In an effort to prioritize health and safety, Riviera River Cruises has announced that all guests boarding its ships when European river cruising restarts will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or present a negative test prior to travel. Guests who aren’t fully vaccinated will be offered a complimentary COVID-19 test to allow them to depart on their cruise. The requirements will also apply to crew members, who will have additional daily temperature checks and ongoing health screenings.
“As we eagerly await our return to Europe’s rivers, we’ve decided to require full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test before departure to increase safety,” said Marilyn Conroy, Riviera River Cruises’ Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing North America. “This new requirement, combined with our comprehensive customer care policies and health and safety protocols that will be in place aboard our ships, will allow guests to travel with us with confidence.
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Under the new policy, guests will be required to have had all doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, with the final dose a minimum of seven days before departure. Guests who test positive for COVID-19 before their cruise will be allowed to transfer their departure to another date for free.
Riviera previously announced flexible customer care policies that include free changes to new bookings, COVID-19 Cancellation Protection and a happiness guarantee in which guests who are not satisfied by the second day of their cruise will be brought home with a refund for their cruise and any change fees or fare increases from their original airline ticket paid by Riviera.
Additional health and safety protocols aboard ships include guest health screening and luggage sanitization, daily temperature checks, social distancing in public areas, continuous cleaning of public areas and touch points, full waiter service in restaurants and lounges, deep cleaning and ventilation between cruises, and quarantine periods and medical checks for all new crew members. Masks or face coverings may also be required when moving about ships or on excursions.
Riviera River Cruises offers 20 itineraries on 10 rivers and waterways, including dedicated departures for solo travelers with no single supplement.
Its fleet of 12 ships is one of the youngest in Europe, with no ships older than six years. Riviera’s cruises include spacious cabins and suites, fine culinary experiences from sumptuous breakfasts to four-course dinners featuring international classics and regional specialties, and expert-led excursions to classic sights and lesser-known places.
Riviera River Cruises, 888-838-8820, www.rivierarivercruises.com