MSC Cruises has confirmed that the vessels MSC Grandiosa and MSC Magnifica will resume operations in the Mediterranean starting from August 16 and 29, respectively.
The two ships will be the first in the MSC Cruises fleet to implement a new comprehensive health and safety protocol that has been approved by the relevant national authorities from the countries that the ships will call along their seven-day, East and West Mediterranean itineraries this summer.
Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises' Executive Chairman, said the new procedures include universal Covid-19 testing for all guests and crew prior to embarkation, protected ashore visits at each destination only with an MSC Cruises excursion as added level of protection for guests, and the introduction of a Covid-19 protection plan for preventing and potentially dealing with the spread of the virus aboard the vessels.
Maritime certification corporation RINA has verified that the protocol meets the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) guidance, which incorporates additional health standards including those from the EU Healthy Gateways Joint Action.
MSC Cruises added that all its other sailings in the Mediterranean will remain suspended from August 16 through to and including October 31 while Far East sailings are cancelled from September 10 through to and including October 26.