Skip to main content

First Major Cruise Line Resumes Operations With 2500 Passengers On Board

The first major cruise ship resumed operations today after the worldwide halt of cruising due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The MSC Grandiosa departed at 7:30 GMT from the Italian city of Genoa with 2500 passengers on board.

MSC Cruise Ship at Norway Port (1)

The MSC Grandiosa will stop at three Italian ports and the Maltese capital of Valletta on the 7 day cruise.

Earlier in the day, passengers checking in were required to  take a coronavirus blood test inside the terminal AFP reported. They were not concerned about the virus and some went as far as saying cruises were now safer than other vacation options.

MSC cruise ship with clouds above

“I couldn't miss the first cruise after COVID,” cruise blogger Rosalba Scarrone, 64, told AFP.

“I've taken 87 cruises, can you imagine how much I've suffered not setting off from February until now?”

The first cruise comes as virus cases continue to rise around Italy, with more than 600 reported by authorities yesterday.

Msc cruise ship in greek islands

All eyes will be on the MSC Grandiosa after smaller cruise lines resumed operations only to suspend them again after positive cases of Covid-19 were confirmed onboard. 

The Grandiosa is part of the fleet of privately owned MSC Cruises based in Geneva. The ship will travel to the ports of Civitavecchia near Rome, Naples, Palermo and Valletta, Malta during its seven-day voyage.

MSC Cruise Ship

MSC authorities said approximately 2,500 passengers were on board its debut cruise, limited to about 70 percent of normal capacity.

Last week, Italy's government gave cruise operators the go ahead to begin operations again as of August 15.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) said the suspension of European cruises could amount to 25.5 billion euros.

3,047 people were infected on cruise ships with the coronavirus before the worldwide halt of cruising.

73 people died aboard 48 cruise ships according to Johns Hopkins University data provided by CLIA.

See All Cruise Lines Scheduled Reopening Dates

Read More:

Travel Insurance That Covers Covid-19

Countries Reopening For Tourism

Europe Reopening: List of Countries Open

 

For Breaking Travel Reopening News & Questions, Join Our: Facebook Community

Travel-off-Path-group
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why Koh Mook is My New Favourite Thai Island

I’ve spent a lot of time in Thailand. It’s one of my favourite countries in the world, however basic that may make me. I just can’t get enough of this beautiful, warm, and fascinating country. Ever since my first visit in 2011, I’ve made the effort to return each and every year, and with each new visit, I attempt to check out a new part of the country.  Last year, it was time to visit the Trang islands, and they fast became my favourite area in all of Thailand. And Koh Mook? My new favourite island. My first glimpse of Koh Mook, from the ferry ride to shore. Yeah, that beach looked pretty wonderful. I’d loved the previous few days I’d spent on expensive Koh Ngai, but I was excited to move on. Island-hopping in Thailand is one of my favourite pastimes so the prospect of checking out a new spot always has me bouncing around a ferry with excitement.  Koh Mook was just a seven-mile journey from Koh Ngai, so we reached the island in around ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Road Tripping Dartmoor National Park

Exploring Dartmoor in the Vauxhall Mokka X United Kingdom Petting a wild pony in Dartmoor National Park probably wasn’t the best idea. It lunged for my hand, attempting to bite. There’s a reason these furry ponies are called “wild!” Dartmoor has sometimes been described as the ‘last wilderness’ of the United Kingdom. Its vast open landscape is home to a variety of unique features — wet peaty bogs, stunted oak forests, rocky outcroppings called “tors”, and icy mountain waterfalls. If you’re looking to escape London for a while, Dartmoor National Park is an excellent place to relax and enjoy the serenity of nature. The park is only a 4-5 hour drive away from the hustle & bustle of the city. My friends at Vauxhall loaned me their new Mokka X SUV for the trip, a fun city-friendly turbo diesel with 4×4 capability that can handle off-the-beaten-path adventures. Wild Dartmoor Ponies Lone Hawthorne Tree at Sunset Exploring Dartmoor In Autumn Autumn in Dartmoo...
Post a Comment
Read more

Penang’s Street Art in 15 Photos

A short 1.5 hours away by flight from Singapore, Penang’s capital, Georgetown was listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2008. Penang is a popular city in Malaysia and it’s easy to see why. People flock over for its famous street food :  char koay   teow (stir-fried rice noodles) and assam laksa , to say the most popular among the list. Penang is also known for its vibrant street art scene . From mural paintings that combine with real items, as well as wrought-iron caricature installations, it’s fun to explore Georgetown by foot! The weather in Penang can get very warm though, so arm yourself with portable fans and body wipes! Penang’s Art Scene – Wall Mural Paintings Very famous by now, Ernest Zacharevic is the young and talented, Lithuania-born artist behind the main street wall murals in Georgetown. His work was the reason why I’d made Penang a destination! Zacharevic’s work depicts everyday Malaysian life with the locals as models....
Post a Comment
Read more