TORONTO — Avalon Waterways is the latest cruise line to unveil new health and safety protocols in anticipation of setting sail once more, post-COVID-19.
Its newly launched Avalon Assurance program, designed to safeguard the health of passengers throughout their cruise vacation, currently comprises seven major categories that span across guest experience touchpoints.
In addition, Avalon is reviewing excursion standards and protocols with partners around the world.
According to Pam Hoffee, managing director, these initiatives will continue to be reviewed in anticipation of Avalon’s return to waterways, which she says will take place on Sept. 1, 2020.
“The world has changed but what remains certain is our steadfast commitment to our guests’ safety, comfort and peace of mind,” she says. “To that end, we have established a Global Health & Safety team dedicated to ensuring that the cleanliness of all operations exceeds today’s standards from start to finish.”
The seven categories of the Avalon Assurance program are as follows:
- Welcome Aboard. New embarkation procedures include mandatory health screenings such as touch-free temperature checks and luggage disinfection prior to onboarding.
- Fresh Air – Inside & Out. Panorama Suites comprise 80% of Avalon’s cabins, offering guests an open-air experience on each ship. In addition, the air in its ships is not circulated between staterooms – only within an individual stateroom and mixed with fresh, outside air.
- New Technology to Ensure Cleanliness. Avalon is introducing new top-of-the-line technologies including Electrostatic cleaning systems and UV disinfecting systems.
- Touching Hearts, Not Hands. More risk-free and hands-free services will be introduced onboard, such as additional hand sanitizer stations throughout the ship, replacing buffet and self-serve stations with crew services, and hourly disinfection (at a minimum) of all public areas.
- Blending Cultural Proximity with Social Distance. Avalon will provide more space for social distancing by reducing ship capacity and alternative dining venues, as well as providing guests and crew masks for use, as needed or required.
- Commitment to the Cleanest Ships. New steps that go beyond Avalon’s already stringent policies include deep-cleaning and disinfection of each stateroom during turnover (including soft goods), disinfection of all dining areas between meals, and disinfection of shared items such as bicycles or umbrellas after each use.
- Focus on Crew Health & Education. Ensuring a healthy Avalon crew is a top priority. Standards include required medical screenings and certificates of health, new social distancing in crew living quarters and ongoing training in PPE use and hygiene.
For more information go to https://agents.globusfamily.ca/avalon-assurance/.
