THE CORONAVIRUS
AND
EVERYTHING TO SEA
Part One: THE QUESTIONS
Part Two: THE PROTOCOLS
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Part One: THE QUESTIONS ::::: Who? What? Where? Why? When? How?
There’s so many questions about corona and our trips. Here we’ll try to answer the ones we’ve heard most often. If you want to know more, you can always contact us (hello@EverythingToSea.com)
A) ARE YOU ACTUALLY RUNNING TRIPS?
Our April, June, July and August departures in 2020 were canceled. But we successfully ran our September 2020 trip (it was so much fun!) and we will continue to run departures for the rest of the year. Should we need to cancel any other trips due to coronavirus, we would do so six weeks before the departure date.
If Everything To Sea must cancel your trip, you may move your booking to any other trip that still has space on our Calendar. There will be absolutely no charge for doing so. You may also request a full refund of your trip, excluding unrecoverable costs. We will issue a return within one week of your email request. Unrecoverable costs include credit card processing fees, deposits, and already made payments with our local contractors. We will try hard to recover as much of your money as possible.
As of this writing, several of our Group Departures in 2021 are almost fully booked. And our trips known as Your Private Journey can run in any month of the year: if you’re really itching to get away, we can travel with you as early as this January 2021.
B) IS INDONESIA CLOSED TO FOREIGNERS BECAUSE OF CORONA?
The short answer is this – Indonesia WAS closed, but is now open to visitors… in a limited way.
Like many countries in the world, Indonesia has been proactively seeking to manage the virus. Earlier, it closed off many aspects of everyday life, but it has come back in stages. Tourism is amongst the last sector to be fully opened.
C) HOW IS IT OPEN TO FOREIGNERS IN A “LIMITED WAY”?
Before coronavirus, visitors could come to Indonesia from most countries without arranging a visa. Currently, that way of entering – as a tourist – is no longer available. However, there are several types of visas that allow foreigners to enter the country. Visa Specialists with whom we are affiliated can arrange a safe and legal visa for you. It is known as a “B211 Sponsorship” visa. This visa is applied for from within Indonesia, and we have experience in starting the process for our travelers. The actual stamp gets applied to your passport in your home country. The cost for the B211 varies on timing, and applying early results in the lowest fee.
D) WHAT ABOUT AIR FLIGHTS?
International air flights are operating. Some travel agents may tell you that the country is closed for international flights or international visitors, but that is not correct. The airport on Bali is currently closed for international flights, but open for domestic arrivals and departures. The international airport used to enter the country is Jakarta (CGK). Tickets are able to be bought, and with the B211 visa, there is no problem using them.
Domestic air flights between Indonesian airports on different islands are operating. From overseas, you will first fly into Jakarta, and then take a domestic flight to Labuan Bajo (as explained in our FAQs: TRIP DETAILS). If you arrive early enough, you can do a stopover in Bali. Or, consider spending time in Bali after the Everything To Sea trip.
TIP: The “new normal” when purchasing flights? Be sure to purchase from reputable airlines and Online Travel Agencies that will honor changes. Simply because, the entire world is in a different situation than the days pre-COVID-19.
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Part Two: THE PROTOCOLS ::::: COVID-19 Exposure Mitigation Protocols for Upcoming Departures
Everything To Sea takes global health events seriously. We are carefully monitoring the Coronavirus situation. Our primary sources are the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A general overview of their positions is on the well-respected travel website Fodors.com.
We know how eager you are to travel again. In this critical time, in order to travel responsibly, we all need to change certain behaviors to ensure the safest possible conditions. Our Exposure Mitigation Protocols are designed to mitigate travelers, staff, captain and crew from potential COVID-19 exposure by means of identification, evaluation, and control of pathogen transmission factors. We first prioritize the health of everyone involved in a departure. And then we can have fun.
These Protocols will be enforced for our first few departures, this September, October, and November 2020. We believe it is safe enough to embark on sailing trips with the protocols in place.
From specific actions, to addressing the emotional aspect of “going out into the world again”, we aim to balance concerns about the virus with reasonable changes of behavior. We know that views about the pandemic will fade slowly, and with that in mind, significant changes will need to take place within our operational practices.
You play an important part in the travel experience – not just for yourself, but others, too. This is always the case, but especially true in these times of COVID-19, and so you will be responsible for certain actions, too. We hope that these additional measures will allow you to feel comfortable, so that you can fully experience freedom on an Everything To Sea voyage.
Measures by Everything To Sea, pre-trip
Reduced Occupancy – It appears that the virus is most contagious in closed quarters. Much of one’s time on an Everything To Sea trip is outside in open air. It is currently theorized that a combination of sunshine and fresh air, coupled with a climate of high heat and humidity, may be amongst the best conditions for keeping the virus at bay. As such, for our first few departures cabin occupancy will be limited to one man per cabin. However, in the case of two men already living together, one cabin can house the two of them. As there are five traveler cabins on The StandardPlus Boat, any particular trip can take five men, or more if men are partnered. There will be no additional charges for private cabins booked for our trips running with reduced occupancy.
Regular Updates – Everything To Sea will communicate with travelers booked on trips, to help them stay abreast of changing circumstances and policies.
Measures on part of Staff / Captain / Crew (referred to as Employees)
Pre-Trip Self-Screening – Any employee exhibiting symptoms or having known exposure to someone who is positive for coronavirus will get a viral test before boarding the vessel. Employees will not approach or board an Everything To Sea vessel if they test positive for COVID-19, or if they have experienced symptoms in the 72 hours prior to start of any sailing trip.
Pre-Trip Screening – Upon reporting for a trip, employees’ body temperatures will be measured with a no-contact digital thermometer and assessed. Employees with body temperatures greater than 100.4°F or who have flu-like symptoms (e.g., cough, body aches) will not be allowed to board an Everything To Sea vessel and will be directed to return to their homes.
COVID-19 Training – Employees will be trained in COVID-19 safety guidelines and these Protocols.
Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) Use – Facial coverings, as recommended by the CDC, will be worn by any crew interacting with food service and traveler’s cabins; generally the Chef, Chef’s Assistant, and Room Boy, while on vessel performing work duties.
Equipment Provision – Crew will ensure that soap and water are always available on the vessel. A supply of facial coverings will be available for all parties on the vessel.
Personal Hygiene – Our employees will be allowed and encouraged to take frequent breaks for handwashing or disinfecting of hands with a sanitizer. Hand washing must be performed with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, as recommended by the CDC.
Enhanced Sanitizing and Disinfecting – Employees will disinfect the vessel regularly during the day, and at the end of each day. Particular attention will be paid to bathrooms and touchpoints.
Daily Temperature Checks – Employees’ body temperatures will be measured with a thermometer and assessed. Employees with body temperatures greater than 100.4°F or who have flu-like symptoms (e.g., cough, body aches) will be directed to return to their homes.
Measures by Travelers
Travelers will be encouraged to:
Purchase Trip Cancellation Insurance – After booking, consider purchasing insurance that covers trip costs should you get sick, or the upgraded option known as “Cancel For Any Reason”.
Self Screen Pre-Trip – While still in their home area, travelers should perform a self-health check prior to starting their trip. Anyone with a temperature greater than100.4°F or who has flu-like symptoms (e.g., cough, body aches) will be advised not to begin travel.
Increase Attention to Personal Hygiene – Travelers should get into the habit of refraining from touching their nose, mouth, and eyes. Regular handwashing should be done with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds.
Travelers will be required to:
Have a PCR/Swab test in their departure country, with results clearly showing within 7 days of their first flight out – This is obligatory per Indonesia’s COVID Task Force. Anyone with a positive test result for COVID-19 will be unable to board a vessel and unable to enter the country.
Screen Pre-Trip – On the morning of the vessel’s departure, travelers’ body temperatures will be measured with a no-contact digital thermometer and assessed. Anyone with a body temperature greater than 100.4°F or flu-like symptoms (e.g., cough, body aches) will be unable to board the vessel.
Additional Notes
::::: COVID-19 symptoms include fever (body temperature greater than 100.4°F), dry cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, and other flu-like symptoms (e.g., chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat)
::::: In the event one of our employees or travelers tests positive for COVID-19 during a trip, we will isolate the person, notify the appropriate public health care authorities, remove him from the vessel, and take the necessary steps to deep clean and sanitize the vessel.
::::: The above practices are based on current information. Everything To Sea will continually review and evaluate our exposure control Protocols and update them as necessary.
::::: Source: www.cdc.gov