MSC Cruises has reinforced its industry-leading health and hygiene protocol and has obtained RINA biosafety certification for its flagship, MSC Grandiosa, which is currently sailing in the Mediterranean.
RINA previously verified that MSC Cruises' health and hygiene protocol complied with the guidelines of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), which incorporate additional health standards such as those of EU Healthy Gateways. Verification that the protocol was in line with these two key European authorities was a crucial part of the process that allowed the resumption of operations in the Mediterranean in August.
The biosecure ship certificate, achieved by MSC Grandiosa, is voluntary and goal-based, certifying that the ship is equipped with systems, components, and is prepared with operational procedures to reduce the risk of infection.
MSC Grandiosa is currently sailing its eighth consecutive weekly cruise for passengers from across the Schengen Area. MSC Magnifica is scheduled to resume welcoming passengers on October 19th with 10-night itineraries in the Eastern and Western Mediterranean.
For both ships, MSC Cruises has developed operational procedures built upon long-standing health and hygiene measures in place on board the company's ships. The new procedures include COVID-19 testing for all passengers and crew before embarkation, protected shore excursions within a "social bubble" as an additional layer of passenger protection, and the creation of a COVID Protection Plan for added peace of mind. With all these measures, MSC Cruises hopes to offer passengers the safest possible vacation experience.
In addition to establishing a multifunctional working group made up of company experts in the areas of medical services, public health, hotel services, HVAC and other onboard engineering systems, information technology and logistics, MSC Cruises has relied on the expert consultancy Aspen Medical to support the development of the company's own protocol and procedures.
Furthermore, MSC Cruises created the Blue Ribbon COVID-19 expert group to provide ongoing support in this area. The group includes:
- Professor Christakis Hadjichristodoulou, Professor of Hygiene and Epidemiology at the Faculty of Medicine, as well as Vice President of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Thessaly, Greece;
- Professor Stephan J. Harbarth, Epidemiologist, Infectious Disease Specialist and Head of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG) and the Faculty of Medicine;
- Dr. Ian Norton, an emergency medicine specialist with postgraduate degrees in Surgery, International Health and Tropical Medicine, is currently the managing director of Respond Global, formerly head of the World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Medical Team Initiative program from 2014 until January 2020.
MSC Cruises has worked to support every aspect of the passenger's journey: from the moment of embarkation, life on board, and until the return home, while maintaining a unique customer experience.
