Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, which is based out of West Palm Beach, is planning to begin cruising again towards the end of July and is introducing new health measures to safeguard guests and crew when operations resume.
Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line Announces Return Dates
The cruise line, which offers short round-trip cruises to the Bahamas, has announced when it will return to service. It operates two vessels and each one will resume cruises at a different date. New health and safety measures have also been announced including capacity control, a two-tier sanitation process, and more.
Grand Celebration will resume cruises from July 25, 2020 and Grand Classica will resume cruises from October 2, 2020. The “Cruise & Stay” program which allows guests to extend their stay in the Bahamas for up to four nights will also be available starting from October 2.
Oneil Khosa, CEO of Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, said:
“As things begin to return to normal after months of quarantine, we can all use a quick getaway. When we return, our onboard experience may look a little different to our guests.”
“The wellness of our passengers and crew members remains our top priority, and as such, passengers can expect enhanced sanitization procedures from embarkation to disembarkation so that they can enjoy a relaxing, safe, stress-free getaway. We look forward to welcoming everyone onboard soon!”
With Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line now expected to return on those dates out of West Palm Beach, Florida, new procedures have been announced to keep guests and crew safe. Here are the new details moving forward when cruises start up again:
Capacity control:
- Closing two passenger stateroom decks to reduce crowds onboard the ship
- Limiting the number of in-use staterooms to reduce onboard capacity by 40 percent
- These protocols will encourage social distancing and provide one of the highest guests-to-space ratios in the industry
Embarkation and disembarkation:
- All guests required to practice social distancing from valet parking to terminal check-in
- All terminal staff members will be monitored and required to wear masks and remain behind safety plexiglass for minimal contact
- Passenger luggage will be disinfected prior to onboard delivery
- Mandatory touch-free temperature checks and pre-boarding health declarations for all guests
- Extensive sanitization and disinfection processes at entry of port terminal, ships, and passenger walkway areas
- Online check-in for guests, who will receive designated arrival times at cruise terminal, to streamline embarkation and minimize crowds
Guest accommodations:
- Sanitization of all cabins with hospital-grade disinfectants
- Fogging of vacant cabins and twice-daily wipe down of hallways
- Disinfection of guest bathrooms with heavy-duty alkaline cleaner
- Timely housekeeping cabin turnover with sheets and linens cleaned and disinfected at sterilizing temperatures
Common areas:
- All onboard public areas will undergo a two-tier sanitization process, which includes cleansing and fogging using hospital-grade disinfectant. Frequency includes:
- Elevators every two hours
- Public areas and facilities up to 10 times per day
- Frequently touched areas, including handrails, table-tops, and door handles will be sterilized every hour
- All floors will be disinfected with a heavy-duty neutral PH floor cleaning solution
- All onboard areas will include fully stocked self-service hand sanitizer stations
Food hygiene:
- All restaurants and bar areas will be cleaned and sanitized three times a day
- Self-service buffet stations have been suspended; all food and beverage will be served by crew members wearing face masks, hats, aprons, and gloves
- Tables and seating areas will keep guests six feet apart to facilitate social distancing
- Stringent procurement guidelines will be enforced, and products from certain regions will be prohibited
Entertainment and recreation:
- Theatres will be thoroughly sanitized before and after each show
- Kids’ Club facilities will be cleaned twice per day
- Spa and gym areas will be sanitized before and after each use, including common areas within these facilities twice daily
- Tour buses for excursions will be reduced to 50 percent capacity, sanitized frequently, and tour operators will be trained using guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO)
- Casino players per table will be restricted to ensure social distancing and slot machines will be positioned to separate players
Practices and standards for crew members:
- Twice daily temperature checks
- All frontline crew are required to wear face masks, and all food service crew serving guests in the buffet are required to wear disposable hats, aprons, masks, and gloves
- Housekeeping and food and beverage crew are required to wear both disposable gloves and masks. The disposal of all gloves and masks will align with the CDC’s guidelines
- All crew will be required to use antibacterial hand soap for at least 20 seconds to sanitize hands
- All crew members are required to practice social distancing, and each crew member will be allocated their own cabin onboard the ships
Medical center:
- Isolated wards available in the medical center for ill guests or those who are concerned that they have been exposed to COVID-19
- Contaminated items and medical waste will be properly sealed and disposed of according to the CDC’s guidelines
- Used face masks and protective equipment will be disposed of at designated central collection points
- Medical equipment and waste bins will be thoroughly cleaned, disinfected, and washed twice daily with hospital-grade disinfectants
Fresh air ventilation system:
- Implemented a fresh air ventilation system to ensure healthy air quality in all onboard cabins and common areas
- All air filters and cooling coils will be thoroughly checked, cleaned, and replaced as needed
Also Read: 6 Ways The Cruise Industry Will Make a Comeback
Similar new procedures are expected from other cruise lines too, though each line may implement slightly different protocols. We already know that Carnival brands are already working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to implement new rules and protocols and further announcements on this will be made soon.
