Vida Portugal: Vineyards & Villages Along The Douro

Hygieneprotocol

The health and safety of our guests remains our top priority and while we highly recommend that travellers are vaccinated against COVID-19, after 1 March, 2023 , we will no longer require it. Destinations and other transportation operators – like airlines – have their own rules and regulations. It will be up to the responsibility of our guests to understand and comply with those policies to move freely across the globe. The Globus family of brands previous policy – requiring all guests be vaccinated against COVID-19 – remains in effect until 1 March, 2023 . Anyone travelling before that date on a Globus, Cosmos or Avalon Waterways holiday must be fully vaccinated. --------------------------------------------------------------------- The following requirements are in place traveling Internationally throughout 2021 and domestically beginning Sept. 1, 2021: - Full vaccination against COVID-19 in the form of written documentation (paper or electronic copy), in English. Vaccination documentation must include information that identifies the person and vaccination date(s). Proof of full vaccination must show that official vaccination dose(s) were administered at least 14-days prior to the start of your first service purchased from the Globus family of brands. Globus accepts vaccines authorized or recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Travelers may encounter additional requirements if their vaccine is not recognized by the travel destination. - For children who do not qualify for vaccination, one of the two forms of documentation are required to travel: 1) Verifiable negative COVID-19 test result in the form of written documentation (paper or electronic copy), in English. Testing must be performed by an entity recognized by your government of residence, using a viral test (NAAT/PCR or antigen). The test result documentation must include information that identifies the person, a specimen collection date and the type of test. A negative test result must show the test was done within 72 hours before the start of your first service purchased from the Globus family of brands. 2) If you recovered from COVID-19 in the last three months, and have met the criteria to end isolation, you may travel instead with documentation of recovery, which includes a positive test result and a letter from your health care provider that states you have been cleared to end isolation (return to work, travel, etc.) The test result documentation and letter must include information that identifies the person, a specimen collection date and the type of test. A positive test result must show test was done within 3 months of the start of your first service purchased from the Globus family of brands. WELCOME ABOARD New embarkation procedures to offer guests a safe start to their journey, including: - Social distancing throughout embarkation - Mandatory health screening, including touch-free temperature-check, for all guests and crew - Luggage disinfection prior to onboarding (with crew wearing gloves and masks) FRESH AIR, INSIDE AND OUT In addition to our Open-Air staterooms, the air in our ships is not circulated between staterooms; only within an individual stateroom and mixed with fresh, outside air BLENDING CULTURAL PROXIMITY WITH SOCIAL DISTANCE New social distancing guidelines for guests throughout their Avalon cruise, include: - Reducing ship capacity as required for more space on board per guest - Introducing more dining venues for more dining space per person - Crew wearing masks for the duration of the cruise during any guest interaction - Providing masks for guests to wear during any event where social proximity could become an issue, including disembarkation for excursions and safety drills - Adjusting ratio of guides and coaches for excursions NEW TECHNOLOGY TO ENSURE CLEANLINESS - Electrostatic disinfecting systems - UV disinfecting systems TOUCHING HEARTS, NOT HANDS Reducing risk with hands-free service, including: - More hand-sanitizing stations throughout the ship - Required use of hand-sanitizing stations when leaving the ship, returning to the ship and entering dining venues as well as entering each public/common space - Self-serve stations, including bu ets, drinks, specialty co ees and snacks have been replaced with crew service - All buffets (breakfast and lunch) replaced by a full range of à la carte menu choices - Hourly (or more frequent) disinfection of all public areas COMMITMENT TO THE CLEANEST SHIPS Enhanced cleaning procedures throughout each ship, including these additional steps that go above-and-beyond Avalon’s already strict procedures: - Deep disinfection of each stateroom between cruises, including: - Use of disinfectants and cleaning materials that meet the highest standards - Soft goods in each stateroom (mattress, sofa, window coverings, chairs, etc.) disinfected between cruises - Disinfection of all dining areas between meals - Disinfection of all shared items like umbrellas, bicycles and other Adventure Center items - Disinfection of all goods prior to loading on the ship - Ongoing crew training in protective equipment use and hygiene FOCUS ON CREW HEALTH Ensuring a healthy crew, including: - Medical certifcate required prior to start of contract - Daily temperature checks - Social distancing in crew living quarters - Regular health screenings Avalon will continue to review and update Assurance initiatives as we make our return to the world’s waterways including adhering to—and building upon— the standards set forth by travel and health agencies across the globe, including the European Centre for Disease Prevention (ECDC), Center for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA).