Your safety is our priority 

The safety of our guests, our employees and the communities we visit are our priority. We’ve partnered with experts in health and safety to design and implement protocols and procedures across our expedition fleet.  

We continuously evaluate our health and safety procedures and update the information on this page. Therefore, the procedures including embarkation procedures are subject to change. Specific measures may vary per sailing due to local regulations, updates in scientific and medical advice, and the conditions at the time of sailing.  Instructions from local health authorities and changes in legislation may also impact our procedures and how we handle specific cases. Before your departure date, we will do our best to inform you of the latest requirements for your expedition if material changes are made before the sailing.  

What you do 

We expect you to follow all applicable travel or quarantine restrictions you may be subject to, whether at home or your expedition destination. We also ask all guests to be alert for symptoms of COVID-19 and follow procedures for informing our crew if  you develop any symptoms.    

Please note that our embarkation procedures and requirements may be stricter than national regulations. Therefore, it’s important that you read the information below, where we provide an overview of our procedures and requirements. 

Joining your Hurtigruten Expedition 

COVID-19 vaccinations & pre-embarkation testing are no longer required for guests travelling on Hurtigruten Expedition ships*. 

*However, there will still be some voyages that will require guests to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19.  See below:  Please note that COVID-19 vaccinations will still be required for guests aged 12 years and over, travelling on voyages to Antarctica and the Northwest Passage in 2023 and 2024.

All persons regardless of age must be vaccinated for West African Voyages, departing from or returning to Dakar in 2023 and 2024. 

While COVID-19 vaccinations will no longer be required for most Hurtigruten Expedition voyages, we still highly recommend that all guests travelling on our ships are fully vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters if eligible.  However, some countries may require a booster dose to enter. Please check before travelling. 

During your voyage it is your responsibility to meet all entry requirements for countries you visit at the time of sailing. If you are travelling to join the ship in another country or disembark in another country, please be aware that the entry requirements to travel by land or air may differ from the requirements to embark the ship. 

Please note the following national requirements:   

All persons entering Guinea Bissau must be either fully vaccinated or take a PCR test prior to entry according to local regulations. According to Hurtigruten Expedition’s policies, all guests must be fully vaccinated on West Africa voyages. 

Please check the government website of the country you are travelling to, to ensure you are aware of the most up-to-date country requirements.  We can’t accept responsibility if you are denied entry to a country because you don’t meet its entry requirements. 

Please note that the COVID-19 requirements are subject to change.

All of our Hurtigruten Expedition crew are fully vaccinated. 

What is a primary vaccination series? 

You are considered to have completed your primary vaccination series 14 days after receiving the final dose of a WHO-approved vaccine. Please note: A primary vaccination series refers to the initial number of doses required. It does not include booster doses. For example, the primary series of Moderna or Pfizer consists of two doses.    

The vaccine and vaccine certificate must comply with the local regulations in the area of the cruise.   

If you’re unable to be vaccinated, please contact us to discuss rebooking options.  If your booking was made prior to the adoption of this policy on 1 July 2021, and you are unable to get vaccinated in time for your departure or provide the required proof, please contact us to discuss your options for refund or rebooking to a future departure.    

This vaccine requirement does not apply to Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express voyages.  

Embarkation forms 

You may be required to submit certain forms during the embarkation. You’ll receive more information in the travel documents, which are sent to you 3-4 weeks before your expedition cruise.     

Our standard forms are still required for each expedition voyage, such as a doctor’s approval for remote destinations including Antarctica, Northwest Passage, Northeast Greenland and transatlantic crossings.     

Denial of boarding – exclusion policy

During the embarkation process, you may be denied boarding if you do not fulfil the requirements in our procedures. We particularly draw attention to the following:   

Guests who do not comply with the vaccination policy when required, will be denied embarkation to the vessel.  For required voyages, you will be asked to provide proof of being fully vaccinated during the embarkation process. 

Guests who have tested positive for COVID-19 within 10 days of embarkation will be denied boarding. 

Following a medical assessment, guests may be denied embarking the vessel if they experience new onset symptoms of the following:      

·       Cough  

·       Shortness of breath  

·       Difficulty breathing  

·       Fever or chills  

·       Loss of taste or smell  

·       Vomiting or Diarrhoea   

Please note that during the medical assessment, you may be requested to take an antigen test if our medical team deems it necessary. 

Face masks

We advise all guests aged 5 years and over to wear a medical face mask when moving around the ship. 

Guest may be required to wear face masks if there is a significant increase of COVID-19 positive cases on board. 

Cleaning and hygiene 

We’ve enhanced our standard practices with additional cleaning protocols to reduce the risk of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.    

All public spaces are regularly cleaned and disinfected throughout the day, and hand sanitizer is available throughout the ship. We have increased the frequency of all cleaning procedures, especially for high touch areas and wellness facilities.    

Guest cabins are cleaned and disinfected daily. Our housekeeping staff are equipped with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and are trained in new methods to reduce the risk of COVID-19.    

Medical services

Our expedition ships feature a small onboard hospital available at all hours. Every ship has a medical team with a doctor and at least one nurse, supported 24/7 by dedicated land-based experts. Our medical staff can conduct a rapid or PCR COVID-19** tests on board and are trained in outbreak prevention and response.  

Testing 

You may be required to be tested for COVID-19 during the cruise, for example if a positive case is detected during your cruise.  

Positive cases, isolation and quarantine 

Guests are requested to self-isolate in their cabin and call reception immediately if they experience any COVID-19 symptoms, such as a cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, fever or chills, new loss of taste or smell, vomiting or diarrhoea. Our medical staff will conduct a rapid COVID-19 test on board if guests or crew develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19. If required, we have robust procedures in place for outbreak prevention and response.   

Because the COVID-19 pandemic is developing, we are assessing our procedures for isolation. Our procedures are based on local legislation, medical advice and risk assessments. The isolation and quarantine periods may be reduced or removed and may vary depending on the location of your expedition cruise. 

Currently, we operate with the following standards:

Galapagos Voyages 

COVID-19 testing will only be carried out if requested by a guest. Guests that test positive for COVID-19 will be evaluated by the ships doctor and may be required to isolate in their cabin until being released after re-evaluation.

Rest of the world 

Positive COVID-19 case  

· Guests who test positive for COVID-19 will isolate for 5 x 24-hour periods from symptoms onset.  

· Asymptomatic guests who test positive for COVID-19 will isolate for 5 x 24-hour periods from the date of their first positive test.    

· Guests who test positive will move to a single cabin, if availability permits. If a single cabin is not available, they will isolate in their current cabin.  

· Guests in isolation will take an antigen test on day 3 and 4. They can leave isolation on day 4 if both tests are negative. If an antigen test returns a positive result, the guest will stay in isolation.  (Please note: Guests on Antarctic sailings must isolate for 5 x 24-hour periods and will not be tested on days 3 and 4 due to Chilean and Argentinian regulations.) 

· Guests are permitted to leave isolation on day 5 if they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and other symptoms have improved. There is no requirement for any further testing. 

· Guests that disembark the ship before completing their isolation period may need to isolate shoreside as per local regulations. Please note that the isolation period differs from country to country, meaning persons may have to isolate for longer than 5 days in total.  

· Guests will have the option to disembark at their own expense or remain onboard as above. 

Exploring on shore 

Activities, landings and shore excursions  

We’ll follow all mandates from local governments and communities when exploring on land, adjusting our plans and procedures as needed. This may mean some activities or independent exploration are restricted in some cases.   

Disclaimer 

Even with infection control procedures, there are some unavoidable risks to guests and property associated with expedition travel. These may, for example, include illness or disease caused by exposure to viruses, bacteria or pathogens, including the coronavirus, despite screening and testing and other steps taken by us to reduce these risks.   

If someone on board a ship tests positive for COVID-19 and/or develops symptoms of COVID-19, local authorities may require a 7-day or longer quarantine of all individuals on the ship, either on board or at another location. Hurtigruten Expeditions has no control over such requirements and must adhere to orders made by the local authorities.   

Hurtigruten Expeditions is not liable for any claims, demands, and/or damages arising from, or relating to, any exposure to the coronavirus and/or the contraction of any illness or disease as a result of any such exposure, including but not limited to COVID-19, by passengers or any other person.  

**PCR testing is not available onboard MS Santa Cruz II.