The first large cruise ship to set sail in the Mediterranean is set to depart from Genoa, Italy on Sunday evening, as the cruise industry hopes for better days after a devastating hiatus due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The departure of MSC Grandiosa, of the MSC Cruises company, from the port of Genoa (north-west) at 7:30 p.m., represents a high-stakes test for the cruise sector, both in the key Mediterranean market and in the rest of the world. of the. She is scheduled to call at the ports of Civitavecchia near Rome, Naples, Palermo and Valletta, Malta, on this 7-day cruise.
"I couldn't miss the first cruise after the Covid"
“I couldn't miss the first cruise after the Covid,” said Rosalba Scarrone, who was about to embark. “I have done 87 cruises, can you imagine how much I have suffered from not leaving since February? »Added this 64-year-old blogger specializing in cruises.
The cruise industry has been battered by the economic crisis resulting from the health crisis, but also because of criticism of its management of the coronavirus on board ships at the start of the pandemic.
MSC Cruises competitor, Costa Cruises (a subsidiary of Carnival), has chosen to delay the partial resumption of its cruises until September. The cruise industry in Europe represents a turnover of 14.5 billion euros per year and nearly 53,000 jobs according to the International Association of Cruise Lines (CLIA). The association estimates that the sector could lose up to 25.5 billion euros in revenue due to the interruption of cruises.
The slow reaction of cruise passengers to the spread of the virus
“The trip (…) represents a tangible sign of a return to one of the fundamental economic sectors of our city”, declared the mayor of Genoa Marco Bucci. Over two million cruise passengers departed from the capital of Liguria last year.
All eyes of the cruise line will be on the Grandiosa after the hiccups of a small Norwegian company, Hurtigruten, which was forced earlier this month to suspend its cruises again after the coronavirus contamination of dozens of passengers and members of the crew.
Global health officials have criticized the slow response of cruise lines to the spread of the virus before ships came to a complete halt in March. First, the buffets or sports halls continued to operate and personal protective equipment was sorely lacking.
Screening for everyone and closed buffet
According to data from Johns Hopkins University in the United States, provided by the CLIA, 3,047 cases and 73 deaths have been recorded after contaminations on board cruise ships affiliated with the association.
MSC Cruises, for its part, affirms that its new security protocol exceeds national and industry standards. At the boarding terminal, before boarding, passengers and crew members will be tested for Covid-19 by a blood test, and their temperature will be checked daily. The buffet will be closed: passengers will be served at the table.
Economy
Cruise: The boats are back to sea while the area is in a storm
World
Coronavirus: Stopped due to the epidemic, Costa group cruises will resume on September 6 in the Mediterranean
- Covid 19
- Cruises
- epidemic
- Tourism
- Coronavirus
- Society