Health and Safety | Aurora Expeditions™

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Aurora Expeditions has carefully considered the potential impacts and risks to our expeditioners, staff, and crew associated with COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and we have proactively implemented the following in depth policies and practices to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone. These measures have been put in place following consultation with The World Health Organization (WHO), IAATO*, AECO^, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), our marine healthcare partner, Vikand, and our crew management partner, CMI Leisure. These will be regularly revised in line with the latest medical advice, advancements and guidelines.

You can find the latest updates on our future voyages here. We look forward to welcoming our expeditioners back on board when it is responsible to do so.

Health Measures Book with Assurance

Screening & Testing

Fit to Travel

All expeditioners will be required to obtain a ‘Fit to Travel’ certification from their doctor before travelling with us within 3 months of travel which outlines any pre-existing medical conditions.

Temperature Checks

Thermal infra-red scanners will be used to check temperatures for all expeditioners and crew prior to boarding and during the voyage.

Pre-Boarding Questionnaire

Expeditioners will be required to complete two questionnaires - 72 hours before departing for your trip and another before boarding. Those travelling from/through known high risk COVID-19 affected areas or with acute illness will be denied boarding.

Influenza Testing

Influenza testing will be available for all expeditioners and crew as required.

COVID-19 Testing

Aurora Expeditions has installed onboard the latest Point of Care diagnostic equipment which allows rapid testing of all expeditioners with high levels of accuracy.

All expeditioners will be asked to take a COVID-19 test 7 days before departure from their local doctor/testing facility and present a negative result. The day before or the day of embarkation on the vessel, all expeditioners will be required to undergo another COVID-19 test. Crew will also be required to take a COVID-19 PCR test prior to each voyage.

Once the voyage starts, further testing may be required depending on the voyage length. In the event an expeditioner or crew presents with COVID-19 like symptoms, the person will be tested immediately for both COVID-19 and the flu to ascertain the cause of the illness.

Cleaning & Sanitation

Enhanced disinfection & fogging

All cabins, communal spaces and surfaces will be disinfected regularly using proven antiviral disinfectants and an appropriate virucidal. Baggage (outside surface only) will be disinfected prior to boarding using antiviral disinfectants.

Continuous cleaning

Continuous cleaning of frequent touch points including elevators, handrails, public furniture and fitness equipment, as well as intensive cleaning of cabins with the use of an appropriate virucidal.

Vessel deep cleaning

All vessels will undergo extensive cleaning in between voyages in accordance with Centre of Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) protocols.

Enhanced sanitation

Increased sanitation practices and sanitisation stations while on board.

Enhanced crew sanitation training

All hospitality crew will be trained in the latest public health sanitation methods.

Ship Health & Safety Features

100% fresh air & no recirculation

Our vessels are new and have been built with the latest and highest standards of care, therefore each section of the ship, and each expeditioner room/cabin has its own supply of fresh air.

The air is pumped directly into each room from outside the ship, which then flows from the room directly out of the ship again. This avoids any recirculation of air within the ship. Thus, each room of the ship has its own air-conditioning system, including isolation cabins and the ship’s medical clinic.

Dedicated isolation cabins

Dedicated stateroom isolation cabins next to the medical clinic for expeditioners and crew who become ill with any symptoms. Isolation cabins are supplied with 100% fresh air and these cabins are fully sealed from the rest of the ship. As already mentioned, the air from these cabins and all expeditioner cabins is not recirculated elsewhere in the ship. Given the age of the vessel, it was built with the best operating practice in mind.

Onboard Protocols

Social distancing

Expeditioners will be required to observe social distancing measures as required based on protocols at the time and what is deemed appropriate.

Masks

Crew and staff will be required to wear masks in all public areas.

Hand sanitisers

Hand sanitisers will be widely available throughout the ship and provided in each cabin, and hand sanitisers with an appropriate virucidal will be in all main communal areas.

Full service meals

Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be individually plated and served. There will be no buffets on board under the current medical protocols.

Infection control management processes

In the event that someone becomes ill with any symptoms, rigorous infection control management processes will be implemented.

Medical Team & Resources

Medical staff

Emergency medical physician/doctor and paramedic with current training in CDC public health protocols, outbreak prevention and management protocols will be aboard every voyage.

PPE available for all expeditioners & crew

If required, adequate supply of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) used to prevent the spread of viruses for all expedtioners and crew. Masks will be available to each expeditioner if an expedtioner wishes to wear one and usage is encouraged.

Free medical consultations

Free medical consultations will be provided onboard for anyone who becomes ill with any symptoms.

Fully equipped medical clinic

Medical facility with latest available proven medications at the time of sailing for COVID-19, including emergency care equipment with oxygen, cardiac monitoring capability and a ventilator.

Book with Assurance

Deposit protection

Aurora Expeditions is pleased to launch our new Deposit Protection Program. When you book and place a new deposit with Aurora Expeditions your funds are automatically placed into a separate trust fund (escrow account), which means your deposit is secure and protects your funds at this time of uncertainty. The funds we receive from you for your future travel are safely held by the Aurora Passenger Trust and used only for payments related to your expedition if required*.

* Terms & Conditions: Only valid for new deposits from the 1st of July 2020 onwards and doesn’t apply to previous bookings made prior to the 1st of July 2020. Deposits will be released from the trust fund at the time of final payment, 90 days prior to departure and is subject to our terms and conditions at time of booking. Trust fund deposits can’t be used by Aurora Expeditions, except when required to make expedition pre-payments to third party suppliers in order to secure trip related arrangements.

Booking flexibility

If they wish, expeditioners travelling with us on voyages up until 29th March 2021 are able to rebook onto later voyages in 2021/2022 at no cost, or take up a lifetime travel credit to use on any voyage in the future.

*IAATO (International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators) is a member organisation founded in 1991 to promote the practice of safe and environmentally responsible private-sector travel to the Antarctic.

^AECO (Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators) is an international association founded in 2003 to manage responsible, environmentally friendly and safe tourism in the Arctic.