MSC Cruises bans Italians from cruising

Following the announcement from Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte that he is extending restrictions already in place in the north to the whole of Italy, putting the country under a total lockdown, all Italians or people who have travelled through the country will be refused from boarding an MSC Cruises ship.

In a new statement MSC Cruises is reassuring guests that everyone’s health and safety on their ships is the cruise line’s top priority and confirms there have been no cases of coronavirus on board any of their ships. As the situation continues to evolve, the cruise line continues to update its precautionary measures, and further enhances them to protect everyone on board as per below:

Rigorous pre-embarkation illness screening:

  • Anyone who has travelled to, from or through mainland China, Hong Kong, Iran, Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam, Macau and Italy (or transited via airports) in the past 14 days, or visited, has been denied access to the ship. The same rules apply to such guests’ travel companions (parent, spouse, child, siblings, or a companion who shares a cabin);
  • Guests with signs or symptoms of illness such as fever (≥37.5 C°/99.5 F°) or feverishness, chills, cough or difficulty breathing have been will be denied boarding. The same rules applied to their travel companions;
  • Anyone who, within 14 days before embarkation, has had close contact with, or helped care for, anyone suspected or diagnosed as having coronavirus, or who is currently subject to health monitoring for possible exposure to novel coronavirus, has been denied boarding;
  • MSC Cruises has conducted and continues to conduct pre-boarding screening to exclude persons who may be at risk;
  • Guests with Chinese passports who have not travelled mainland China Hong Kong or Macao in the last 14 days and are in good health may board the ship. However in some countries local may deny access to holders of Chinese passports or who have travelled through some affected countries.

Keeping the ship free from infectious diseases:

  • Throughout the cruise, at ports of call, guests and crew embarking and disembarking will be frequently checked by thermal cameras for fever symptoms; 
  • In addition, there has been and will continue to be an elevated deep-sanitation on every ship in our entire fleet. There is increased hand-washing for guests and crew, alcohol-based hand-sanitizers across the ship, increased continuous disinfection of public areas – especially frequently touched areas such as handrails, elevator buttons, door handles and reception desks.

MSC Cruises confirms there have been no cases of coronavirus on board any of their ships but ask guests to help reduce the risk of infection by exercising the following routine precautions:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, and help young children do the same. Where soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. If a tissue is not immediately available, cough or sneeze into your upper arm.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid personal contact, such sharing cups or eating utensils, with sick people.

Leave a Reply