The first large cruise ship to sail in the Mediterranean Sea was on its way to sail from Genoa on Sunday, as the wrestling of the travel industry in Italy hopes to gain ground after a severe coronavirus hiatus.
The departure of the MSC Grandiosa from the northwestern port city at local time 1930 (1730 GMT) represents a test of high stakes for the global sector in the major Mediterranean market and beyond.
The international cruise industry is not only plagued by the ongoing health crisis that forced the global collapse of its ships in March, but accusations of a bot exemption from the epidemic in its early stages.
Cruise lines hope that new, tighter protocols will allow them to keep the controller at bay for the even longer threat of coronavirus aboard its ships, while still offering travelers a cruise experience that does not disappoint.
Passengers arriving who were preparing to check in before taking a required blood test for coronavirus at the terminal told AFP they were not worried about the virus. Some said they believe cruises are now safer than other vacation options.
“I could not miss the first cruise to COVID,” cruise blogger Rosalba Scarrone, 64, told AFP.
“I’ve taken 87 cruises, can you imagine how much I’ve not suffered from February so far?”
The Grandiosa is part of the fleet of private MSC Cruises, founded in Naples but now based in Geneva. The ship will travel to the ports of Civitavecchia near Rome, Naples, Palermo and Valletta, Malta during the seven-day cruise.
Competitor Costa Cruises, owned by Carnival, has opted to begin the resumption of its Mediterranean cruise until September, departing from Trieste and Genoa for Italian customers only. The company said the measure is designed to “ensure maximum security for guests, crew and local communities.”
– Fewer passengers –
Many are riding on the decision to restart cruises. Italy represents the bulk of Europe’s cruise industry, generating 14.5 billion euros a year ($ 17 billion) and supporting nearly 53,000 jobs, according to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).
The group estimates a potential economic loss from trapped cruises across Europe could amount to around 25.5 billion euros.
“The trip … represents a tangible sign of a comeback for one of our city’s fundamental economic industries,” said Genoa Mayor Marco Bucci. More than 2 million cruise passengers left the city last year.
Last week, the Italian government, which is striving to close the country’s diversified economy after more than two months, gave cruise operators the green light to start again with effect from 15 August.
MSC authorities said about 2,500 passengers would be on their debut cruise, limited to about 70 percent of normal capacity.
All eyes in the sector will be on the Grandiosa, after a smaller cruise operator, the Hurtigruten of Norway, was forced to stop its newly launched service earlier this month after dozens of passengers and crew tested positive for COVID -19.
Global health authorities criticized the sector’s slow response to the spread of the virus at the start of the crisis earlier this year before ships were launched in March, from lax monitoring of crews to ongoing operation of self-service buffets and gyms, to lack of personal protective equipment.
– Buffet is served –
On June 11, 3,047 people were infected and 73 people died aboard 48 cruise ships joining the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) trading group, according to data from Johns Hopkins University provided by CLIA.
Health authorities say that close proximity to living and working spaces for crew, along with partially enclosed environments, contributed to a greater risk of infection on cruises than other locations.
MSC has suspended the rest of its Mediterranean cruises until October, except for a cruise on August 29 departing from the southern Italian port of Bari.
The company said its new security protocol exceeds national and sector standards, including daily temperatures taken and guided tours in controlled groups for excursions.
Buffet food, a highlight of the cruise experience, will be served at the tables of passengers.
ams / pma
