Crystal Cruises Health & Safety Protocols

Covid-19 Vaccination Required For Guests 14 Days Prior To Boarding Any Crystal Ship

In preparation for our safe return to cruising, Crystal's expanded health and safety protocols - Crystal Clean+ 4.0 - now include a Covid-19 vaccine requirement for all guests across all brand experiences - Ocean, River, Yacht and Expedition. Your comfort and well-being remain our top priority and this new measure adds to the comprehensive program of precautionary steps that includes negative Covid-19 tests for both guests and crew, reduced capacity, social distancing, nimble mask requirements, health screening questionnaires and more. For ease of reference, please see FAQs here, and visit the Health & Safety Hub on our website for details on protocols; all are updated as new science and information becomes available.

Award-winning and socially spacious by design, our fleet is readying itself for your clients return in the near future. We look forward to welcoming them back to Crystal, Where Luxury is Personal.

Crystal understands that relationships are built on trust. With your continued trust in mind, they have applied exacting attention to detail across all new safety measures.

With more than 30 years of cruising to the far reaches of the world, Crystal has a long tradition of implementing and maintaining exceptional standards for health and safety at sea. To further protect they Crystal Family they have introduced Crystal Clean+, a stringent set of health and safety protocols and measures to meet the unique challenges posed by Covid-19. The company is tackling these challenges with science and innovation, and in accordance with the latest data and recommendations by health experts.

Every protocol will be continually evaluated and will be updated as new information becomes available. Crystal will be in full compliance with the standards established by Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) and global health measures when sailing resumes. Additional measures will be implemented and communicated accordingly.

Crystal Ocean Cruises Health & Safety

Pre-boarding
When you sign your Declaration of Safety via Crystal's secure, online portal, you're giving a true picture of your health and telling Crystal exactly what you need to travel in confidence and safety.

• Additional precautionary steps taken in the weeks, days and hours prior to boarding will help streamline and safeguard the embarkation process for all guests and crew
• Guests will check in online and complete a health questionnaire
• Guests will receive assigned arrival times to minimize congestion

Embarkation & disembarkation
Every single guest will have their temperature checked both prior to boarding ship or venturing ashore. All luggage will be disinfected offshore prior to boarding.

• All guests will undergo temperature checks before entering terminal
• Guests will complete a second health questionnaire at the terminal
• A second temperature check will be done prior to embarkation via contact-free fever screening systems
• Guests who show signs of illness will be seen by the medical staff and may be denied boarding
• Luggage will be disinfected before it is brought aboard
• Additional measures and precautions may be required depending on ports of embarkation/disembarkation

Capacity control & social distancing
The Crystal experience affords each guest an abundance of personal space that is unrivaled in cruising. But Crystal Clean+ goes even further by mandating even fewer guests per square foot.

• Crystal ships are designed to offer nearly double the space per guest of similar-sized ships
• Reduced capacity when ships resume service
• Reduced capacity in restaurants, entertainment, fitness center, pool deck, casino, retail spaces, bars and lounges
• Social distancing of at least six feet of those outside of one's travel party will be required
• Reduced capacity in elevators

Guest accommodations
Every suite and stateroom including all bathrooms, closets, and cabinets undergoes frequent disinfection with products that are listed on the EPA List N and meet the criteria for use against COVID-19. These efforts are supplemented by electrostatic fogging with medical-grade anti-viral and anti-microbial oxidants.

• Prior to guest arrival, staterooms and suites will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected with medical-grade oxidative chemical agents
• Products used are listed on the EPA List N and meet the criteria for use against COVID-19, norovirus and other infectious diseases
• Frequent broad-spectrum anti-microbial disinfection of all spaces will be applied, including in bathrooms and closets
• Electrostatic foggers will be used as an additional tool for disinfection
• Guest corridors will be disinfected regularly
• Timely removal of food items from suites and staterooms to prevent spoilage and cultivation of microorganisms and bacteria
• Timely housekeeping turnover; bedsheets and linens professionally cleaned and disinfected at high temperatures
• Injection of diluted cleaning solution into drains to avoid clogged pipes and to prevent bacterial growth
• Reduction of paper products in suites and staterooms

Social spaces
Crystal Clean+ mandates virtually every inch of every restaurant, lounge, gym, casino, restroom, corridor, nightclub and theater be disinfected with medical-grade anti-viral and anti-microbial cleaning agents and scrubbed to spotless perfection.

• Onboard social spaces will be disinfected with increased frequency including all public bathrooms, corridors, stairwells and elevator lobbies, restaurants, bars, lounges, entertainment and enrichment venues, retail spaces, fitness center and spa
• Touchpoints such as handrails, elevator buttons, table-tops, door handles etc. will be disinfected with increased frequency during peak hours
• All dedicated children's and teens' facilities, games, toys and other supplies will be disinfected with increased frequency
• All retail boutiques and entertainment venues will be disinfected frequently
• All recreational equipment will be disinfected with increased frequency
• Public areas will be deep cleaned and meticulously disinfected with medical-grade cleaning agents during overnight hours
• Additional hand sanitizing stations using alcohol-based sanitizer will be placed strategically throughout the ship

Fresh-air ventilation systems
Crystal's ocean fleet features 100% fresh, non-recirculated air in every single guest suite, stateroom and social space. A cluster of guest staterooms and an adjacent corridor are set aside for isolation in the event of illness with a separate ventilation system.

• All air filters and cooling coils are frequently checked and maintained to ensure the highest standard of air quality possible
• A cluster of guest staterooms and an adjacent corridor are set aside for isolation in the event of illness; the ventilation of these staterooms has been arranged so there is no ventilation connection between the staterooms and/or the corridor; separate ducting leads the air directly to an appropriate exhaust duct

Masks & face coverings
To best safeguard the health of the entire Crystal family, mask policies will be constantly reassessed in light of evolving best practices recommended by epidemiologists as well as compliance with the policies of local governments.

• Crystal will provide masks to guests and crew
• Masks will be required in venues and instances where proper distancing is not possible, including show lounges, casino, fitness center, elevators, ship tenders, shoreside terminals and tour dispatch areas
• Crystal will comply with all local health authorities, which may require masks ashore

Crewmember standards & practices
Under Crystal Clean+, officers and crew are temperature-tested frequently, tested for COVID-19 before boarding and monitored for even the most minor symptoms. Crystal Clean+ will ensure that crew members remain healthy and at their best to deliver the very best experiences for guests.

• Crew to be tested for COVID-19 prior to boarding
• Crew will undergo frequent temperature checks and regular health monitoring
• When interacting with guests, crew may wear face shields, masks and any necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Designated crew may also wear protective garments and eye protection, if required
• Medical Center Isolation Area staff will be required to wear adequate personal protection (face mask, eye protection, disposable gloves and disposable outer garment)
• Crew to follow proper hand washing practices
• Crew transfer between ships will be minimized
• Crew are prohibited from personal contact with guests such as hand shaking, hugging or kissing
• Crew are trained on health and safety preventive measures

Food & beverage
Crystal's peerless drinking and dining are still what they have always been - simply extraordinary. What will be different is the service, redesigned to preserve the elegance while minimizing person-to-person contact.

• Open seating will continue with social distancing considerations
• Guest seating will ensure ample spacing
• Disposable cutlery will be provided, upon request
• Contact-free dining service will be implemented in all onboard venues
• Self-service options will be eliminated in the Marketplace, Bistro and other venues
• 24-hour room service is always an option
• Increased hand washing and use of hand sanitizing stations will be required
• All restaurants, bars and galleys will be disinfected throughout the day
• Stringent procurement guidelines will be enforced

Shoreside partners & excursions
Crystal partners with allies ashore to make certain the Crystal Clean+ protocol protects you when you leave the ship to explore. Guests who book independently of Crystal are strongly cautioned that some local operators will likely fall far short of the anti-viral and anti-microbial disinfection standards Crystal requires of shoreside partners.

• Tour coaches and tenders will be disinfected to meet Crystal Clean+ standards
• Excursion group sizes will be reduced to help allow for proper social distancing
• Crystal will monitor port regulations and adjust requirements and schedules as needed to maintain guests' health and well-being
• Crystal strongly recommends that guests who choose to book tours independently consider that these operators may fall short of the disinfection standards that Crystal requires of their partners
• Additional health screenings many be required by local health officials before disembarkation in certain ports
• Crystal will only visit safe, open ports of call; this may cause changes to the itinerary. Keeping guests up-to-date with the latest confirmed changes impacting their itineraries is a top priority

Medical Center
Each ship's state-of-the-art medical center has been further reinforced. Every Crystal ship in the fleet has a dedicated medical team aboard and available 24/7. Crystal is exploring partnerships with local medical authorities in every port to ensure quality medical facilities (and critical local networks and relationships) will be in place for guests requiring medical attention ashore. Ventilators and new virus testing equipment are now standard.

• The medical team comprises a doctor and three nurses aboard each ship, available around the clock
• Crystal's Medical Centers are well equipped with ventilators, new virus-testing equipment, X-Ray machines, extensive first aid tools and common prescription and over-the-counter medications
• Medical Centers will be equipped to perform Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Point of Care testing
• Isolated wards are available in the Medical Centers
• Contaminated items and medical waste will be properly sealed and disposed of according to health and safety guidelines
• Medical equipment and waste bins cleaned, disinfected and washed with medical-grade disinfectant

Public Health Officer
A certified Public Health Officer oversees implementation of the stringent Crystal Clean+ outbreak prevention and mitigation protocol. Working in lock sync with relevant health authorities, each Crystal ship's PH Officer works to make sure daily cleanings are up to Crystal Clean+ standards and supports onboard medical teams.

• Trained in the CDC's and the other local health authority's Vessel Sanitation Programs
• Oversees outbreak mitigation and cleaning protocols
• Closely coordinates with medical teams
• Ensures that daily cleaning protocols are in accordance with CDC guidelines

Shared responsibility
With Return to Crystal 2.0, safety is, of course, a two-way street and Crystal does ask all guests to commit to common-sense precautions including not traveling when sick. Please wash your hands frequently. Cover your nose when you sneeze, please, and avoid touching your face or indeed having any unnecessary personal contact.

• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. Where soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. If a tissue is not immediately available, cough or sneeze into your upper arm
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
• Avoid personal contact, such as handshaking, sharing cups, glasses or utensils

Crystal River Cruises Health & Safety

Pre-boarding
When you sign your Declaration of Safety via Crystal's secure, online portal, you're giving a true picture of your health and telling Crystal exactly what you need to travel in confidence and safety.

• Additional precautionary steps taken in the weeks, days and hours prior to boarding will help streamline and safeguard the embarkation process for all guests and crew
• Guests will check in online and complete a health questionnaire
• Guests will receive assigned arrival times to minimize congestion

Embarkation & disembarkation
Every single guest will have their temperature checked both prior to boarding ship or venturing ashore. All luggage will be disinfected offshore prior to boarding.

• All guests will undergo temperature checks before entering terminal
• Guests will complete a second health questionnaire prior to boarding the ship
• Guests who show signs of illness may be denied boarding
• Additional measures and precautions may be required depending on ports of embarkation/disembarkation

Capacity control & social distancing
The Crystal experience affords each guest an abundance of personal space that is unrivaled in cruising. But Crystal Clean+ goes even further by mandating even fewer guests per square foot.

• Crystal ships are designed to offer nearly double the space per guest of similar-sized ships
• Reduced capacity in all social spaces
• Social distancing outside of one's travel party will be required

Guest accommodations
Every suite and stateroom including all bathrooms, closets, and cabinets undergoes frequent disinfection with products that are listed on the EPA List N and meet the criteria for use against COVID-19. These efforts are supplemented by electrostatic fogging with medical-grade anti-viral and anti-microbial oxidants.

• Prior to guest arrival, suites will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected with medical-grade disinfectants
• Products used are listed on the EPA List N and meet the criteria for use against COVID-19, norovirus and other infectious diseases
• Frequent disinfection of all guest accommodations, including bathrooms and closets, utilizing medical-grade disinfectants
• Electrostatic foggers will be used as an additional tool for disinfection on embarkation day
• Guest corridors will be disinfected regularly
• Timely removal of food items from suites to prevent spoilage and cultivation of microorganisms and bacteria
• Timely housekeeping turnover; bedsheets and linens professionally cleaned and disinfected at high temperatures
• Injection of diluted cleaning solution into drains to avoid clogged pipes and to prevent bacterial growth
• Reduction of paper products in suites

Social spaces
Crystal Clean+ mandates virtually every inch of every restaurant, lounge, gym, casino, restroom, corridor, nightclub and theater be disinfected with medical-grade anti-viral and anti-microbial cleaning agents and scrubbed to spotless perfection.

• Onboard social spaces will be disinfected with increased frequency
• Touchpoints such as handrails, elevator buttons, table-tops, door handles etc. in all public areas will be disinfected with increased frequency during peak hours
• All recreational equipment will be disinfected with increased frequency
• Public areas will be deep cleaned and meticulously disinfected with medical-grade cleaning agents during overnight hours
• Additional hand sanitizing stations using alcohol-based sanitizer will be placed strategically throughout the ship

Fresh-air ventilation systems
Crystal's ocean fleet features 100% fresh, non-recirculated air in every single guest suite, stateroom and social space. A cluster of guest staterooms and an adjacent corridor are set aside for isolation in the event of illness with a separate ventilation system.

• All air filters and cooling coils are frequently checked and maintained to ensure the highest standard of air quality possible
• Crystal River ships will feature HEPA filters that remove 99.95% of airborne pathogens.

Masks & face coverings
To best safeguard the health of the entire Crystal family, mask policies will be constantly reassessed in light of evolving best practices recommended by epidemiologists as well as compliance with the policies of local governments.

• Crystal will provide masks to guests and crew
• Masks will be required in venues where proper distancing is not possible
• Crystal will comply with all local health authorities, which may require masks ashore

Crewmember standards & practices
Under Crystal Clean+, officers and crew are temperature-tested frequently, tested for COVID-19 before boarding and monitored for even the most minor symptoms. Crystal Clean+ will ensure that crew members remain healthy and at their best to deliver the very best experiences for guests.

• Crew to be tested for COVID-19 prior to boarding
• Crew will undergo frequent temperature checks and regular health monitoring
• Crew are trained on health and safety preventive measures
• Designated crew may also wear protective garments and eye protection, if required
• Crew to follow proper hand washing practices
• Crew are prohibited from personal contact with guests such as hand shaking, hugging or kissing
• Crew transfer between ships will be minimized

Food & beverage
Crystal's peerless drinking and dining are still what they have always been - simply extraordinary. What will be different is the service, redesigned to preserve the elegance while minimizing person-to-person contact.

• Open seating will continue with social distancing considerations
• Guest seating will ensure ample spacing
• Contact-free dining service will be implemented in all onboard venues
• Self-service options will be eliminated
• In-suite dining options will be available 24/7
• Increased hand washing and use of hand sanitizing stations will be required
• All restaurants, bars and galleys will be disinfected throughout the day
• Stringent procurement guidelines will be enforced

Shoreside partners & excursions
Crystal partners with allies ashore to make certain the Crystal Clean+ protocol protects you when you leave the ship to explore. Guests who book independently of Crystal are strongly cautioned that some local operators will likely fall far short of the anti-viral and anti-microbial disinfection standards Crystal requires of shoreside partners.

• Tour coaches, which are exclusive to Crystal River Cruises' guests only, will be disinfected to meet Crystal Clean+ standards
• Excursion group sizes will be reduced to help allow for proper social distancing
• Crystal will monitor port regulations and adjust requirements and schedules as needed to maintain guests' health and well-being
• Crystal strongly recommends that guests who choose to book tours independently consider that these operators may fall short of the disinfection standards that Crystal requires of their partners
• Crystal will only visit safe, open ports of call; this may cause changes to the itinerary
• Additional health screenings may be required by local health officials before disembarkation in certain ports

Shoreside medical resources
River ships are always close to shore and therefore are treated like land-side hotels. Crystal will facilitate care for guests with local hospitals and doctors. Crystal will follow all local healthcare guidelines and practices.

Shared responsibility
With Return to Crystal 2.0, safety is, of course, a two-way street and Crystal does ask all guests to commit to common-sense precautions including not traveling when sick. Please wash your hands frequently. Cover your nose when you sneeze, please, and avoid touching your face or indeed having any unnecessary personal contact.

• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. Where soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. If a tissue is not immediately available, cough or sneeze into your upper arm
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
• Avoid personal contact, such as handshaking, sharing cups, glasses or utensils
• Physical / social distancing should be observed by Crew, Guests and Visitors