Tag Archives: MSC Cruise

White House hosts call with cruise line bosses to discuss Healthy Sail Panel proposals

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Cruise line bosses have held discussions with the White House over plans to resume sailing in a “safe and responsible manner”.
US vice president Mike Pence chaired a call with five cruise line executives; the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Healthy Sail Panel.
Carnival Corporation chief executive Arnold Donald; Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings president and chief executive Frank Del Rio; Royal Caribbean Group chairman and chief executive Richard Fain; Disney Signature Experience president Thomas Malzoum and MSC Cruise’s executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago was present for the discussions, held yesterday (October 9).
A statement on the White House website said the call had focussed on “the impacts of the coronavirus on the cruise line industry and the maritime economy, the CDC’s No Sail Order, and the Cruise Lines International Association (Clia) and Healthy Sail Panel’s proposal to resume sailing operations in a safe and responsible manner.”
The Healthy Sail Panel has proposed 74 key steps towards the resumption of cruising, and since being announced in September, has received industry-wide adoption.
The proposals are now to be presented to the Coronavirus Task Force with a view to providing a recommendation to the president, Donald Trump, on the next steps on the CDC’s current No Sail Order which currently bans US-based cruising through until October 31.

MSC Cruises obtains additional safety stamp

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MSC Magnifica in the Forth of Firth Edinburgh.

MSC Cruises has obtained a further stamp of approval for its ability to reduce the risk of infection on board its flagship.

MSC Grandiosa, currently operating in the Mediterranean, has been awarded the Biosafe Ship additional class notation assigned by the classification society RINA.

RINA had previously verified that MSC Cruises’ health and safety protocols met European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) Joint Guidance, which incorporates additional health standards including those from the EU Healthy Gateways Joint Action, allowing it to restart sailings in August.

The Biosafe Ship is an additional goal-based and voluntary notation that certifies that the ship is equipped with systems, components and has a layout and operational procedures that reduce infection risk.

Grandiosa is on her eighth consecutive weekly cruise serving guests from the Schengen area, with UK guests currently unable to board. Its other ship, MSC Magnifica, is scheduled to resume sailing on October 19.

New procedures on both ships include universal Covid-19 testing for all guests and crew prior to embarkation, protected “social bubble” shore visits at each destination and the introduction of a Covid Protection Plan of insurance.

VIDEO: MSC Cruises showcases health and safety protocols

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MSC Cruises has produced a video to showcase new health and safety protocols introduced for its return to cruising.
The video was recorded on MSC Grandiosa, which is currently operating seven-night cruises with embarkations in the Italian ports of Genoa, Civitavecchia, Naples and Palermo, plus a calling at Valletta, Malta.
Due to Foreign Office advice against ocean cruising, British and Irish passengers are currently unable to join the sailings. However, the line said it was working closely with Clia to ensure protocols would be aligned when the guidance is lifted.

The planned return of MSC Magnifica has been delayed, with the ship now due to return to service from the October 19, operating 10-night cruises from Genoa and calling in Livorno for Florence and Pisa, Messina in Sicily, Valletta in Malta, Piraeus for Athens, Katakolon for Olympia in Greece and Civitavecchia for Rome.