MSC Grandiosa on Sunday (August 16) became the first ship from the MSC Cruises fleet to welcome passengers back and the first to implement the Italian company's health and safety protocol.
The first passengers began embarking the MSC's flagship in Port Genoa Italy Sunday morning, arriving at the cruise terminal according to the allocated time slots and following the screening procedures according to MSC's new health and safety protocol - which includes temperature checks, medical review of a health questionnaire as well as an antigen COVID-19 swab test for every passenger prior boarding.
Having received the test results in the terminal, passengers that were fit to travel embarked MSC Grandiosa according to the new procedures, which include sanitation of both hands and hold luggage.
All travellers received a complimentary "MSC for Me" wristband, providing contactless options whilst onboard like opening the cabin or making payments. It also helps to facilitate proximity and contact tracing. Over the past weeks, all crew have gone through similarly stringent health screening measures, including 3x COVID tests in a variety of phases as well as a period of isolation prior to commencing their duties. Each of the crew members will then be regularly tested.
Following the embarkation of the new passengers on Monday, August 17, in Civitavecchia (Rome), more vacationers will also embark in the ports of Palermo Sicily and Naples and then the cruise ship will call at Valletta, Malta, prior to returning to Genoa on Sunday.
Along the itinerary of the ship, passengers will be able to go ashore to enjoy the ports of call but only as part of an MSC shore excursion so that their experience ashore follows high standards of health and safety as onboard.
For the initial phase of the restart of sailings, the two MSC Cruises ships in the Med (the second being MSC Magnifica in Eastern Mediterranean) for the summer season will only welcome passengers who are residents in Schengen countries.