A.

Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours will only accept fully vaccinated guests on-board our river ships and on-board Scenic Eclipse. We currently recognise the following vaccines for embarkation. We will also accept a combination of two different vaccines from this list:

• 2 doses BioNTech & Pfizer
• 2 doses Moderna
• 2 doses AstraZeneca
• 1 doses Johnson & Johnson
• 2 doses Sputnik V
• 2 doses Sinopharm / Sinovac

While Scenic can accept these vaccines, the guest and booking agents are responsible for ensuring that countries transited to and from the port of embarkation / disembarkation also accept these vaccines.

Scenic also recognises that the landscape around vaccination is changing quickly.

The requirement for booster vaccinations is being carefully monitored, however at the time of issue of this document, Scenic does not require booster vaccinations for guests or crew.

Should a guest be in receipt of a vaccination not listed above, but which is approved by their National Health Authority, Scenic will consider acceptance on a case-by-case basis.

A.

Guests are required to comply with any government requirements to enter countries on their itinerary at the time of travel. It will remain the responsibility of the guests to ensure they meet all necessary requirements including any necessary proof of vaccination and/or negative COVID-19 test results should this apply at the time. For further information please visit:

https://safetravel.govt.nz/covid-19-coronavirus  

https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-information-specific-audiences/covid-19-advice-travellers  

A. We require guests to provide the relevant proof of a negative PCR COVID-19 test (taken within 72 hours of their voyage departure), when boarding the ship.

A. Yes. To ensure we can determine that all guests are safe and well before their journey with us begins, we will require you to complete a pre-departure medical health evaluation form. This form will be sent out xx days prior to the departure of your journey and you will need to ensure it is returned/completed on embarkation. 

A. We recommend guests should travel with a supply of their own face masks and hand sanitizer, to be available in their hand luggage for connecting travel arrangements, which may include flights, hotels, and transfer arrangements.

A. Every Crew Member will be fully vaccinated prior to joining all our river ships and Scenic Eclipse and they must have a negative COVID-19 PCR test, following 7 days of self-isolation in their home country prior to travel to the ship. On arrival to the ship, all Crew Members are further isolated for a period of 5 Days, following a Rapid Antigen Test. All Crew Members will receive extensive instruction and training in COVID-Security, prior to travel and also prior to starting work onboard. Crew Members are empowered to ensure all team members work safely within the strict protocols and a COVID secure way.  

A. Our on-board crew will be enhancing our already intensive, frequent and high standard cleaning protocols in public areas and suites, ensuring all surfaces and spaces are kept clean. Additional care and attention will be paid to high contact zones, such as communal restrooms and dining facilities. Any touchscreens such as iPads will be thoroughly disinfected after each use and hand sanitisation stations will be placed throughout the ship.

A. All guests are required to maintain a physical distance of 2-metres (6 feet). In addition, we have adjusted the various touch points of your journey, allowing you to check in and check out completely contact-free. Through a phased embarkation you will be able to arrive and depart from the ship smoothly and with safe social proximity in mind.

A. Face masks should be carried by guests at all time. However, they are only required to be worn when moving through the ship, where social distancing is not possible. Face masks will be available in guest suite accommodation and from Reception.

A. Our medical expert will host mandatory briefings and screenings. These sessions are designed to ensure every member of our guests and crew are healthy and offer an opportunity to allay any concerns or ask any questions you may have about our safety protocols.

A. All dining options on board your cruise are currently being delivered as advertised. If local requirements change and health advisory is altered, self-serve buffets will suspend accordingly.

A. Whilst we are planning to operate our schedule of on shore excursions, they will be conducted according to local COVID-19 requirements and so the following may apply: 

-Opening times of venues may be changed 
-Group sizes may be changed or adjusted on a daily basis 
-There may be other amendments to excursions, due to possible closures, or routing changes etc.

A. In Port
In the event a guest or crew member returns a positive COVID-19 test result during our medical screening process prior to embarkation, the guest and/or crew member will be denied approval to board the ship. Scenic will work with our Medical Service provider and local authorities for their repatriation (at their own expense). 

Onboard
In the event a guest or crew member returns a positive COVID-19 test result while on board, they will be required to immediately isolate in their suite. Contact tracing will be conducted and any persons identified as part of the contact tracing, will be required to undergo an onboard PCR test to rule out any potential ‘community transmission’ of the COVID-19 virus. All persons who test ‘Positive’ will be transferred ashore at first opportunity and follow local government health advisories recommendations. Scenic will work with our Medical Service provider and local authorities for the repatriation of the guest or crew member (at their own expense). 

A. Guests who present any COVID-19 symptoms will be required to immediately isolate within their suite alongside any members of the same travelling party sharing the suite. A rapid COVID-19 antigen test will be conducted followed by a PCR test. We will also be required to adhere to any local government quarantine and testing recommendations if a guest or crew member returns a positive COVID-19 PCR test result.

A. All guests will receive RT-PCR testing prior to disembarkation ready for their ongoing travel. Guests who choose to extend their stay after the end of the cruise, it will be responsible for obtaining an additional negative RT-PCR test before flying to their home port (own expense).

A. Unfortunately, it will not be possible for us to manage PCR testing for our guests with differing post cruise arrangements, prior to their homeward flight.  Complimentary PCR testing for guests will be administered by Scenic Group on the ship prior to debarkation. Guests who are doing their own arrangements or extending their stay will need to source their own PCR test to align with their return home.  

A. When you arrive into Buenos Aires and are cleared through the customs controls at the airport, guests will then be transferred only with other Scenic guests, to and from the group hotel, for your overnight stay. On arrival to the hotel, your temperature will be checked and luggage will be disinfected. Masks are mandatory in all common areas except when eating. 

For health and safety reasons, it is highly recommended that all guests remain within the hotel for the duration of their stay in Buenos Aires to limit your potential exposure to other persons or places which may transmit the COVID-19 virus.  

The day that your voyage begins, all guests will take a Panbio Rapid Antigen test in Buenos Aires prior to their Ushuaia flight (no additional cost). You will then be flown from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia to meet the crew of Scenic Eclipse.  

A.

For health and safety reasons, it is highly recommended that guests do not extend their stay in Buenos Aires prior to their Antarctica voyage to limit potential exposure to other persons or places which may transmit the COVID-19 virus. The day that the voyage begins, all guests will take a Panbio Rapid Antigen test in Buenos Aires prior to their Ushuaia flight (no additional cost).

A.

In Port
In the event a guest or crew member returns a positive COVID-19 test result during our medical screening process prior to embarkation, the guest/crew member will be denied boarding. Scenic will work with our Medical Service provider and local authorities for their repatriation.  

On Board
In the event a guest or crew member returns a positive COVID-19 test result while on board, they will immediately isolate in their suite. Contact tracing will be conducted. Those persons identified as part of the contact tracing will be required to undergo onboard PCR testing to rule out ‘community transmission’ of the COVID-19 Virus. Positive cases will be transferred ashore at first opportunity and follow local government health advisories recommendations. Scenic will work with our Medical Service provider and local authorities for the repatriation of the guest or crew member. 

A. If a guest or crew member returns a positive COVID-19 test result while on board, they will isolate in their suite. There are no dedicated isolation suites. All suites have access to fresh air with the use state-of-the-art Heating, Ventilation & Air-Conditioning (HVAC) systems providing 100% fresh air through a three-stage air purification process to all suites and public areas. Guests will also have access to fresh air via their balcony. Suites used for isolation will be equipped with digital thermometers, FFP2 un-valved masks and waste containers with appropriate ‘Bio-Hazard’ bags.

A. There will be one doctor and two nurses on board, all who have been trained and have experience with COVID-19 protocols and response. One of the nurses will be a dedicated COVID-19 compliance nurse, to ensure our guests safety. The medical facility is located on deck 3. The equipment on board has been reviewed and augmented to facilitate a response to Acute Respiratory Distress and other symptoms associated with COVID-19.

A. In the unlikely event that South America closes their borders while we are in Antarctica, Scenic has contingency plans in place to ensure the repatriation of all guests in the most efficient manner. With global teams and people on the ground in Argentina, we have the experience to ensure the safe return of all guests.

A. Based on the current available information, Argentina opened their borders to international travelers on the 1st October 2021. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and adhere to the guidelines provided by the World Health Organisation, CLIA, and other relevant Government travel advisory updates. If our guest’s safety is deemed to be compromised in any way, we will contact you to advise the status as a priority, and offer alternatives such as transferring to a future departure. If there is any update on your Reservation, we will also be in contact with you.