MSC Cruises takes stock of winter season protocols

As the winter cruise season quickly approaches, MSC Cruises has provided updated protocols in all regions in which it operates. The cruise line, which already has several cruise ships sailing, including from the United States and Europe, has been working with the relevant authorities. to ensure that guests and crew remain protected.

Updating MSC protocols

The cruise line aims to maintain its health and safety measures throughout the winter season to ensure everyone stays safe on board. The protocols were first introduced in August 2020 under the name MSC Cruises was one of the first cruise lines to take over operations during the pandemic.

Thus, for the winter season, most departures are reserved for fully vaccinated customers. However, for Mediterranean cruises, MSC also accepts unvaccinated passengers from Schengen countries only. There are also more specific requirements depending on where the vessels depart from.

Another essential aspect of the protocols is to ensure that customers have the appropriate cruise insurance with COVID coverage. Insurance provides that safety net when something goes wrong, not just generally, but COVID as well.

Here are the details for each of the regions from which MSC operates. The measurements for South America and South Africa for the winter season are due to be confirmed shortly.

Caribbean – Cruises from Miami and Port Canaveral

All guests 12 years of age and older should be fully immunized. For U.S. residents, they will need to provide proof of a negative antigen or RT-PCR test performed within 48 hours of departing their cruise, while non-residents will need an RT-PCR test. negative made within 72 hours of their cruise departure.

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All passengers between the ages of two and 11 will be required to provide proof of a negative RT-PCR test performed within 72 hours of their cruise departure.

Southern Caribbean

All passengers 12 years of age and older must be fully vaccinated and will be required to provide proof of a negative RT-PCR test performed within 72 hours of their cruise departure. All passengers between the ages of two and 11 will be required to provide proof of a negative RT-PCR test performed within 72 hours of their cruise departure.

Mediterranean

As for the summer program, vaccinated and unvaccinated guests from Schengen countries[1] may book these cruises. To board, these guests will either need to have a negative antigen or RT-PCR test within 48 hours of departure, or be fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 within the past six months.

Non-Schengen passengers will also be able to book these cruises and will need to be fully vaccinated, as well as provide a negative RT-PCR test performed within 72 hours of their cruise departing.

Customers can only descend ashore when participating in an MSC shore excursion and some excursions will require an official COVID certificate (for example, an EU digital COVID certificate) to access certain tourist sites, such as museums or churches.

North EEurope

All passengers 12 years of age and over must be fully vaccinated and passengers between the ages of two and 11 will be required to provide proof of a negative RT-PCR test or antigen taken within 48 hours of their cruise departing.

Non-Schengen passengers will also be able to book these cruises and will need to be fully vaccinated and provide a negative RT-PCR test performed within 72 hours of their cruise departure.

Red Sea / Saudi Arabia Arabia and United Arab Emirates

All passengers 12 years of age and older must be fully vaccinated and provide proof of a negative RT-PCR test performed within 72 hours of their cruise departure. Passengers aged two to 11 will be required to provide proof of a negative RT-PCR test performed within 72 hours of their cruise departure.

For MSC Bellissima Red Sea cruises, a visa is required to enter Saudi Arabia and customers who purchase an MSC Fly & Cruise package will have a visa to Saudi Arabia worth € 30 per person included in the overall cost. Customers must register their vaccination status with authorities in Saudi Arabia before arriving in the country.

grand Travel

All passengers 12 years of age and older must be fully vaccinated and provide proof of an RT-PCR test performed within 72 hours of their cruise departure and passengers aged 2 to 11 must provide proof of a negative RT-PCR test performed. within 72 hours of the departure of their cruise.