The Port of Cádiz will receive its first cruise ship on Monday, June 21, since the COVID-19 pandemic banned cruise ships from docking at all Spanish ports in March 2020. The Mein Schiff 2 is scheduled to arrive at 8:00 a.m. from Cartagena and will depart at 7:00 p.m. for Málaga. It is carrying 1,800 passengers and 600 crew members.
To ensure the prevention of COVID-19 transmission, the Port Authority of the Bay of Cadiz has launched a protocol, drafted under the guidelines issued by the health authorities, which involves operators, passengers and crew, among others.
As a general rule, the necessary measures will be implemented to prevent infected individuals from boarding, reduce the likelihood of transmission on board, detect cases early and manage them appropriately until disembarkation, and identify and quarantine their close contacts. At the same time, measures will be taken to limit contact between people by establishing passenger and crew groups with staggered meal times, boarding and disembarking times, and staggered participation in ship activities, thus minimizing interaction between groups.
The ships must also have the capacity to perform diagnostic tests on board, as well as medical facilities with sufficient capacity and staffing to handle potential infections and designated isolation areas, in addition to PPE, cleaning and disinfection procedures, and ventilation systems in indoor spaces that guarantee air quality. The protocol also includes conducting RT-PCR or antigen tests for SARS-CoV-2 on the third or fourth day of the cruise for all passengers.
Regarding cruise passengers, the protocol requires them to provide health control information through the EU Digital Passenger Locator Form (dPLF) application, developed by the European Union's Joint Action on Preparedness and Response at Ports of Entry HEALTHY GATEWAYS. This application generates a QR code that facilitates monitoring. Passengers must wear masks, maintain social distancing, wash their hands, and avoid crowds.
Preventive measures are also being considered for the crew, such as RT-PCR or equivalent molecular testing, which must be negative in order to board.
Regarding boarding and disembarkation procedures, the operator will check temperatures, health documentation, and visually inspect for signs consistent with the illness. Suspected cases will be identified. To ensure social distancing and avoid crowding in the terminals, staggered entry and exit times will be established, along with signage indicating passenger flow.
All passengers aged 12 and over must have an RT-PCR test or equivalent within 72 hours prior to boarding or a rapid antigen test on the same day, and those who have been vaccinated with the full schedule must provide the vaccination certificate and have it available to present if required.
The Port Authority believes that the protocol guarantees the safety of both visitors and the citizens of Cadiz and will ensure its strict compliance.
Currently, the Port of Cadiz has 4 scheduled calls in July, 10 in August, 32 in September, 57 in October, 41 in November and 17 in December.
