MSC Cruises Releases Well being Protocols for Florida Sailings

MSC cruises announced that it would resume trips from Florida with MSC Meraviglia from Miami and MSC Divina from Port Canaveral. The shipping company has now published the health regulations that will regulate these trips.

Cruises aboard the two ships will be open to both guests who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 and those who have not been vaccinated. However, there will be significant differences between vaccinated and non-vaccinated guests on board the ships in terms of insurance coverage, mask wear, testing requirements and shore excursions.

MSC adopts a multi-layered approach

MSC Meraviglia and MSC Divina will welcome guests aboard ships in August and September that are both vaccinated and not fully vaccinated. However, in order to keep all guests and crew members safe and healthy, the shipping company has taken several measures that encourage vaccinated guests to book.

Also read: Activities on the cruise ship MSC Meraviglia

Guests who are not fully vaccinated must purchase MSC Cruises’ travel insurance and COVID-19 protection services (free for vaccinated guests) and are subject to stricter onboard protocols. The shipping company has also taken other measures that only apply to guests who have not been vaccinated.

These measures currently include the required purchase of MSC Cruises sponsored shore excursions, COVID-19 PCR-RT testing before boarding and while on board, and the required purchase of travel insurance and COVID-19 protection services.

Measures taken for all guests aboard the ships include general health checks, including a health questionnaire and COVID-19 antigen test, as well as social distancing throughout the ship through the capacity control of various outlets.

The wearing of masks is required indoors in public areas. Guests are allowed to take off their masks when they sit at their socially distant tables in restaurants, bars and lounges. Outside, guests must wear a mask if physical distancing is not possible. The company said in a press release that it strongly encourages guests to get a full vaccination before embarkation.

Photo credit: Mutaborr / Shutterstock.com

MSC Cruises bypasses the CDC vaccine protocol

Though a judge did thrown the Conditional Sail Order by the CDC, there is still uncertainty as to which protocols the cruise ships must operate under. As a result, MSC Cruises has taken steps that are compliant with Florida law and the rules and regulations of the CDC.

The shipping company does not have to comply with the 95% / 98% rules for vaccinated crew and guests by saying that the shipping company operates with vaccinated and unvaccinated guests. And since the shipping company does not require proof of vaccination, it also complies with Florida law.

The shipping company only imposes additional costs and measures on the unvaccinated guests, which makes a cruise rather unattractive and makes it more likely that vaccinated guests book more often. A policy we’ve seen more often than recently Royal Caribbean has similar regulations for its Florida departures.

The MSC Meraviglia will set sail from the United States on August 2, 2021. The ship offers guests three and four night itineraries including calls to Nassau, the Bahamas, and the Bahamas Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve private island. MSC Divina will sail from Port Canaveral, Florida on three-, four- and seven-night routes to the Bahamas and the Caribbean in September 2021