MSC Grandiosa today ended its first cruise after the cruise lockdown in Genoa
Exactly one week ago it was finally back to MSC Cruises: “Cast off!”. The company has finally got all the permits and can offer cruises in the Mediterranean again. MSC Grandiosa, one of the newest and most modern cruise ships in the fleet, was selected for the launch. Today the cruise ship finishes its first cruise after the lockdown and business interruption. From Genoa we went to Civitavecchia (Rome), Naples, Palermo, Valetta (Malta) and back to Genoa.
In the evening, MSC Grandiosa will set off on the same tour with new guests, and the cruise ship will now have a few dates ahead of it. In Genoa, beds are being changed today, including thorough cleaning, in accordance with the shipping company’s hygiene protocol. The feedback that reached us was almost exclusively positive and so we can speak of a successful restart, also in view of the fact that there were no negative incidents. The new health and safety protocols that were developed as part of the Corona crisis are also viewed positively and compliance by MSC Cruises is pursued over the long term.
This shows, among other things, the procedure at check-in, for which a corona test is mandatory. Last week, Sunday, the antibody test was positive in five people, whereupon a PCR test was carried out, which then turned out negative and the guests could then start the trip. A few passengers were completely turned away at check-in because they had recently been in a corona risk area.
MSC Cruises also received special recognition for cracking down on “rule breakers” in Naples. Shore excursions are currently only permitted with guided excursions, offered by the shipping company, and individual shore excursions are therefore not permitted. A group of people (allegedly a family) had moved away from the group on an MSC shore excursion in Naples and thus left the “social bubble” and increased the risk of infection for the other passengers and the crew. When the guests wanted to go back on board the MSC Grandiosa, the crew members refused to enter the ship and enforced the health and safety protocols.
In addition, there was a little specialty for the guests on board on the now completed voyage, because MSC Grandiosa celebrated its very first attempt in Naples.
On August 29, 2020, in less than a week, the MSC Magnifica will resume service and operate cruises in the Eastern Mediterranean. With her, two of the company’s ships will be in service. It remains to be seen how the shipping company plans to continue and when more ships will be added. For the time being, the shipping company is concentrating on the trips of the MSC Grandiosa and MSC Magnifica. If the project is successful and there is great demand, the addition of another ship is already within reach in September or October.
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