The first large cruise ship to return to sea in the Mediterranean left the port of Genoa, Italy on Sunday after several months of hiatus due to Covid-19. The "MSC Grandiosa", from MSC Cruises, embarked on a week-long cruise with 2,500 passengers on board. The ship will call at the ports of Civitavecchia near Rome, Naples, Palermo and Valletta, Malta, on this 7-day cruise.
This is a test for the cruise industry which could lose up to € 25.5 billion in revenue due to Covid-19, and which has been heavily criticized for its handling of the virus on board. ships at the start of the pandemic.
Everyone on board the “MSC Grandiosa” was tested for Covid-19 by a blood test when boarding. The temperature of all passengers will be checked daily.