld’s already stringent crew protocol has also been reviewed and enhanced. The crew already receive extensive and required professional health and hygiene HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) training.
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In addition, they will receive regular health screenings and are expected to adhere to social distancing requirements, all public and private crew quarters are sanitized regularly; plus now, crew meals are served – no self-service allowed.
New cruising guidelines
“The world is changed and as we start to welcome guests just beginning to step back into travel, we want them to know that we understand and are anticipating their concern and taking careful and deliberate steps to protect their safety, health and wellbeing—which will come in the form of a broad smile instead of a handshake” said Bettridge.
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