The Riverboats at the Gateway Arch have resumed operations after gaining approval from the City of St. Louis Department of Health and are now welcoming visitors back to the St. Louis Riverfront. The Riverboats have been closed since March 16, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The safety of our visitors and employees remains our number one priority,” said Robert Hopkins, Director of Operations, Riverboats at the Gateway Arch. “We have been eager to get back to telling the stories of St. Louis and the Mississippi River, and we are committed to providing our guests a responsible and safe cruise experience.”
The Riverboats are following all of the policies and procedures that have been put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the City of St. Louis Department of Health, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the United States Coast Guard. The Passenger Vessel Association (PVA) has also distributed additional guidance and directives to ensure all steps are being taken as the Riverboats reopen.
At this time, the Riverboats at the Gateway Arch are only offering the one-hour St. Louis Riverfront Cruise. When it’s deemed appropriate, the Riverboats will resume other cruise experiences slowly and carefully. The Paddlewheel Café, located on the dock of the Riverboats, is open and offering tableside service with a limited menu of food and beverage items.
The Riverboats have enacted the following health and safety protocols:
**Requirement for visitors ages 9 and up to wear face coverings. Guests with pre-existing health conditions unable to wear a mask/face covering for medical reasons are exempt.
**Significantly reduced cruise capacity.
**Dining tables and other physical layouts arranged to ensure appropriate physical distancing of 6 feet between groups.
**Hand sanitizing stations located at key guest and employee entrances and contact areas.
**Signage throughout the dock and vessels with reminders of physical distancing guidelines.
**Plexiglas barriers placed at point of sale areas.
**Hourly cleaning and sanitizing of public and employee spaces and communal areas, with an emphasis on ticket counters, door handles, public restrooms, handrails, seating areas and dining surfaces.
**On the Riverboats, increased frequency of air filter replacement and HVAC system cleaning; fresh air exchange will be maximized.
Employees will also adhere to new guidelines, including:
**Temperature checks before each shift.
**Requirement to wear gloves (in positions deemed appropriate by medical experts) and face covering, which will be provided by the Riverboats at the Gateway Arch.
**Use of hand sanitizing stations throughout employee areas.
**Complete health and safety training provided by Servsafe before returning to work.
**Staying home if they do not feel well and contacting a manager if they notice a coworker or guest with symptoms of respiratory illness. Employees who are exhibiting any of the symptoms of respiratory illness while on property are instructed to immediately notify management.
The Riverboats continue to encourage visitors to take their own necessary precautions to protect themselves and the people around them by staying at home if they are sick or are currently experiencing symptoms related to respiratory illness.
For more information about the Riverboat health and safety plan and frequently asked questions, please visit gatewayarch.com/riverboats.
You are strongly encouraged to purchase your cruise tickets in advance at gatewayarch.com or by calling 877-982-1410. Visitors can also purchase tickets at the riverboat dock ticket counter. Cashless transactions are recommended.
The Riverboats at the Gateway Arch will provide any additional operational updates through traditional media, as well as online at gatewayarch.com
