MSC Cruises bans visitors to quarantined Italian towns from boarding its ships

MSC Cruises bans visitors to quarantined Italian towns from boarding its ships

MSC Grandiosa

MSC Cruises has banned anyone who has travelled to, from or through any areas of Italy quarantined because of coronavirus in the last 14 days from boarding its ships.

Passengers and crew embarking and disembarking at ports of call will be “frequently checked by thermal cameras for fever symptoms”.

Sailings onboard MSC Grandiosa and MSC Opera, the line’s two ships in the Mediterranean, are going ahead as planned and the company stressed that the majority of its fleet is currently in South America and the Caribbean.

In a statement, MSC said it has “further enhanced our precautionary health measures for all guests and all crew who are due to travel on any of our cruises to ensure the health and well-being of everyone on board every one of our ships”

The quarantined areas in Italy are: Casalpusterlengo, Codogno, Castiglione d’Adda, Fombio, Maleo, Somaglia, Bertonico, Terranova dei Passerini, Castelgerundo, San Fiorano and Vò.

An MSC spokesperson added: “None of the ports visited by any of our ships in Italy nor any of the related excursion destinations is anywhere near these municipalities or neighbouring territories.”

The restrictions are in addition to those on people who have travelled from or through mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau.

“Everyone’s health and safety on our ships is our top priority and we have had no cases of coronavirus on board any of our ships,” the spokesperson added.