MSC Cruises will be resuming weeklong cruises next week on one cruise ship after a decree issued by the Italian government and related updated health measures.
MSC Grandiosa will resume her weekly sailings cruises leaving every Sunday from Genoa under the protection of its health and safety protocol that had been developed with and authorized by the Italian health, transport and safety authorities last summer.
This past August, MSC Cruises became the first major cruise line to resume sailing following the global shutdown of the industry in March caused by the pandemic ashore. Since then, MSC Cruises has safely welcomed over 30,000 guests on board its two cruise ships based out of Italy.
During the Christmas and end-of-year festivities through to the issuance of the latest ministerial decree, Italy-based cruise operation were temporarily suspended due to the restrictive measures related to movement within the country set forth by the local authorities.
The cruise line was able to restart cruises after implementing new health measures and protocols.
The MSC Cruises’ heath protocol is based on nine key elements, many of which have been adopted by other cruise lines, the Cruise Lines International Association and international airlines and airports.
1. Testing of all guests at least twice per voyage
2. Testing of all crew at least three times before embarkation and weekly on board
3. Only protected shore excursions, as organized ‘social bubbles’
4. Ventilation with HVAC fresh air
5. Contingency response that does not burden local health infrastructures
6. Isolation space on board and tracking and tracing including close contacts
7. Masks
8. Physical distancing – aided by reduced capacity of the ship
9. And COVID-19 prevalence monitoring
MSC Cruises is the brand leader in Europe, South America, the Gulf region and Southern Africa with more market share in addition to deployed capacity than any other player. It is also the fastest growing global cruise line with a strong presence also in the Caribbean, North America and the Far East markets.
