Now that MSC Cruises has already resumed sailings with one of its ships, so far the new health protocols are working.
It’s looking Good for Cruises!
MSC Grandiosa completed her first cruise back on Sunday and it was the first time the cruise line was able to see how new health protocols worked during a real situation.
MSC Cruises has informed Cruise Hive that “everything ran smoothly both in terms of disembarkation from the first cruise and embarkation for the next one.” The second cruise departed Genoa on early Sunday evening and guests are already enjoying their western Mediterranean cruise.
The protocol worked well during the first voyage according to MSC Cruises. When MSC Grandiosa was on her way back to Genoa on Saturday all those guests who went ashore in Malta took a mandatory test which was required by Italian authorities before entering back into Italy. MC Cruises has said, “All tested negative, in another indication of how the protocol is working, as nearly all of these individuals had been on board since day one.”
To show that the protocols are working and doing what is meant to be doing, is a situation that developed when guest were embarking for the second voyage in Genoa. A young man tested positive at embarkation and that included the first antigen test and a second molecular test. As a result of the positive result, the man and his family were denied boarding.
There was a total of 15 guests including the young man and his family that ended up being denied to embark on the vessel as they had traveled to the port in Genoa in a van together. It shows that health screenings are working and if these protocols were not in place, the situation right now would be very different.
MSC Cruises went on to inform us that “Other than that, life on board during the first and the early phases of the next cruise ran smoothly, with guests enjoying every bit of the specialty restaurants, cafés and shops that our flagship has to offer. Similarly, many of the shore excursions on offer – we call them protected ashore visits, as you know – were sold out.”
Also Read: Family Gets Refused Back On-Board First MSC Cruise Since Start of Suspension
MSC Grandiosa is the first MSC cruise ship to resume sailings since the suspension first went into place back in March 2020. The ship is calling at Civitavecchia/Rome, Naples, Palermo, and Valetta during her 7-night cruises.
MSC Magnifica was scheduled to also resume sailings in August but due to additional testing for those that visit Greece, the demand for those cruises has gone down. The ship will now restart operations from September 26 instead, you can read more right here.
Photo Via: MSC Cruises
