All passengers must show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination to sail or proof of a negative COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen) taken no earlier than 72 hours before travel. Alternately, passengers can show proof that they have recovered from a confirmed case of COVID-19 within three months of travel.
Pre Cruise & Embarkation Day
Welcome Aboard: Avalon has plans to unveil new embarkation procedures that provide travelers a safe start to their journey. Among the company’s planned changes are mandatory health screenings, including touch-free temperature checks and luggage disinfection, prior to onboarding.
Fresh Air Inside & Out: Eighty percent of Avalon cabins are Panorama Suites, offering guests an Open-Air experience on each ship. In addition to Avalon’s Open-Air staterooms, 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: To further advance Avalon’s new Assurance protocols, the company also is introducing new, top-of-the-line technologies including Electrostatic cleaning systems and UV disinfecting systems.
Touching Hearts, Not Hands: Avalon’s new assurance protocols will also ensure more risk-free and hands-free services onboard, such as more hand sanitizer stations throughout the ship (including all public areas); 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: River cruising offers guests an opportunity to enjoy the world around them, docking in the heart of destinations. Avalon will continue to deliver this with more space for social distancing, including 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: Avalon has an unwavering commitment to ship cleaning procedures. Some new steps that go above-and-beyond its 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 happy, healthy Avalon crew is also a 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.
In addition, Avalon Waterways is reviewing excursion standards and protocols with partners across the globe