Aqua Expeditions intends to begin welcoming back travellers aboard its ocean explorer vessel, Aqua Blu, in the coming days. Indonesian residents will be the first to set sail on the luxury yacht starting 22 August 2020 on a seven-night Komodo National Park Cruise. Additional itinerary departures are scheduled for 29 August and 5 September 2020.
International travellers can expect to depart from 12 September 2020, with the voyage repeated on 19 and 26 September. A 12-night Indonesia Limited Cross-Destination Voyages sailing is offered on 3 October.
Strictly enhanced health and safety protocols will be implemented across the company’s vessels in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Early action at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic has seen no cases of COVID-19 aboard any Aqua Expeditions’ vessel.
“Today, more than ever, our employees, customers and partners need reassurance of our ability to offer them the safest experience possible,” said Francesco Galli Zugaro, CEO and Founder of Aqua Expeditions. “It is our duty to anticipate needs and respond to health and safety requirements by adhering to the highest standards.”
Aqua Expeditions’ river vessels and ocean explorer yacht accommodate a maximum of 30 to 40 guests. Its small ship capacity provides ample personal space and constant safe physical distancing among passengers and crew.
All vessels comply with the health and safety standards of the International Safety Management (ISM), the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
As part of its pre-embarkation protocols, Aqua Expeditions will conduct health screenings and pre-boarding medical evaluations for all crew and staff. There are no crew changes during the entire duration of each itinerary which reduces the risk of potential outside exposure. A pre-embarkation health and safety assessment will be completed by all guests before embarkation.
Aqua Expeditions vessels have a Health and Safety Officer whose responsibility is the wellbeing of each crew and guest, as well as the proper compliance and implementation of safety standards. Daily crew health checks are also introduced to ensure all health concerns are actively addressed and monitored. Personal Protection Equipment such as masks, gloves and hand sanitisers will be provided to all guests and crew as required in accordance with each destination’s regulations and guest preference.
The disinfection standard across all Aqua Expeditions fleet has been intensified by developing a combination of manual and emerging contactless disinfection procedures. Cabins will be cleaned and sanitised three times a day, ensuring the highest standards of hygiene.
The dining rooms aboard each vessel already take into account physical distancing but have been reconfigured to further create a dining environment where guests can enjoy their experience without worrying about health risks. This includes greater flexibility and options for table seating and spacing, as well as two sittings for each meal in the dining room.
Aqua Expeditions has implemented a global food safety policy via an internal auditing system, following HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) principles for cold chain supply protocols, supervised by a qualified food safety officer. Production kitchens around the world are staffed by highly trained personnel who utilise international best practices in sanitation and quality control, as well as usage of products to secure food safety such as antimicrobial fruit and vegetable treatments.
Aqua Expeditions’ small group shore excursions permit no more than 10 guests per group, enabling personalised, engaging experiences. The Aqua Expeditions team cleans and disinfects all excursion equipment, prior to and after use. On the Aqua Blu, which sails around East Indonesia, scuba and snorkel gear is distributed to guests to keep for their exclusive use throughout their voyage.
Each Aqua Expeditions ship is flagged in the country in which it operates, reassuring guests that they are always allowed to disembark in any port or anchorage location on an itinerary.
More details here.
Image credit: © Aqua Expeditions
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