Costa Cruises continues working towards a responsible and safe start to its operations, scheduled for September, and becomes the first cruise company to obtain RINA Biosecurity Certification, a company with more than 150 years of history responsible for testing, inspecting, certifying and classifying ships that has developed the innovative management system certification program.
In the certification process, which is carried out through audits, all aspects of life on board and ashore are examined –from boarding procedures to hotel services, catering, fitness, rest areas and shore excursions – and the system's compliance with the plan's procedures for infection prevention and control is also assessed.
To obtain RINA certification, specific training modules have been created for crews, in strict compliance with the new health protocols and the associated onboard management system implemented by Costa. These training programs reinforce the already stringent procedures applied onboard ships, at embarkation terminals, and during shore excursions, introduced with the Costa Safety Protocol, the new health protocol developed by the company with the scientific support of independent experts in response to the COVID-19 situation.
Based on the current epidemiological situation and considering the opinion of experts, from the first departure of the Costa Deliziosa, scheduled for September 6 from Trieste, and continuing on all ships that will later resume operations, the company will perform the rapid Covid-19 antigen test on all guests.
The test will be conducted as part of the broader pre-boarding procedures defined in accordance with health authority protocols and Costa's Safety Protocol. The rapid antigen test will identify any suspected cases, which may then undergo a subsequent PCR test for confirmation, thus determining eligibility for boarding. The company also offers its guests the option of purchasing dedicated insurancewith specific services should the need arise.
The return of Costa cruises will be gradual and will prioritize the utmost safety for guests, crew, and the communities in which they sail. For this reason, the company has chosen to offer itineraries within Italy only, reserved exclusively for Italian guests, for its September cruises. The first ship to set sail on September 6 will be the Costa Deliziosa, departing every Sunday until September 27, offering cruises from Trieste to visit Bari, Brindisi, Corigliano-Rossano, Syracuse, and Catania. The Costa Diadema will follow on September 19, 2020, with a seven-day cruise from Genoa in the Western Mediterranean, visiting Civitavecchia/Rome, Naples, Palermo, Cagliari, and La Spezia.
