Uniworld has announced new enhanced health and safety protocols in preparation for when the river cruise line can resume sailings.

The new measures will include health screenings prior to embarkation, contactless onboard payments and reserved seating in restaurants.

According to Uniworld, they come after an extensive review of current procedures, and “consideration of every touchpoint and interaction between crew and guest”.

The new guest measures include:

• All guests must complete health screening prior to embarkation.
• Fruits, cookies, chips, nuts, candies and other treats will be served to individual guests by the crew only. These treats are no longer available for self-service.
• Disinfecting wipes will be available throughout the ship, including at coffee stations and in the public restrooms.
• Any onboard payments will be processed using a contactless payment method and credit card machines will be wiped after each pin entry.
• All restaurant dining will have reserved seating, with guests at the same table, with the same people, each day.
• Items that are usually shared, like bread and butter, will now be served to each person individually.
• Gloves, face masks and bottles of hand sanitiser will be readily available for all guests.
• For excursions, the maximum occupancy per bus will be adjusted to reduce the total number of people together at one time.

Crew will also receive regular health screenings and are expected to adhere to social distancing requirements. From now on, all crew meals will be served with no self-service allowed.

President & CEO of Uniworld, Ellen Bettridge, said: “At Uniworld, the health and wellbeing of our guests and our crew are paramount.

“As we prepare to join the world community in reopening our homes, businesses, ships and lives to one another, we have carefully reviewed protocols and procedures to ensure that the touchpoints between the people we care about the very most are managed with intention, respect and utmost care.

“We have been scrupulous in our process to consider every moment that may present an unnecessary concern and why all coffee table books, magazines and brochures, for example, have been removed from public use. Instead, guests will be able to access these reading materials via our complimentary PressReader app on their personal devices.”

Uniworld has said that it is continuing to closely monitor and follow recommendations from world health authorities, including the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the EU and the World Health Organisation (WHO), as well as from CLIA. 

Bettridge continued: “Consistently reviewing our policies to improve and enhance the safety and wellbeing of our guests is part of our DNA; what’s important right now, is the speed at which we’re able to act on new information, particularly from local authorities where we cruise.

“We have worked on internal processes to help our team embrace and thrive during crucial moments when the need to pivot quickly is imperative.”

She added: “The world is changed and as we start to welcome guests just beginning to step back into travel, we want them to know that we understand and are anticipating their concern and taking careful and deliberate steps to protect their safety, health and wellbeing – which will come in the form of a broad smile instead of a handshake.”

For more information, visit uniworld.com/health-safety.