Victory Cruise Lines Announces New Health and Safety Protocols
Victory Cruise Lines (VCL), operated by American Queen Steamboat Company (AQSC), Hornblower® Family Company, has created enhanced health and safety protocols to keep guests, crew and the communities the vessels visit safe in the face of COVID-19. New steps being implemented include pre-cruise screening, crew screening, updated boarding processes and increased sanitation measures. These new policies are in place and ready to be implemented when VCL resumes operations in 2021.
Victory Cruise Lines sails on the Great Lakes, Canadian Maritimes, New England coast and Southeastern Seaboard with twin 202-passenger ships the Victory I and Victory II. The policies implemented on board the VCL vessels can also be found across American Queen Steamboat Company’s entire fleet.
“From each guest touchpoint – embarkation, on-board activities, shore excursion and disembarkation – we have elevated our health and safety protocols,” shares John Waggoner, founder and CEO of American Queen Steamboat Company. “With these new measures in place, we are optimistic about the future and have a great deal to be excited about, from new itineraries on the Great Lakes and Southeastern Seaboard to the Ocean Victory’s inaugural season in Alaska.”
Health and Safety Protocols for 2021 Season
To ensure the safety and comfort of both guests and crew, VCL is staying current with guidance, mandates and public health advancements communicated by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), United States Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), United States Coast Guard (USGC), Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the municipalities each vessel visits.
Below is an overview of the new health and safety protocols. For more information on VCL’s policies, please visit: https://www.victorycruiselines.com/health-and-safety/.
Pre-Cruise Screening
Prior to embarkation, all guests and crew will be required to complete a health and safety questionnaire and a medical travel screening survey. At the pre-cruise hotel, medical personnel will perform a health screening on each guest, including a temperature check, and will deny boarding to anyone that may pose a health risk. The 24-hour window between the pre-cruise hotel stay and vessel embarkation allows the VCL crew and guests time to make any necessary adjustments following the pre-cruise screening. No guests or crew will be allowed to check-in directly on the vessel without having completed the above described pre-cruise screenings. Details on each vessel’s onboard sanitation and safety procedures will also be provided to all guests and crew prior to boarding.
Boarding Procedures and Gangway Screening
Once guests and crew are cleared during the pre-cruise screening process, embarkation will be conducted via one controlled access point where thermal cameras will take the temperature of each guest and crew member boarding the vessel in addition to manual temperature checks. The onboard medical representative will conduct the gangway screening, complete the health and safety survey and provide reports to the Master and each Hotel Director.
AQSC and VCL will require a 24-hour notice for anyone who needs access to the vessel and has not been pre-screened during hotel screening, including guests, crew, visitors and contractors.
Screening and Surveillance During the Cruise
Trained management and crew will maintain protocols and observe passengers and crew for symptoms throughout the voyage. The Master and medical representative will respond to medical calls, practice quarantine procedures and utilize shoreside medical facilities for passenger and crew as necessary.
The vessels’ access points will be monitored and controlled at all times. All passengers and crew will be passively monitored by thermal imaging when returning to the vessel. In the event of a confirmed positive case on board, AQSC and VCL will increase manual screening at the primary vessel access point from 15% to 100% throughout the voyage.
Onboard and Additional Medical Resources
Each vessel in the VCL fleet carries a certified onboard medical representative to assist guests with urgent medical care, implement quarantine procedures and coordinate shoreside medical assistance. Given the nature of the VCL itineraries, the medical representative has the ability to quickly transfer passengers and crew to emergency medical services ashore by coordinating pick-up at municipal landings and docking facilities in case of an emergency.
Cleaning Procedures
Increased sanitation of all contact services such as handrails, tables, chairs, desks, work surfaces, door handles, telephones and elevator controls in both the front and back of house will be conducted hourly with an all-chlorine solution at a higher concentration of 1000 ppm. All public and crew spaces will be fogged twice daily and multi-purpose disinfecting wipes will be made available in staterooms for all guests.
Restaurant Areas: All self-service buffets will remain suspended and wait staff will be stationed at buffet stations to serve food to guests. Crew will minimize guest touch points by manually entering cabin numbers rather than using guest swipe cards, replacing all communal items such as salt/pepper pots, sugar bowls and butter bowls with single serve packets. All tables, chairs and countertops will be sanitized on the hour or when vacated by the guest and menus will now be printed on single-use paper and discarded after each use.
Bar Department: All self-service areas are now suspended, and individual bowls of bar snacks will be available upon request. Increased sanitation, in accordance with the restaurant guidelines outlined above, will also be implemented.
Deck Department: All deck rails, public swimming pools, the gangway and other external hardpoints will be thoroughly sanitized at least every hour when in use, with the gangway sanitation occurring every half-hour.
Shore Excursions and Motorcoaches: A reduced number of guests will be transported on each motorcoach, targeting 52% capacity, to allow for adequate space between individuals. All bus seats, windows and handrails will be sanitized with an EPA-approved solution each day before the first guests arrive and high-touch areas, including the restroom, will be sanitized every hour and after each service. Liquid hand sanitation dispensers will be available at the door for all guests.
Staterooms: Cabin staff will clean all surfaces of staterooms with EPA-approved solutions. Additionally, each stateroom will receive a follow-up electrostatic fogging after each guest departure.
For more information, visit www.victorycruiselines.com or call a professional travel agent. As the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve, VCL is prepared to adjust its operations and protocols in order to ensure the well-being of everyone involved.
