Health and safety onboard
Updated: 24th November 2022
COVID-19 SAFETY IN THE ARCTIC
On all our expeditions, the safety and well being of our passengers, guides and crew always come first. As a minimum, we always follow the regulations outlined by the Government of the destination. We reserve the right to amend our protocol, based on new developments and/or changed regulations.
Please note: The information below is being updated continuously.
VACCINE
Until further notice, PolarQuest requires that all our passengers are vaccinated against Covid-19. This requirement is subject to change. You are obligated to bring a valid Covid-19 certificate, issued by a healthcare authority. Vaccination certificates will be accepted for a period of nine months since the administration of the last dose of the primary vaccination. For a single-dose vaccine, this means 270 days from the first and only shot. For a two-dose vaccine it means 270 days from the second shot. If 270 days have past, a booster dose is required. There is as per today no expiry date if you have had dose three, four or five.
All travellers must be able to present a valid certificate, issued by the health authorities in the country of their origin. The vaccines need to be WHO-approved.
ON BOARD
There are thorough safety protocols on board all ships. The public areas are cleaned on a daily basis. If any specific on board protocol on health and safety applies on your trip, you will receieve information prior to departure. All our guides and crew follow the same protocol as our passengers.
INSURANCE
It is required that all travellers purchase a travel/interruption insurance as protection against an emergency, which may force you to leave from a trip while it is in progress. It is also strongly advised to have cancellation insurance, should get sick or test positive before travelling. Please make sure these insurances cover Covid-19 related matters.
The Package Travel Directive – protects the traveller’s rights
As a traveller it is important to know, that when you have booked a trip with PolarQuest, you are protected by the Package Travel Directive. This includes that you have the right to rebook your trip at no cost or cancel with full refund, if your Government, or other relevant authorities, have implemented restrictions against travelling. This includes documented quarantine requirements in the country you are travelling to. However, free cancellation is only possible when it is less than 30 days to departure, provided the travel restrictions are still in place and clearly will affect your trip. You are also entitled to a full refund, should PolarQuest cancel the trip for any reason whatsoever.
