WADESBORO, N.C. (PRWEB) April 09, 2020
Now, no. Will it be safe to cruise once the COVID-19 pandemic ends or slows down? Below are tips and expectations for the future of safe cruising.
Boarding
Right when the COVID-19 virus started spreading and ships where being quarantines, cruise lines put in place additional screening procedures at boarding to eliminate the risk of boarding someone potentially carrying the virus. You can expect the procedures to remain in place for the foreseeable future. This includes temperature checks and health questionnaires. If you do not successfully pass these new procedures, you can be denied boarding our sent for further medical evaluation before a boarding decision can be made.
Tip: If you have a fever or anything that resembles flue like symptoms days prior to boarding, call your travel agent to review your options for cruising at later date. You do not want to travel to your port city only having to be denied boarding.
Food Service
As most of you may know, especially the ones that have been on the cruise, the single source of all cruise related illness is the buffet. ON all major cruise lines in addition to the main dining rooms and other options, all of them still maintain a self-serve buffet. And all of them constantly deal with the norovirus. The nature of a self-serve buffet allows for many people to touch the same utensils, making the transfer of a virus highly probable. Prior to the postponement of sailings, many cruise ships ended the self-serve buffet and mandated crew members to serve food. You can expect more of this if not the elimination of the self-serve buffet altogether!
Tip: Regardless of self-serve or not, just avoid the buffet. You will have many more and often better options both free and for free.
Public Areas
You can expect a lot of disinfecting going on in the public areas such as the pool, spas, fitness center, activity areas, casinos and more! This will mean periodic shutdowns of these locations to maintain a steady cleaning schedule.
Tip: Avoid touching railings and if you do, make sure to sanitize your hands immediately afterwards. Carry hand sanitizer as well.
Stateroom Service
Expect more cleaning of your stateroom as well. Pre-COVID-19 you could expect the steward to come in once per day to clean your room. At the minimum they may increase this to at least 1 additional visit with more emphasis on disinfecting as opposed to towel animals.
Tip: Keep your stateroom clean. Wipe down the door handles, shower and sink knobs and anything else with wipes just to be safe.
Childcare
If you have children, childcare is a God send! These professionals take care of your children both day and night, allowing adults the time to really enjoy their money’s worth! Expect changes in this area as well to keep your cruise safe. Just like boarding, you can expect children to undergo health screenings and temperature checks prior to being allowed in the childcare area. This will be done to ensure the protection of other children and decrease the risk of a children, who are so hands on with everything, from infecting an entire ship.
Tip: If you are uncomfortable with potential exposure, keep your child with you or make sure to bring someone along who can keep a safe watch over your child if you want personal time during your cruise.
There will be other precautions and procedures in place including strict health screening of crew members, streamlined evacuation plan for getting sick people off the ship faster and much more to make sure your cruise is safe. Cruising will be different going forward. Caution will prevail in everything that occurs on the ship to make sure you can enjoy your cruise. Cruise Connect USA is a nationwide cruise travel agency. Feel free to contact us about anything and all things cruising.