Hurtigruten, Norway's leading cruise line specializing in exploration, is the only company offering daily service year-round in Norway. Sailing through over 100 fjords, Hurtigruten showcases the most authentic side of this beautiful country. Furthermore, Hurtigruten has explored the most remote destinations for many years, giving them extensive local knowledge to highlight all their attractions. These are just some of the reasons behind their more than 127 years of experience.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Hurtigruten has followed the advice of expert authorities, including the World Health Organization (WHO), other government agencies and local health authorities in the areas where they operate; and the resumption of their operations depends on external factors such as the situation of domestic and international travel or government support.
Operations will begin in Norway, specifically with the Classic Trip routes (Bergen-Kirkenes-Bergen), but exploration trips are suspended and will be restarted gradually depending on the lifting of restrictions and the safety of the destination, according to the company's criteria.
In accordance with this new reality, despite having zero cases on board to date, Hurtigruten has activated a series of action protocols that will be carried out for what is truly a priority for the company: to guarantee the safety on board of both passengers and its employees.
First, at boarding time, the company will ask passengers to complete a medical questionnaire to verify that they have not been in contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days, that they are not at risk of becoming ill, and that they do not have any serious health problems. Their temperature will also be taken before boarding. If a possible case of COVID-19 is detected in Bergen, the medical team will be contacted to carry out the necessary tests, and if the test is positive, the passenger will not be allowed to board the ship.
The maximum number of passengers and crew on board ships will be reduced to ensure greater safety and protection, in accordance with the measures established by law. Buffets will also be eliminated, and meals will be served at the table. Restaurants will incorporate more meal seatings to reduce the number of diners per seating. Access to public areas will be restricted, and floor markings will be placed to help guests maintain social distancing. Safety recommendations will also be provided by staff, either on information screens, via public address system, or in person, to reduce the risk of infection.
Regarding cleaning procedures, Hurtigruten has intensified onboard cleaning and disinfection, building on its long-standing commitment to this area and its decades-long track record of positive results with scheduled and unannounced inspections. For example, regular microbiological samples will be taken and sent to laboratories for analysis, and ultraviolet light will be used to analyze surfaces in cabins, kitchens, and public areas, among other locations. Furthermore, each ship will have a dedicated team to ensure that public areas are continuously cleaned and disinfected.
A number of cabins have been reserved on board specifically for isolation should the need arise. This means that if any passenger experiences symptoms or there is any suspicion of an infection on board, the individual in question will be quickly isolated. Furthermore, Hurtigruten is in continuous contact with all ports of call and has access to hospitals and medical personnel ashore, if required.
In any case, the crew will be continuously tested before starting their workday and in the event of a suspected case on board, fever checks will be carried out on all persons on the ship without prior notice.
Regarding employee protection measures, the entire crew has recently completed the official WHO COVID-19 course to correctly perform all hygiene and infection control procedures, in addition to following the national guidelines of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health at all times.
