MSC Cruises increases health protocols for UK sailings
Cruise line MSC Cruises has increased its health and safety protocols onboard MSC Virtuosa following a rise in Covid-19 cases in the UK
The move comes as the cruise ship is getting ready for UK sailings, in a bid to manage ‘prevailing risks’ imposed by Covid-19. The measures include additional testing of vaccinated and unvaccinated guests and crew, which has already allowed the line to identify suspected Covid cases at the terminal during the pre-embarkation process and onboard the ship.
All cases have been identified and ‘effectively managed’ in line with the protocol and in co-operation with relevant UK health authorities, according to the cruise line.
Keeping guests safe
An MSC spokesperson said: "This is yet another example of our protocol doing exactly what it was designed to do. The MSC Cruises health and safety protocol is designed to keep our guests, crew and the communities our vessels call at safe, and its measures are sufficiently robust in the face of the current circumstances."
On 23 August, the UK arm of Fred. Olsen became the first local cruise line to complete an international voyage since the resumption of cruising, as Borealis returned to the UK from Iceland.