Cruise Health - Your Safety is a Priority for Princess Cruises

In response to current times Princess Cruises is adopting a safer way to cruise and travel. The situation for cruising is ever changing and details of protocols for each ship in the fleet will evolve with the return to cruising. In the meantime, here are a few of the measures Princess are pursuing, as they work with public health officials and medical experts to develop their health and safety protocols.

Embarkation

Enhancing Screenings  

Princess Cruises are making sure their mandatory health screenings reflect best practice by including health questionnaires, temperature checks, secondary screenings when necessary, health checks throughout the cruise when necessary and not boarding anyone ( guests or crew) who shows signs of illness.

Enhanced Sanitation Procedures in Embarkation Terminals

Embarkation terminals are thoroughly sanitised using a safe disinfectant proven to quickly kill novel coronaviruses, and highly touched surfaces are cleaned continuously.

On Board

Enhanced Cleaning Everywhere! Princess already have rigorous cleaning protocols but they have developed sanitisation measures in coordination with the CDC (Center for Disease Control) to keep you safe onboard. These include:

• sanitising staterooms and public areas, especially frequently touched surfaces, with a disinfectant that kills novel coronaviruses,
• encouraging guests to use the handwashing sinks and hand sanitiser dispensers at all venue entrances,
• adding handwashing facilities and hand sanitiser dispensers in high traffic areas. 
  

Ventilation Systems

To ensure you are breathing clean air onboard, Princess are also taking a closer look at the air across the fleet and enhancing fresh air distribution through public spaces and staterooms. Further they are adding HEPA filtration systems to key areas, such as medical centres and isolation rooms.

Physical Distancing

Managing the timing, size and flow of groups in onboard venues and for events will make it easier to practice physical distancing on your ship. Guests are also offered reminders about all the ways to stay healthy when on board and ashore.

Keeping their Crew Healthy

Princess Cruises take the health of their crew seriously and know it is critically important that they keep their crew members healthy. For this reason, they are reinforcing healthy behaviours and protocols. Crew will undergo enhanced health screenings and anyone showing signs of illness will not be permitted to board. Health checks throughout the cruise will also be implemented as appropriate.

Medical Care - Stay Prepared

Nothing is more important than being prepared and Princess are making sure they are ready for potential cases whether on board or in port. To this end, Princess Cruises are equipping their onboard Medical Centres and staff with what they need to handle potential issues. These measures include:

• a highly capable medical team specially trained for COVID-19, and supported by medical experts through telemedicine services,
• rapid-response COVID-19 testing on all our ships and/or use of laboratories ashore,
• outpatient and inpatient facilities, including critical care medication known to improve outcomes for COVID-19,
• contact tracing if illness occurs on board,
• staterooms equipped with HEPA air filtration identified for those in isolation,
• partnerships with local and regional medical providers.

Stay Healthy While Cruising

Here are eight healthy habits Princess have put together to help their guests protect themselves when on board, many of which have probably become a part of your daily routine already.

1. Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds.

2. Regularly clean your hands with an alcohol based hand sanitiser.

3. Keep a safe distance from others and use non-contact greetings.

4. Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze.

5. Don’t touch your face  - try to avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

6. Have a flu shot - a suggested precaution to take through the ‘flu season.

7. Use your elbow or your knuckles instead of your hands to operate frequently touched surfaces.

8.  Seek complimentary medical advice if you experience any symptoms of respiratory illness.

Please know that these are just the start, as Princess continue to adapt to the latest science and ever-evolving situation. In the meantime, you can book your next Princess cruise safe in the knowledge that these enhanced protocols and guidelines are in place so that you can cruise with confidence.