River Cruises | AmaWaterways™ River Cruise Line

As we are experiencing higher than normal call volumes, we encourage guests with upcoming reservations to please refer to our Travel Entry Requirements page.

Health and Safety Protocols

Updated: October 19, 2021

The world has changed; however, our commitment to the health and safety of our guests and crew remains of the utmost importance to us. We want to reassure you that we are working with global health authorities and local governments in the U.S. and around the world to follow all the most up-to-date health and safety protocols, some of which we have summarized for you below. Our experienced staff and crew have undergone special training and will be advised and guided by a Public Health Officer. As always, our crew will be on hand to take care of all the details so you can relax and enjoy your much-anticipated river cruise vacation.

Trust and Confidence

Having sailed the Rhine River in 2020, AmaWaterways played an industry-leading role in the early adaptation of health and safety protocols within the river cruise sector. Guest feedback confirms we delivered an exceptional experience while protecting our guests and crew with our enhanced protocols.

AMAWATERWAYS VACCINATION REQUIREMENT:Effective immediately, AmaWaterways will only be welcoming fully vaccinated guests on board our ships. Guests affected by this decision should contact their travel advisor for options to reschedule their river cruise.

Please note: As new information becomes available, the Health and Safety Protocols below will be updated. Further details will be provided in your Electronic Travel Documents prior to departure.

Watch Our Enhanced Health & Safety Video

For Our Guests

Whether you are a loyal past guest or are considering river cruising with us for the first time, we thank you for entrusting AmaWaterways with your future river cruise plans. Here are some of the measures we are taking to protect our guests on board and ashore:

Pre-Cruise

Prior to boarding, an online Health and Contact Tracing Questionnaire will be required. You will be asked to upload your vaccination card and complete this form within 7 days prior to departure. Please note: Boarding will be denied without completing this form prior to your departure.

Embarkation

At embarkation and every morning, guests’ temperatures will be taken with no-contact infrared thermometers. If, for any reason, further testing is required, shoreside medical treatment centers are within close proximity.

Your luggage handles will be sanitized before delivery to your stateroom.

On Board

At this time, all guests are required to wear face coverings when moving through interior spaces on the ship and while using public transportation on shore, including on our motorcoaches. We strongly recommend packing medical grade and/or N95/KN95 masks, as certain countries and sites we visit require their use. For your convenience, our onboard gift shops fleetwide will offer a limited supply of medical grade masks at a cost of two euros per pack of five; and N95/KN95 masks at a cost of two euros per individual mask. These masks are also widely available in local shops throughout Europe.

We will have ample hand sanitizers available throughout the ship and their frequent use is required by all guests and crew.

Our crew has implemented enhanced cleaning and disinfecting measures throughout the ship.

You will likely notice our crew cleaning public areas more frequently. Special attention will be paid to areas like staircases, public washrooms, armrests in the lounge and guardrails. We use hospital-grade disinfectants for continual surface cleaning in public areas. Additional deep cleaning will take place throughout the entire ship between each sailing. Your designated stateroom steward will clean your stateroom twice daily.

We use state-of-the-art fan coil air conditioning units; there is no recirculating of air among staterooms.

The air is always fresh and clean as all staterooms, fitness, massage and hair salon areas are equipped with state-of-the-art individual air handling units (AHU) plus fan coil air conditioning units that are located in the ceiling inside the staterooms above the entry area. The main public areas – lounge and restaurants – have their own high-quality air-fog system to continuously ensure cool air.

There will be limitations to the number of guests allowed to sail with us.

You will have plenty of space to roam as we will limit the number of guests on board depending on the most up-to-date guidelines in effect at the time of sailing. For 2021 sailings, the current regulations for river cruise ships are set at approximately 70% capacity. We anticipate that many departures will have even fewer guests on board.

Other regulations and protocols with regards to social distancing in restaurants and lounge areas may at times be implemented to ensure the health and safety of our guests on board.

Safety and social distancing will be enhanced throughout our dining room.

Our dining room setups and attentive service will be compliant with social distancing guidelines and current food and beverage safety recommendations. Our crew will serve you at your table and will be happy to offer you a similar choice of menu items formerly available at our buffets.

Other regulations and protocols with regards to social distancing in restaurants and lounge areas may at times be implemented to ensure the health and safety of our guests on board.

You will still get plenty of fresh air and exercise as our bicycles, fitness mats and equipment will be thoroughly sanitized after each use. Use of the Fitness Room is by appointment with cleaning time between use.

Throughout Europe and Asia, we provide a variety of onboard wellness activities led by professionally trained Wellness Hosts. Whenever weather permits, these small-group classes will be held on our spacious open-air Sun Decks.

Non-essential visitors are not permitted on board.

Historically, we have allowed a limited number of visitors on board, such as travel advisors learning more about our ships or guests on other river cruise ships wanting to sail with us in the future. For the safety of our guests and crew, non-essential visitors will no longer be allowed on board.

Exploring Ashore

Your personal portable Quietvox commentary systems will allow you to hear guides while social distancing.

AmaWaterways provides a complimentary personal Quietvox commentary system for every guest to use throughout your journey. Powered by a sustainable rechargeable battery within your own stateroom, your portable Quietvox system allows you to hear your guide during excursions while permitting comfortable social distancing. A brand-new set of headphones that plugs into the Quietvox will be provided to you at the beginning of your sailing; you may also bring and use your own personal set of plug-in headphones.

Shore excursions will be conducted in small groups. Guests must use hand sanitizers when getting on and off our coaches that are thoroughly cleaned each morning.

In addition, masks will be required for all guests when using public transportation on shore, including our motorcoaches. Masking requirements vary by country and sites visited; please be prepared to bring your medical grade mask with you on all excursions. Some countries may require N95/K95 masks.

In the event that ships are docked side by side, guests will be required to pass over Sun Decks.

AmaWaterways’ ships are occasionally required to dock side by side with other river cruise ships while in certain ports, which requires guests from one ship to enter the other to go ashore. In these cases, guests from other ships will be required to pass over the open-air Sun Deck rather than through the interior of your ship. Our exterior handrails will also be sanitized on a high-frequency basis.

For Our Crew

Pre-Cruise

Pre-boarding medical test and isolation periods, in-depth health and safety training, face coverings and social distancing are required.

Crew must have certified medical clearance certificate plus undergo pre-boarding COVID-19 testing and are kept in an isolation period prior to embarking.

On Board

All our crew have participated in in-depth training on enhanced operating protocols led by our experienced corporate Designated Hygiene Officer in consultation with international and national health authorities. Each ship has their own Public Health Officer overseeing all aspects of health and sanitation for guests and crew.

Health will be monitored for potential symptoms as well as through twice daily temperature checks.

Crew will be required to wear face coverings during working hours and continue to respect social distancing in their living quarters.

We are continuously monitoring the updates from global health authorities and local governments in the U.S. and around the world with regards to the ongoing situation. These temporary conditions are subject to change or withdrawal at any time. Please contact us with any questions or see our Travel Advisory FAQ.

*Enhanced protocols are subject to change by local authorities and may vary in certain destinations.