AVALON Waterways has unveiled its path forward to “welcome aboard”, detailing a range of preliminary plans and protocols for future river cruises. In anticipation of the resumption of crusing, the line has developed a new Avalon Assurance program to safeguard the health and happiness of travellers. The program currently features...
AVALON Waterways has unveiled its path forward to “welcome aboard”, detailing a range of preliminary plans and protocols for future river cruises.
In anticipation of the resumption of crusing, the line has developed a new Avalon Assurance program to safeguard the health and happiness of travellers.
The program currently features seven major categories and protocols which span all guest experience touchpoints, and include:
Welcome aboard: New embarkation procedures providing travellers with safety during the process, including mandatory health screenings, touch-free temperature checks and luggage disinfection.
Fresh air: inside & out: 80% of Avalon cabins are Panorama suites, offering guests an open-air experience. The air in the ships is also not circulated between staterooms; only within an individual stateroom, and is mixed with fresh air.
New technology to ensure cleanliness: The company is also introducing new top-of-the-line technologies including electrostatic cleaning and UV disinfecting systems.
Touching hearts, not hands: Avalon’s new assurance protocols will ensure more hands-free services onboard, such as more hand sanitiser stations throughout the ship, including in all public areas; replacing buffet and self-serve stations with crew services and hourly-minimum disinfection of all public areas.
Blending cultural proximity with social distance: Avalon will introduce 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: Unwavering commitment to ship cleaning procedures, with some new steps including deep-cleaning and disinfection of each stateroom during turnover, 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 through required medical screenings and certificates of health, new social distancing in crew living quarters and ongoing training in personal protective equipment use and hygiene.
The protocols are constantly being reviewed and renewed, with the cruise line also reviewing excursion standards.
