MSC Cruises has become the first major cruise line to resume sailings in the Mediterranean after a near five-month pause in cruise operations.
MSC Grandiosa departed Genoa on Sunday (16 August) on a seven-day western Med itinerary, calling in Rome, Naples, Palermo and Maltese capital Valletta.
All crew and guests were tested for Covid-19 before departure, with the ship operating at around 70% capacity (2,500 passengers).
Later this month, MSC Magnifica will resume operations in the eastern Med, departing Bari and Trieste in Italy and calling in the Greek ports of Corfu, Katakolon and Piraeus.
These departures will get under way on 29 August.
MSC’s Med sailings are only available to guests resident in Schengen area countries, and will be operated according to the line’s new health and safety protocols, which include daily temperature checks for all those onoard.
All other MSC sailings in the Med, due to depart up to and including 31 October, have been cancelled.