18 June 2020
“When it’s time, we’re here” – that’s the message from Irish Ferries.
Irish Ferries has released an updated health and safety message to all customers.
Read statement in full below:
When it’s time, we’re here – with a safer way to get away and we look forward to welcoming you and your customers onboard.
We advise that everyone checks and follows the recommendations set out by local public health authorities.
- Do not travel if feeling unwell
- Respect social distancing – when onboard in public areas
- Wash hands frequently and observe cough and sneeze etiquette
- Use outdoor and open spaces onboard as much as pebble
As always, you’ll sail on a modern, with ample room for easy social distancing and with the benefit of open decks and lots of fresh sea air. In addition, we’ve introduced some changes to ensure that the safety that of our passengers and crew remains our number one priority. These include:
- Wearing face masks/face covering – Please use a face mask/face covering when travelling with us. We recommend that these be worn, and where travelling to France the use of a face is mandatory.
- In-vehicle check-in – Boarding of passengers and vehicles is staggered to allow for social distancing. You’ll see protective screens, hand sanitisation dispensers and passenger facing staff and crew may wear face masks too. Passengers can go straight to their cabin on our France service.
- Enjoy fresh air – Breath in clean fresh air on our outer decks and be assured that all air conditioning and ventilation systems onboard use 100% fresh air, with no recirculated air at all.
- Sail in space – Operating the largest cruise ferries between Ireland, Britain and France, our onboard passenger areas are spacious. We have introduced clear marking and signage throughout our ships to encourage social distancing and there is ample seating to accommodate passengers. Lifts will operate with reduced capacity for the safety of all.
- Cleaning and sanitation – We have increased and intensified our onboard cleaning routines, especially around frequent touchpoint, and hand sanitiser stations are widely available on board.
- Services onboard – There are protocols in place in public areas and crew who are in direct contact with passengers will be wearing masks and gloves. Plexiglass has been added at all till points. Some services have been reduced to help ensure the safety of crew and passengers onboard, and this varies according to route, vessel and public health environment.
- Food and beverage options may be more limited, whilst in-cabin and main restaurant dining options are served in disposable containers, by dedicated crew members. Payment by contactless card is preferred at all outlets.
- For everyone’s safety, all cinemas, bars, shopping, kids play areas and some lounges, are temporarily closed. Newspapers, single use paper menus and open buffet self-service options ahem been removed. While onboard entertainment may be limited, movies on demand has been added to all cabins on our France service.
- Cabins – East cabin is thoroughly cleaned after use, and key touchpoint around the ship are sanitised regularly during each crossing. After every sailing, we will fog the room with a special device that deals very effectively with viruses and other air and surface contaminants. In cabin entertainment has been improved for our France service, with movies on demand available in every cabin.
- Disembarkation – Our crew will have a process in place so everyone can safely dis-embark the ship on a staggered basis to ensure social distancing.
