For all guests, we have enhanced pre-boarding health screening and reporting. Pre-departure, all travellers are required to complete an increased Health and Safety form to ensure no high risk passengers are permitted to commence any tours.

All Guests Departing on Tour

• Guests who have travelled from, visited, or transited through any area listed as high risk by the governing body in each destination, within 14 days of their tour commencing, will not be allowed to begin the tour.
• In case of any passenger being denied boarding due to suspicion of infection, special arrangements will be made for quarantine (as required by governing bodies) and crew will assist with the situation in all ways possible.

Crew & Touring Staff

• These pre-departure measures are also applicable to crew. 
• Extensive crew training in areas of health and hygiene protocols in-line with all governing body requirements will be undertaken. 

Social Distancing Friendly Group Sizes

• On our Australian classic coach touring we will adhere to social distancing requirements where required. 
• Our small group offerings align themselves with social distancing as we have fewer guests in communal areas at one time. Such as small groups on our zodiacs. 
• Pre-travel health screenings with specific COVID-19 health assessment forms and reporting for all guests and crew. Any guest who doesn’t meet the criteria will not be allowed to begin the tour. For more information, see above.
  

On Tour Protocols

• Increased cleaning of frequently touched surfaces with hospital grade cleaning products used.
• Hand sanitiser will be available on all our tours and cruises at all times. 
• Face masks will be available for all guests on request. 

Our Australian Suppliers & Crew

• All suppliers used across our products will need to meet COVID regulations.
• All staff and crew will undertake industry recognised COVID-19 training in areas of health and hygiene.

Pre-Departure

• Enhanced pre-boarding processes are currently in place for all guests as listed above. 
• Passenger luggage (handles) is disinfected before loading. The ship personnel will wear suitable personal protective equipment during the loading of suitcases. 
• All air-conditioning filters are cleaned and disinfected on each embarkation day before rooming takes place.
  

On Tour Guest Protocol

• All guests and crew are required to sanitise their hands when coming back on board the ship, when entering public spaces and before all meals.
• Masks will be available on request for all passengers. 
• All staterooms and suites are thoroughly cleaned on a daily basis.
• Any guest who exhibits symptoms of any respiratory illness while on board will be subject to additional screening and our on board staff will assist in escalating the situation and undertaking isolation quarantine and disembarkation where necessary. APT Travel Group staff and crew will be assisting with the situation.

Shared Spaces 

• All public areas and outside railings are disinfected regularly.
• No self-service buffets will be available.
• All buffets will be served by crew. 
• Shared items such as table spices, cutlery baskets or communal baskets are not allowed.
• Public toilets on board will be closed. 
• All buses and private transfer vehicles are cleaned and wiped with hospital grade disinfectant before each use.
• Where it is necessary to dock alongside another river ship, embarkation and disembarkation will occur via the sundeck to minimise exposure to other vessels.

Our International Crew & Suppliers

• All crew receive professional health and hygiene training and are trained in escalation practices should a guest fall ill on tour. Our local Operations Team are also available to provide support.
• All non-essential visitors to the ship (including contractors, guides and coach drivers) will be not be permitted to board the vessel.

All crew and staff members are also subject to the above measures. 

We are adhering to all requirements and recommendations of IG RiverCruise (the industry association representing European River Cruising) to assure the highest level of passenger and crew health and hygiene on our European River Cruises. 

Social Distancing Friendly Group Sizes

• On our International coach touring, we will adhere to social distancing requirements as applicable in each destination. 

Pre-Departure

• Enhanced pre-departure processes are currently in place for all guests as listed above. 
• All crew and staff members are also subject to the above measures. 
• In case of any passenger being denied touring due to suspicion of infection, special arrangements will be made for quarantine and staff and crew will assist with the situation.

On Tour Protocols

• Adhering to the increased safety measures at all country entry points.
• Increased sanitisation measures on our coaches before and after each service, all buses and private transfer vehicles are cleaned and wiped with hospital grade disinfectant before each use. 
• Extra hand sanitising measures have been put in place. 
• Masks will be available on request for all passengers. 
  

Our Crew & Suppliers

• We are working very closely with all our hotel partners globally to ensure they are actively engaged in the highest level of sanitisation and hygiene practices. 
• Tour Directors receive professional health and hygiene training and are trained in escalation practices should a guest fall ill on tour.  Our local Operations Team are also available to provide support.

All crew and staff members are also subject to the above measures. 

Pre-Departure

• Enhanced pre-boarding processes are currently in place for all guests and crew as listed above. 

On Tour Protocol

• All staterooms thoroughly cleaned on a daily basis.
• Hand sanitizer is available throughout the journey
• Masks will be available on request for all passengers. 
• In case of any passenger being denied boarding due to suspicion of infection, special arrangements will be made with local health facilities for quarantine and APT Travel Group staff and crew will be managing the situation.
• We will provide medical screening for COVID-19 on all individuals who visit our onboard Medical Centre with symptoms of respiratory illness or fever. 
• We will report all cases of fever and respiratory illness, and any patients with suspected COVID-19 infection, to local health authorities. 

Shared Spaces

• Additional cleaning and disinfection protocols on board. These protocols will be enforced in addition to the already rigorous sanitization standards in place. 
• Increased sanitisation practices with a hospital grade disinfectant in common areas including hand rails, gangway planks etc. 
  
  

Our Crew and Suppliers

• All crew receive professional health and hygiene training, including information on how to look for symptoms.
• Crew wash hands frequently when handling guest luggage. Disembarkation luggage is kept separate from embarkation luggage to avoid cross-contamination.
• For all crew, we will implement regular health reporting and any crew member who exhibits symptoms of any respiratory illness while on board will be subject to additional screening and may be subject to potential isolation and disembarkation. 
• All our major Ocean Cruising partners have adopted the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) recommendations and have enacted their increased health screening and overall safety protocols. This include Holland America Line and Ponant Cruises. 

APT’s MS Caledonian Sky expedition ship is certified and has capacity to carry 99 guests. The advantages of cruising on this intimate vessel are numerous, from smaller group sizes on included Zodiac excursions to no queuing when you disembark in port. Plus, the ship can venture where large passenger ships can’t, providing far greater potential for adventure. 

APT has partnered with the experienced medical advisory agency, Respond Global to establish these protocols. We have proactively implemented in-depth policies and practices outlined here to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone.

For more details click here.