Health & Safety
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.
We have partnered with Respond Global, an experienced medical health crisis management agency, to develop our prevention and response system that is among the most comprehensive in the world. 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 cruising.
You can find the latest updates on our future voyages here.
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 include World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 Vaccines approved for emergency use and those approved by the national public health authority in which we are operating.
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.
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.
Temperature Checks
Thermal infra-red scanners will be used to check temperatures for all expeditioners and crew prior to boarding and during the voyage.
Influenza Testing
Influenza testing will be available for all expeditioners and crew as required.
COVID-19 Testing
Aurora Expeditions has installed on board 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 undertake a pre-voyage medical screening with a GP seven days prior to the voyage departure, and then as much as is possible, expeditioners are asked to self-isolate and limit social interaction from that screening until boarding the vessel. Expeditioners must also undertake a COVID-19 test 72 hours before embarkation and present proof of a negative result. On the day of embarkation, all expeditioners will be required to undergo another COVID-19 test, as well as additional health screening.
Once the voyage starts, there will be daily temperature checks for all on board and further testing may be required depending on the voyage. In the event an expeditioner presents with COVID-19 like symptoms, the person will be isolated and tested immediately for COVID-19.
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 are placed throughout the ship.
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's 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
Comfortable stateroom cabins are allocated for expeditioners and crew who are required to isolate if necessary. These isolation cabins are conveniently located away from high-traffic areas as well as being fully sealed from the rest of the ship. Each cabin has been modified with negative pressure and supplied with 100% fresh sea air, pumped directly into each isolation cabin from outside the vessel, before flowing outside again, avoiding any recirculation of air elsewhere in the ship.
Onboard Protocols
Travel Safe | Wearing Masks
Face masks are to be worn by all passengers up until they have cleared the Pre-Boarding Health Screening.
The current medical advice stipulates that masks are to be worn at all times when social distancing is not possible therefore, face masks are mandatory on board Zodiacs. Ashore, when social distancing of 1.5m is possible, face masks are optional however, when social distancing of 1.5m is not possible, face masks are to be worn at all-times.
Social distancing
Expeditioners will be required to observe social distancing measures as required based on protocols at the time and what is deemed appropriate.
Hand sanitisers
Hand sanitisers will be widely available throughout the ship and provided in each cabin. 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
An 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 for expeditioners & crew
If required, an adequate supply of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), used to prevent the spread of viruses, will be available for all expeditioners and crew. Masks will be available for each expeditioner, if they wish to wear one, and usage is encouraged.
Free medical consultations
Free medical consultations will be provided on board for anyone who becomes ill with any symptoms (initial consultations only).
Fully equipped medical clinic
Medical clinic with PCR testing facilities, and emergency care equipment; with oxygen, cardiac monitoring capability and a ventilator.
