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MSC Cruises reveals health protocols developed for Mediterranean cruising

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 03 August 2020 03 August 2020

In the wake of unwelcome news this weekend, in which Hurtigruten and Paul Gauguin both reported outbreaks of Covid-19 onboard, MSC Cruises today shared details about how its "Cruise With Confidence" initiative will work in order to resume sailing. A specific target date for its first sailings, in the Mediterranean, has not yet been announced by MSC

At a press conference today in Italy, MSC Cruises' CEO Gianni Onorato laid out a plan that included pillars such as a comprehensive health and safety operating protocol, technology that will support new procedures in a passenger- and crew-focused manner, and details about its group of experts.

Key points that emerged from the press conference:

In addition to a dedicated task force that will develop the new protocols, MSC Cruises is in conversations with RINA, the independent maritime certification corporation. RINA has verified that protocol meets the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) Guidance, which incorporates additional health standards including those from the EU Healthy Gateways Joint Action

While awaiting the necessary final approvals, two MSC Cruises’ ships are making preparations – flagship MSC Grandiosa and popular ship MSC Magnifica. MSC Grandiosa will offer 7-night cruises in the Western Mediterranean and MSC Magnifica will serve the East Mediterranean. Their actual departure dates will be determined in accordance with the guidelines received by the relevant authorities. The itineraries that are planned include Greece and Malta where the authorities have not only re-opened their ports to cruising but also have approved the health and safety protocol to support MSC Cruises’ restart of operations.

MSC revealed key strategies that are part of the new series of protocols. These include:

Universal health screening of guests prior to embarkation that comprises three comprehensive steps: a temperature check, a health questionnaire and a COVID-19 swab test. Depending on the screening results and according to the guest’s medical or travel history, a secondary health screening or testing will take place. Any guest who tests positive, displays symptoms or a temperature will be denied boarding. Following guidelines from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, guests traveling from countries categorized as high risk will be required to take a molecular RT-PCR test, to be done within 72 hours prior to joining the ship. All crew members will be tested for COVID-19 prior to embarkation as well as regularly during their contract.

Elevated sanitation and cleaning measures supported by the introduction of new cleaning methods, the use of hospital-grade disinfectant products and the sanitation of the air on board with UV-C light technology that kills 99.97% of microbes.

Social distancing will be enabled through the reduction of the overall capacity of guests on board, allowing for more space for guests, approximately 10 m² (about 108 sq. ft) per person based on 70% overall capacity. Venue capacity will be reduced, activities will be modified to allow for smaller groups and guests will be able to pre-book services and activities to manage guest numbers. When social distancing is not possible, guests will be asked to wear a face mask, for instance in the elevators. Face masks will be provided daily to guests in their staterooms and will be available around the ship

Enhanced medical facilities and services with highly qualified staff trained, the necessary equipment to test, evaluate and treat suspected COVID-19 patients and the availability of free treatment at the onboard Medical Center for any guest with symptoms. Dedicated isolation staterooms will be available to enable isolation of any suspected cases and close contacts.

Ongoing health monitoring will be conducted throughout the cruise. Guests and crew will have their temperature checked daily either when they return from ashore or at dedicated stations around the ship to monitor the health status of every guest and crew member. During this initial phase of operations, as a further enhanced measure of protection and to avoid risks to the health of guests and their fellow cruisers, guests will only go ashore as part of an organized MSC Cruises’ excursion. This means that MSC Cruises can protect their health while ashore with excursions that will be delivered with the same high standards of health and safety as on board. We will ensure that transfers are properly sanitized and that there is adequate space. Tour guides and drivers will also undergo health screening and will wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

A contingency response plan will be activated if a suspected case is identified, in close cooperation with the national health authorities. The suspected case and close contacts will follow isolation measures and may be disembarked according to local and national regulations.

In the U.S., MSC Cruises’ ships will only return to service once the necessary approvals have been received from the relevant local and national authorities, including the CDC, as well as across the regions where the ships will operate.

Hurtigruten temporarily suspends all expedition cruises

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 03 August 2020 03 August 2020

As a response to the coronavirus outbreak on board Roald Amundsen, Hurtigruten temporarily suspends all expedition sailings on Roald Amundsen, Fridtjof Nansen and Spitsbergen until further notice.

36 crew members and several guests have tested positive for COVID-19 in the outbreak on board the expedition cruise ship Roald Amundsen.

"The safety and well-being of our guests and crew is Hurtigruten’s number one priority. We are now focusing all available efforts in taking care of our guests and colleagues. We are working closely with the Norwegian National and Local Health Authorities for follow-up, information, further testing, and infection tracking," says CEO in Hurtigruten, Daniel Skjeldam.

"In light of the recent increase in new cases of COVID-19 globally, the only responsible choice is to suspend all expedition sailings until we are absolutely confident, we can carry out our operations in line with all requirements from the Authorities and with the even stricter requirements we have set for ourselves," says CEO in Hurtigruten, Daniel Skjeldam.

Hurtigruten is as of Monday in the process of reaching out to and informing guests booked on the now cancelled voyages.

The decision has no impact on Hurtigruten's coastal Norway operations.

COVID-19 hits Fincantieri interims, but long term targets remain intact

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 03 August 2020 03 August 2020

Fincantieri, the Italian shipbuilder that is the world’s largest cruise ship builder, said the COVID-19 had hits its first half interims, but pointed out that no orders had been cancelled and targets of the group’s current business plan remain intact.

Revenues fell by 15.6% to €2.37 billion in the first half of this year from the same period in 2019 as suspension of production in the spring resulted in a €790 reduction in the output. EBITDA fell to €119 million from €227 million and EBITDA margin t 5.0% from 8.1%. The group made a net loss of €137 million, including €114 million impact from cOVID-19 and €23 million from asbestos. In the first half of last year, Fincantieri had booked a net loss of €12 million.

Net debt rose to €980 million as per 30 June from €736 million a year earlier. This mirrors the cruise shipbuilding working capital flow, stressed/accentuated by COVID-19 effects resulting in the postponement of a cruise ship delivery – originally scheduled for the 2020 first semester – and of part of the expected installments, the company said.

Giuseppe Bono, Chief Executive Officer of Fincantieri, said: “It is evident that our economic and financial results are influenced by the production slowdown due to the Coronavirus. However, our current backlog allows us to look at the future with confidence, confirming a workload for the next six to seven years with consequent financial and economic performances in line with the previous Business Plan’s targets.”

The group’s shipyards had orders for 117 ships of various types at the end of June, it said.

UnCruise Adventures begins operations in Alaska tomorrow

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 31 July 2020 31 July 2020

Following an unprecedented cessation to travel, leading small boat operator, UnCruise Adventures will be the only small boat setting sail in Southeast Alaska this summer. The company’s CEO Dan Blanchard will welcome aboard excited guests and ensure the brand’s signature components of safety and experiential travel are in place for the August 1st departure out of Juneau.

The company credits its travel relaunch to pivoting quickly as a small business along with establishing crucial conversations with government officials and leading the Small Boat Operators Coalition. The groundwork that has been set for months with their dedicated team has stepped-up streamlined safety training and protocols for the Wilderness Adventurer to depart tomorrow. The U.S. small business is committed to the evolution of travel and continues to decipher and define small boat trends.

“Travelers want to have a positive impact upon communities and the environment now more than ever,” states Captain Dan Blanchard, UnCruise Adventures CEO. “We left the term of tourists behind long ago. Tourism isn’t about a one-way channel. A balance is needed and that is what Untourism is. Our guests are adventurers not tourists.” he continues. “Coming up on our 25th year we are mindful of where we go from here, and our roots are in a people-to-nature connection. That is the future of travel.”

The UnCruise Adventures brand is upending trends as local travel slowly reopens. When talking about restarting travel Blanchard says “Protection and stimulus for small businesses and those in travel should be a significant priority. This is a meaningful and challenging time. One that requires us to be diversified, humble, and nimble in our choices.”

UnCruise Adventures first departure sets sail from Juneau, August 1st with 37 passengers and 30 crew. They’ve included additional physical distancing, added daily activity rosters, thorough testing, and extensive health and safety protocols. The Alaskan season has five 7-night Glacier Bay Adventure departures scheduled with a strong occupancy. They are providing an industry-leading self-imposed 66% occupancy cap for the Alaskan itineraries. The UnCruise Adventures team continues to work with officials to help effective testing become more widely available and prioritize measures to support guests and crew.

Dream Cruises celebrates re-start of cruise service with return to Taiwan

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 27 July 2020 27 July 2020

Dream Cruises celebrated the re-start of its cruise service and return to Taiwan during a special inaugural ceremony to commemorate Explorer Dream’s new “Island Hopping” itineraries created specially for the Taiwan market. Dream Cruises will offer new cruises calling into the popular ports and islands of Peng Hu, Matsu Island and Kinmen as well as Hualien, where Taiwanese guests will again be able to enjoy refreshing short getaways on carefree ocean voyages.

The landmark event was attended by a number of important guests from Taiwan including the Minister of Transportation and Communications, Lin Chia-lung; the Minister of Health & Welfare, Chen Shih-chung; the Mayor, Keelung Government, Lin Yu-chang; the Director General of Maritime and Port Bureau, MOTC, Kuo Tien Kuei; the Deputy Director General of Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, Chuang Jen-Hsiang; business partners, the media and representatives of Genting Cruise Lines.

“It is a great honour for Genting Cruise Lines to continue its long and fruitful partnership with Taiwan which began over 20 years ago, as we begin on the road to recovery together due to the COVID-19 pandemic and which will bring hope to the global cruise industry as well,” said Kent Zhu, President of Genting Cruise Lines.

“We could not have done this alone and I would like to acknowledge the great encouragement we have received from all the various Taiwanese authorities – namely the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, which demonstrated their immense support of the travel industry; the Ministry of Health & Welfare, for their trust and confidence in us; the Ministry of the Interior for their continuous assistance; and the warm hospitality and advocacy from the City of Keelung – and our travel partners and all of our media friends who have been instrumental in making this day happen,” Zhu continued.

With the backing of local authorities and through their vision to reinvigorate the local economy and the tourism industry, Dream Cruises’ innovative island-hopping cruises on board Explorer Dream will highlight the physical and geographic beauty of Taiwan, allowing travellers to enjoy a long awaited holiday at sea to scenic destinations along the coastline and outlying islands with total peace of mind. These cruises will also showcase the very best that Taiwan has to offer in terms of its culinary heritage as well as its entertaining cultural heritage.

For a taste of Taiwan, collaborations have been forged with the Council of Agriculture to provide local produce on board Explorer Dream and a new order-to-home service for their “2020 Top 100 Premium Agricultural Products” on the ship. Additionally, guests can sample local brands including Sharetea, Taihu Beer, Tien Hsia San Chueh Noodle Cuisine, Formosa Chang, SunnyHills and Mark’s Teppanyaki from Marriott Taipei for everything from bubble tea to local craft beer and popular Taiwanese cuisine.

To offer a truly authentic experience that is close to home, local travel experts have been recruited as Dream Ambassadors, who will offer assistance and guidance to on-board guests in their native languages.

Guests will also see the debut of the new Flexi-Feast dining concept which allows unprecedented flexibility for a completely customized dining experience at sea by allowing passengers the freedom to choose from a wider choice of venues and to dine at their leisure. As well, Flexi-Feast will provide additional peace of mind for guests by helping to ease bottlenecks at certain venues for a more spacious and more comfortable environment on board and provide better social distancing by seating guests across all restaurants instead of concentrating on a few inclusive outlets.

In preparation for welcoming its first passengers on board, over the past months, Genting Cruise Lines has completely re-examined and enhanced all of its health, hygiene and operating protocols to ensure the safest environment for everyone on board including thorough sanitization and disinfection and enhanced hygiene practices for guest cabins and crew member quarters, public areas and recreational facilities; social distancing in dining, entertainment and public areas; safe food and beverage handling procedures; and, 100% fresh air ventilation in staterooms and public areas.

Prior to Explorer Dream’s arrival in Taiwan, Genting Cruise Lines had also worked with DNV GL, the largest classification society in the world, to adapt their health care “Certification in Infection Prevention (CIP) for the Marine industry (CIP-M) and Explorer Dream is the first cruise ship in the world to receive the CIP-M certification, a further testament to the effectiveness of the enhanced preventive measures developed by Genting Cruise Lines.

In accordance with Taiwan’s regulations prior to resuming sailing, Explorer Dream observed strict quarantine procedures with the crew has completing a total of 21 days of isolation and passing all COVID-19 testing. In preparation for her inaugural sailing, the ship also underwent a thorough deep cleaning in accordance with EU standard. To ensure the seamless execution of preventive measures both on board and on shore, the crew participated in an outbreak simulation drill under the guidance of the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control and with consultation by medical experts from the Taiwan Public Health Association.

“The restarting of the cruise industry is a remarkable achievement which was made possible by the Taiwan authorities’ swift and effective handling of the COVID-19 crisis and their foresight in resuming the tourism industry to benefit all the ports, the economy and the lifestyle of the people of Taiwan,” added Zhu. “Looking forward, we believe the development of cruise bubbles between Taiwan and neighbouring regions that also have their pandemic situation under control, such as the outlying islands of Japan, can further initiate the next phase in the re-establishment of international tourism and spur the economic recovery for a post COVID-19 world.”