AmaWaterways Health & Safety Protocols
Commitment to the health and safety of guests and crew remains of the utmost importance to AmaWaterways. They are working with global health authorities and local governments in the U.S. and around the world to follow all the most up-to-date health and safety protocols, some of which we been summarized for you below. Experienced staff and crew have undergone special training and will be advised and guided by a Public Health Officer. As always, crew will be on hand to take care of all the details so you can relax and enjoy your much-anticipated river cruise vacation.
AmaWaterways Guest Safety
Pre-Cruise: Prior to boarding, an online health and contact screening questionnaire will be required.
Embarkation:At embarkation, guests' temperatures will be taken with no-contact infrared thermometers. If, for any reason, further testing is required, shoreside medical treatment centers are within close proximity.
Your luggage handles will be sanitized before delivery to your stateroom.
Onboard: Protocols continue to change; however, at this time, guests are required to wear face coverings when moving through public spaces.
Ample hand sanitizers are available throughout the ship and their frequent use is required by all guests and crew. AmaWaterways' crew has implemented enhanced cleaning and disinfecting measures throughout the ship.
You will likely notice crew cleaning public areas more frequently. Special attention will be paid to areas like staircases, public washrooms, armrests in the lounge and guardrails. Hospital-grade disinfectants are used for continual surface cleaning in public areas. Additional deep cleaning will take place throughout the entire ship between each sailing. Your designated stateroom steward will clean your stateroom twice daily.
AmaWaterways uses state-of-the-art fan coil air conditioning units; there is no recirculating of air onboard. The air is always fresh and clean as all staterooms and public areas are equipped with state-of-the-art individual fan coil air conditioning units. Each stateroom has its own sophisticated heating/cooling system - a fan coil unit located in the ceiling inside the stateroom above the entry area. The main public areas - lounge and restaurants - have their own high-quality air-fog system to continuously ensure clean air. On European ships, there are no air conditioning systems blowing cold air that would circulate throughout the entire ship as you would find in standard air conditioning units.
There will be limitations to the number of guests allowed to sail. You will have plenty of space to roam as AmaWaterways will limit the number of guests onboard depending on the most up-to-date guidelines in effect at the time of sailing.
Safety and social distancing will be enhanced throughout the dining room. Dining room setups and attentive service will be compliant with social distancing guidelines and current food and beverage safety recommendations. Crew will serve you at your table and will be happy to offer you a similar choice of menu items formerly available at buffets. A limited room service menu will also be available during mealtimes.
You will still get plenty of fresh air and exercise as bicycles, fitness mats and equipment will be thoroughly sanitized after each use. Use of the Fitness Room is by appointment with cleaning time between use. Throughout Europe and Asia, a variety of onboard wellness activities are provided, led by professionally trained Wellness Hosts. Whenever weather permits, these small-group classes will be held on spacious open-air Sun Decks.
Non-essential visitors are not permitted onboard. Historically, AmaWaterways has allowed a limited number of visitors onboard, such as travel advisors learning more about the ships or guests on other river cruise ships wanting to sail with AmaWaterways in the future. For the safety of guests and crew, non-essential visitors will no longer be allowed onboard.
Exploring Ashore: Your personal portable Quietvox commentary systems will allow you to hear guides while social distancing. AmaWaterways provides a complimentary personal Quietvox commentary system for every guest to use throughout your journey. Powered by a sustainable rechargeable battery within your own stateroom, your portable Quietvox system allows you to hear your guide during excursions while permitting comfortable social distancing. A brand-new set of headphones that plugs into the Quietvox will be provided to you at the beginning of your sailing; you may also bring and use your own personal set of plug-in headphones.
Shore excursions will be conducted in small groups. Guests must use hand sanitizers when getting on and off coaches that are thoroughly cleaned each morning. In the event that ships are docked side by side, guests will be required to pass over Sun Decks.
AmaWaterways' ships are occasionally required to dock side by side with other river cruise ships while in certain ports, which requires guests from one ship to enter the other to go ashore. In these cases, guests from other ships will be required to pass over the open-air Sun Deck rather than through the interior of your ship. Exterior handrails will also be sanitized on a high-frequency basis.
AmaWaterways Crew Safety
Pre-Cruise: Pre-boarding medical test and isolation periods, in-depth health and safety training, face coverings and social distancing are required. Crew must have certified medical clearance certificate plus undergo pre-boarding COVID-19 testing and are kept in an isolation period prior to embarking.
Onboard: All crew have participated in in-depth training on enhanced operating protocols led by AmaWaterways' experienced corporate Designated Hygiene Officer in consultation with international and national health authorities. Each ship has their own Public Health Officer overseeing all aspects of health and sanitation for guests and crew.
Health will be monitored for potential symptoms as well as through twice daily temperature checks.
Crew will be required to wear face coverings during working hours and continue to respect social distancing in their living quarters.
