• Resumption of cruise ships operations based on latest COVID-19 precautionary measures in the State of Qatar.
• fully vaccinated passengers and crew members will be allowed entry to the State of Qatar. A total of 14 days should have passed from receiving the second dose if the vaccine is two doses or one dose of the Jansen vaccine.
• Kids below 12 years accompanying vaccinated parents can be accepted only in case they will be representing maximum 10 % of total capacity of the cruise (total capacity including all passengers and all crew members).
  

• To provide guidance on how to best facilitate the safe and gradual restoration of Cruise Ships to Qatar and at the same time reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission during leisure sea travel as much as practicable.
• To put in place measures & regulations that cruise ships operators and port terminal operators must abide by in order to safeguard passengers, crew, support staff and residents of the State of Qatar from COVID-19.
  

• Each cruise ship must assign a COVID-19 Compliance Manager to monitor and report on compliance with the precautions set out in this guidance and other national Qatar COVID-19 Guidance, see Ministry of Public Health website - Information tailored for you Home and Qatar Clean Program website.
  
• They will also apply relevant home country guidance, e.g. CDC  Updated Nov. 23, 2020, Or EU.
  

• Crew and support staff together with passengers, shall follow the same infection prevention and control measures set out in the guidance and guidelines.
• Cruise Ship company shall restrict capacity to ensure physical distancing of 1 m in public areas and maintain a distance of 2 meters between tables in restaurants and any food court areas.
• The onshore capacity is to be agreed as per the allowed capacity in maritime transport guidance.
  

• Full COVID-19 Risk Assessment should be undertaken to protect ships, crew members, passengers and the communities visited, and establish appropriate safeguards to reduce the risk to the utmost.  This assessment should be formally documented and made available for Qatar Port Authorities and Ministry of Public Health to assess.
• Boarding only allowed for those with body temperature less than 38 degrees.
• Physical distance to be maintained during embarking and disembarking the ship.
• Masks to be worn by passengers and crew members at all times.
• Encourage staff and passengers to follow respiratory etiquette. Remind them to dispose of tissue paper properly after use and clean hands.
• Ehteraz App to be downloaded by all passengers and crew members, and a process should be put in place for the management of the health status checks. (Exception for the short period entry pass; less than 24 hours)
• Ships, including the equipment and surfaces, should be cleaned and disinfected prior, and after use.
• It is mandatory to provide cleaning and disinfection materials on the boats.
• Frequently clean and disinfect commonly touched objects and surfaces.
• Ensure cleaning and disinfecting toilets between use.
• Ensure the availability of facilities for handwashing/ or hand sanitizing is maintained on the boat and at the rental company.
• Remind staff and passengers to avoid touching the nose, mouth and eyes as much as possible. Avoid shaking hands, or hugging or kissing others.
• Keep a housekeeping log of the cleaning and disinfection times.
• Maintain good ventilation and open the windows, when possible, for indoors areas. Refer to MOPH HVAC Guidance.
• If a case is suspected amongst passengers and/ or crew members, the protocols adopted by the Ministry of Public Health must be applied.
• Provide an isolation room / dedicated area for any crew member or passenger who feels unwell and contact the health authorities.
• Ensure that the same infection prevention and control measures are applied to passengers and crew members.
• If participants are transported by boat Taxi or bus; follow all MOPH precautionary measures in public transport guidance.
  

• All passengers (including their kids above 4) must undergo a COVID-19 PCR test 72 hours prior to cruise start date. Only passengers and crew members with negative PCR tests are allowed entry into the State of Qatar. Please refer to the MOPH website for further guidance on PCR test requirements.
• All crew members and support staff must undergo a COVID-19 PCR test 72 hours prior to cruise start date. COVID-19 positive crew members must not be allowed to board the ship.
• Only passengers and crew members with negative PCR tests (valid for 72 hours), or negative Antigen tests (valid for 24 hours) are allowed entry into the State of Qatar (Children below 4 are excluded from the COVID-19 test procedures). Please refer to the MOPH website for further guidance on PCR test requirements.
• In case needed, allow fully vaccinated passengers and crew members to use multiple times the same COVID19 test result if within 72 hours from the time of performing the test.
• Rapid antigen test

• Vaccinated passengers (and kids above 4) and crew members are required to undergo an antigen test before arrival to the State of Qatar. Rapid antigen tests can be completed on board as long as the type of Antigen is approved by the National Lab, and it will be available at the port terminal. 

• Only passengers and crew members with negative antigen tests are allowed entry into the State of Qatar.

• Note: Antigen tests are not required if passengers and crew members already have a valid and accepted negative PCR test prior to arrival (72 hours from the time of the test till arrival to Qatar) 

• Note: rapid antigen test will be provided by MoPH at the terminal on a standard cost charged against the cruise ship company.

• Refusal of COVID-19   testing will result in no admittance to Qatar.​

• Passengers must download and activate the Ehteraz app on their mobile phones​.
  

• Passengers and crew members shall be exempted from the quarantine requirement provided they meet the above requirements.​
  

• Refer to MOPH Restaurants Guidance.
  

• Keep staff and visitors updated on COVID-19 safety and prevention information and guidelines.
• Use MOPH awareness messages and materials.
• Post signs in highly visible locations across all areas of the ship. (e.g., entrances, lobbies, restrooms).
• Consider making announcements before each disembarkation in Qatar about safety measures and protocols.

• Ensure that waste bins with covers are available and distributed adequately on the boat.
  

• Cash payments to be avoided as much as possible and hand sanitizers to be installed near payment counters.
  

• The elderly and people with chronic conditions (including crew members) are advised not to be onboard.​