A test for the cruise industry as first big Mediterranean Sea voyage begins since Covid-19 lockdowns
- After a smaller European cruise operator had to abort its resumption of services amid a wave of Covid-19 infections, all eyes are on the MSC Grandiosa this week
- Passengers and crew were tested for the virus before the liner sailed from Genoa, as the industry looks to stem its losses by showing cruising is safe again
The first major cruise ship to resume service in the Mediterranean Sea since the coronavirus pandemic hit Europe set sail from the Italian city of Genoa on Sunday.
The departure of the MSC Grandiosa represents a high-stakes test for the global cruise sector. The crisis forced operators to anchor their ships and led to accusations of botched handling of the epidemic in its early stages.
Cruise lines are hoping that tighter protocols will allow them to control the still lingering threat of coronavirus aboard its ships, while still offering travellers a cruise experience that does not disappoint.
Earlier in the day, arriving passengers preparing to check in before taking a required coronavirus blood test inside the terminal said they were not concerned about the virus. Some said they believed cruises were now safer than other holiday options.
“I couldn’t miss the first cruise after Covid,” cruise blogger Rosalba Scarrone, 64, said. “I’ve taken 87 cruises, can you imagine how much I’ve suffered not setting off from February until now?”