FORT LAUDERDALE — Both passengers and crew will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 when sailing with Riviera River Cruises.
As the latest cruise line to announce the requirement, Riviera is prioritizing health and safety by mandating that guests must have all doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, with the final dose taken a minimum of seven days before departure.
Guests who aren’t fully vaccinated will be offered a complimentary COVID-19 test to allow them to depart on their cruise. Those who test positive for COVI-19 before their cruise will be allowed to transfer their departure to another date for free.
The requirements will also apply to crew members, who will have additional daily temperature checks and ongoing health screenings.
“As we eagerly await our return to Europe’s rivers, we’ve decided to require full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test before departure to increase safety,” said Marilyn Conroy, Riviera River Cruises’ Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing North America. “This new requirement, combined with our comprehensive customer care policies and health and safety protocols that will be in place aboard our ships, will allow guests to travel with us with confidence.”
Riviera previously announced flexible customer care policies that include free changes to new bookings, COVID-19 Cancellation Protection and a happiness guarantee in which guests who are not satisfied by the second day of their cruise will be brought home with a refund for their cruise and any change fees or fare increases from their original airline ticket paid by Riviera.
Additional health and safety protocols aboard ships include guest health screening and luggage sanitization, daily temperature checks, social distancing in public areas, continuous cleaning of public areas and touch points, full waiter service in restaurants and lounges, deep cleaning and ventilation between cruises, and quarantine periods and medical checks for all new crew members. Masks or face coverings may also be required when moving about ships or on excursions.
Earlier this week, NCL announced its plans to resume sailings this summer, also with a proof of vaccination mandate in place. Other cruise lines following suit include Windstar, Crystal, American Queen Steamboat Company and Victory Cruise Lines.
