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Health & Safety

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Sail with Confidence

As part of our commitment to ensure that we are doing small ship expedition travel in the safest and most enjoyable way possible, every aspect of Aurora Expeditions Health and Safety Program has been strengthened to protect against COVID-19.

These carefully considered measures will be precisely followed while also ensuring our passengers will continue to have every opportunity to fully experience every part of expedition travel.

A key component of this industry-leading Health & Safety Program is the adoption of break-through rapid onsite PCR testing, the highest level of pre-cruising preventative measures and a robust Response Plan and protocols onboard designed to bring peace of mind to all of our passengers and crew.

We welcome you to explore endlessly with us. We want our expeditioners to know that their health and safety is in qualified hands and that a small ship expedition experience will be enjoyed to the fullest with Aurora Expeditions.


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The Greg Mortimer Ship
Vaccines

Aurora Expeditions requires all embarking crew, Expedition Team and our guests to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to embarking on any of its cruises.

Full vaccinations must occur four weeks prior to the embarkation date of the voyage and proof of vaccination will be required to be provided to Aurora Expeditions in advance of the voyage.

Vaccinations acceptable are those that have been approved by WHO and these vaccines are limited to: Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Covishield, AstraZeneca, Covovax, Novavax, Covilo, Sinovac, Covaxin.

 

It is important to note, that all travellers need to check and comply with the vaccine requirements of the country they are travelling to. Some countries have their own vaccination requirements. For example, Greenland; only accepts EMA approved vaccines which are: Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Novavax.

 

As of 5th February 2022, Aurora will require all guests to have also had a booster vaccination prior to boarding, if more than 5 months have passed after completing your primary COVID-19 vaccination (and at least 2 months after completing a J&J COVID-19 vaccination).

This is a precaution based on the increasing evidence of the value of a booster to maintain high levels of immunity from serious illness and the importance of a booster to mitigate the latest COVID-19 variant, Omicron. Officially certified proof of vaccination and booster will be required ahead of travel and we will require that it be emailed to Aurora no later than 15 days prior to departure. Please read more about our Mandatory Booster Requirement here.

Mandatory Booster Requirement

Aurora Expeditions remains committed to the health & safety of its guests and employees. We have sought medical advice and implemented best-practice procedures with respect to vetting, testing and onboard social distancing practices, however, a risk remains of the virus being brought on board (that is not picked up by the PCR pre-testing and any of the subsequent antigen tests prior to boarding). 

Under these circumstances and having taken the appropriate medical advice, as of 5th February 2022 Aurora Expeditions will be requiring that all guests have had a full vaccination scheme + booster. This requires you to have a full vaccination scheme + booster (where eligible) prior to boarding, if more than 5 months have passed after completing your primary COVID-19 vaccination (and at least 2 months after completing a J&J COVID-19 vaccination).

Travel Insurance

It is mandatory by Aurora that all travellers have comprehensive travel insurance with a minimum of US$250,000 cover including medical and COVID-19 health insurance cover of at least US$30,000. Proof of insurance will be required ahead of travel and we will require that it be emailed to Aurora no later than 60 days prior to departure.

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Our Guest Pre-Voyage Journey

Pre Voyage

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PCR Test

Less than 72 hours prior to departure of the vessel*

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Departure Location

Immediately prior to boarding

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Pre-Boarding Health Screening

 

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Board Vessel

If fit to travel
Download Pre-Voyage Journey​

*We encourage all passengers to make the most direct route to the ship. However, for passengers who have been travelling on an extended tour or independent travel, you will need to have a negative PCR test result (within 72h) prior to joining the vessel. A PCR test should be arranged if passengers are not in possession of a PCR test result. All guests needs to arrange and cover the PCR test fees.

Heading to Iceland and Greenland? 

 Pre-Boarding Requirements for ICE001G and GOD001G

If you are travelling on Iceland Circumnavigation (ICE001G) or Greenland Odyssey (GOD001G), please review these amendment requirements for boarding.

Find out more

Health & Safety Protocols Onboard

Your health & safety is our number one priority

As part of our commitment to ensure that we are doing small ship expedition travel in the safest and most enjoyable way possible.

During your voyage, please follow all social distancing, face covering, and handwashing & regular Covid testing policies to ensure everyones safety.

We continue to update these protocols in line with relevant regulations & jurisdictions that continue to evolve. Please note that Health & Safety requirements may vary per country.

*Correct as at time of publishing. Last updated 16 April 2022.

Onboard

We will conduct Rapid Antigen Testing on day 3 of the voyage and we will repeat every 4 days if there is any positive cases. If there is no positive cases, we will repeat this testing process every 7 days.*

*Please note, this process is subject to change without prior advice and in relation to the local health requirements.

Ashore | On Land

 On shore/land – if you keep a 1.5 metre or 2 sqm distance from others (NB: excluding your travelling companions), you can be on land without a mask.

Landings

The numbers of expeditioners per zodiac will be as per our standard practice of 10 plus the driver.

All expeditioners will need to keep their personal flotation device (PFD) on during the landing.

Face Masks

Face masks are not recommended to be worn while onboard and outdoors as long as social distancing can be maintained. However, Face masks are only required to be worn onboard where physical distancing cannot be maintained.

Download Onboard Protocols

In the event of a positive COVID case/s on board, the following protocols will be followed:

1.

The individual/s will move to an isolation cabin that is equipped with negative pressure.

  • Aurora has dedicated isolation cabins on board if required.

3.

If tested positive, individuals will serve out an isolation period and retesting prior to release in accordance with the requirement of the local authorities/ regulations. In countries with no isolation requirements, this period is 5 Full days. Day 0 is the first day of symptoms.

4.

Every individual on board will then also be tested via an Antigen Test.

2.

The individual/s will undergo a PCR test.

  • Close contacts will be determined and will also undergo a PCR test

 At the conclusion of the isolation period, the individual must have no fever (without the use of fever-reducing medications) and symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours prior to release. The individual is also recommended to continue wearing a well-fitted mask around others for 5 more days after the isolation period.

Food will be delivered to the isolation cabins (Breakfast/Lunch/ Tea/Dinner).

5.

The frequency of cleaning across the entire ship will be increased.
  • In the event that the individual/s health deteriorates into a severe case as determined by the Doctor;
  • The individual/s Travel Insurance provider will be contacted and the individual/ and their close contacts will be evacuated off the Ship (the next steps will be determined by the local health authorities).
  • In the unlikely event of a broader outbreak of COVID as determined by the Ship & Medical Authorities – the ship will return to port
Download Onboard Protocols

Our Commitment:

Aurora Expeditions will provide a Future Cruise Credit to the value of your original cruise fare in the unlikely event that you and/or your cabin companion contracts Covid-19 whilst onboard. It will be valid to use on any Aurora Expeditions voyage within the next 24 months.

Ship Health & Safety Features

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Healthy Passengers & Crew

Aurora Expeditions will ensure our passengers and crew remain COVID-free and healthy by conducting tests before and during the voyagen in line with local heath requirements.


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Checks & Testing Onboard

We regularly test all guests and crew via Rapid Antigen Testing throughout every voyage.

Please note: this process is subject to change without prior notice.


100% Fresh Air on Board

Our vessels have ultra-modern systems that includes 100% fresh air in every cabin – guest and crew. There is no recirculation of air throughout our vessels.

Expedition Experiences

As part of our continued commitment to providing expedition experiences in the safest and most enjoyable way possible, in each landing guests will be accompanied by a medic.

Travel Safe | Face Masks

Passengers and crew may be required to wear face masks and follow all public health travel guidelines whilst on board.

Much of our time is spent on our expeditions in the remote, wide-open spaces and when social distancing is not possible, face masks may be required in accordance with the current public health recommendations.

Medical Team and Fully Equipped Medical Centre

An emergency medical team including a doctor and a nurse with current training in public health protocols, outbreak prevention and management protocols will be aboard every voyage.

Our ships have a fully equipped Medical Centre with facilities for emergency care. All guests are required to have Travel Insurance with suitable Medivac.

In addition, we have dedicated isolation cabins should they become necessary during a voyage.

OnBoard

Aurora Expeditions has further enhanced all cleaning and sanitisation procedures on board. All of our crew are extensively trained in the latest public health sanitation methods and will wear suitable PPE (Personal Protection Equipment).

Clean Expedition Ships

The frequency of cleaning and sanitisation has been increased in all public spaces with an emphasis on high touch surfaces and spaces including elevators, handrails, public furniture and fitness equipment, as well as intensive cleaning of cabins with disinfectants with proven effectiveness. All vessels will undergo extensive cleaning in between voyages in accordance with COVID-19 Controls & Prevention protocols.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have had a blended vaccine, please contact Aurora Expeditions to discuss your vaccination program.

Full vaccinations must occur four weeks prior to the embarkation date of the voyage and proof of vaccination will be required to be provided to Aurora Expeditions in advance of the voyage via email. Digital certificates or pdf vaccine certificates can be sent via email once you have been fully vaccinated. Additionally, guests will be required to bring a printed copy of their proof of vaccination documentation to board.

Vaccinations acceptable are those that have been approved by the CDC in the USA, the UK and European Authorities and these vaccines are limited to: Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna and AstraZeneca.

Any guest testing positive (rapid antigen during screening) or failing the health questionnaire shall be removed from general pre-boarding, along with their travelling cohort, to a segregated area for secondary screening by PCR testing by qualified medical personnel. If any member of the travelling cohort fails secondary screening, the entire party will be denied boarding.

Prior to embarkation: If a Traveling Companion of a guest tests positive, then the guest is considered a close contact and cannot embark the voyage.

Onboard: If your travel companion tests positive for Covid-19 onboard you are considered as a close contact and will be required to quarantine in separate cabins. Close contacts will be tested for Covid-19 as well as followed by daily health checks and screening.

Both of the ships in our fleet have ultra-modern systems that includes 100% fresh air in every cabin – guest and crew. There is no recirculation of air throughout our ships.
Given how new our ships are, all of the cabins have their own unique airconditioning and filtration system.

As part of our commitment to ensure that we are doing small ship expedition travel in the safest and most enjoyable way possible, every aspect of Aurora Expeditions Health and Safety Program has been strengthened to protect against COVID-19. These carefully considered measures will be precisely followed while also ensuring our guests will continue to have every opportunity to fully experience every part of expedition cruising. A key component of this industry-leading Health & Safety Program is the adoption of break-through rapid onsite PCR testing, the highest level of pre-cruising preventative measures and a robust Response Plan and protocols onboard designed to bring peace of mind to all of our guests that their health and safety is in qualified hands and that a small ship expedition experience will be enjoyed to the fullest with Aurora Expeditions.

Our Spa, jacuzzies, pool and gym will be open, you will also be able to get massages. When using the gym we ask all guests to wipe the machines and equipment after they have used it. The frequency of cleaning and sanitisation on board has been increased in all public spaces with disinfectants with proven effectiveness. The Spa will only be available to guests who are travelling together.
Our expeditions are spent in the remote wide open spaces and face masks may be required to be worn in accordance with current public health recommendations. Our zodiacs will be driven with 10 guests per zodiac. In each landing our guests will be accompanied by a medic.

Yes, we regularly test all guests & crew during every voyage via Rapid Antigen Tests. Guests can also undertake RAT or PCR testing onboard prior to disembarkation depending on requirements for onward travel.

We will be able to test everyone onboard prior to disembarkation. We will prioritise PCR tests based on flight times. We have the onboard capability to test all guests and provide a result in a 24 hour period.

For passengers who have been previously diagnosed with Covid-19 infection and tested positive in PCR testing pre boarding, to be able to board, they must present a Certificate of Recovery issued by the competent authority, or by a medical doctor, at least 14 days after the first NAAT Test (Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) with a positive result. The validity of the certificate shall end 90 days from the date of collection of the sample.

We have carefully considered the health and safety measures to ensure our guests will continue to enjoy the expedition experience to the fullest. Aurora Expeditions is committed to ensure the safety of crew and guests onboard the vessel. It is unlikely that we will allow our guests bridge access during this season, as always our open bridge policy will be at the discretion of the Captain.