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
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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?”
The Grandiosa is part of the fleet of privately owned MSC Cruises. The ship will travel to Civitavecchia, near Rome, Naples, Palermo in Sicily, and Valletta, Malta during the seven-day cruise.
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Competitor Costa Cruises has opted to delay the restart of its Mediterranean tours until September, with departures from Trieste and Genoa for Italian-only clients to guarantee security.
Much is riding on the decision to restart cruises. Italy is the centre of Europe’s cruise industry, which supports nearly 53,000 jobs there and generates annual revenues of €14.5 billion (US$17.2 billion), according to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). The group estimated the potential economic loss from suspended cruises throughout Europe could amount to about €25.5 billion.
“The voyage … represents a tangible sign of comeback for one of the fundamental economic industries of our city,” said Genoa’s mayor, Marco Bucci. Over two million cruise passengers departed from the city last year.
Last week, Italy’s government, which is striving to revive its moribund economy after more than two months in lockdown, gave cruise operators approval to begin operating again from August 15. MSC authorities said around 2,500 passengers were on board its debut cruise, about 70 per cent of normal capacity.
Global health authorities criticised the industry’s slow response to the spread of the virus at the onset of the crisis earlier this year, before ships were anchored in March, from lax monitoring of crew to the continued operation of self-service buffets and gyms and a lack of personal protective equipment.
As of June 11, 3,047 people had been infected with coronavirus and 73 people had died aboard 48 cruise ships affiliated with CLIA, according to Johns Hopkins University data provided by the trade group.
Health authorities say close living and working spaces for crew, along with partially enclosed environments, contribute to the greater risk of infection on cruises than in other venues.
MSC has suspended the rest of its Mediterranean cruises until October, except for an August 29 cruise departing from the southern Italian port of Bari. The company said its new security protocol exceeds national and industry standards, and includes daily temperature checks and escorted trips in controlled groups for excursions.
Food from the buffet, a highlight of the cruise experience, will be served at passengers’ tables.
