Travelers Booking Two-night Bahamas ‘Micro-Cations’ Can Expect Two-Tier
Sanitation Process, Capacity Control, Enhanced Sterilization and More
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – May 26, 2020 – Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line today announced that sailings will resume onboard Grand Celebration July 25th and onboard Grand Classica October 2nd. In addition, the cruise line’s renowned, award-winning Cruise & Stay Program, which lets guests extend their stay in the Bahamas for up to four nights at one of the company’s resort partners, will also be available for bookings beginning October 2nd. As the cruise line prepares for its anticipated return, it is putting travelers’ health and safety front and center, rolling out an extensive list of new preventative measures designed to ensure the wellness of both passengers and crew. “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,” said Oneil Khosa, CEO of Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line. “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!” As the only cruise line that departs from the Port of Palm Beach, with the only two-night short-cruise product on the market, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line is implementing a variety of new processes to ensure the health and safety of all onboard. The new measures encompass protocols for guest accommodations, common areas onboard the ships, recreational facilities, food hygiene, and more. Highlights include: Capacity control:
Closing two-passenger stateroom decks to reduce crowds onboard the ship
Limit 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 in Port
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 ten 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
For full details on Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line’s improved health and safety measures, please visit www.BahamasParadiseCruise.com/COVID-19-safety-measures. Travel advisors are encouraged to take advantage of our Global Trade Desks for bookings and information at 800-995-3143. All of Bahamas Paradise Cruise Lines’ trade resources and booking engine may be found at www.bookparadise.com. Individual inquiries may also be directed to sales@cruisebp.com. ABOUT BAHAMAS PARADISE CRUISE LINE Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, the ultimate Bahamas getaway, is the only provider of two-night cruises to Grand Bahama Island and Nassau, and the originator of the unique Cruise & Stay program, letting travelers extend their Bahamas adventure with a distinctive resort stay. Recently named Best Short Cruise by Porthole Cruise Magazine’s 2020 Editor-in-Chief Awards, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line sets sail daily from West Palm Beach and operates two ships, Grand Celebration and Grand Classica – which recently earned Cruise Critic’s 2019 Cruisers’ Choice Award for Best Entertainment. The company is majority-owned by the family of former Norwegian Cruise Line President and CEO Kevin Sheehan.
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