Cruise ship travel in Africa to resume after 18 months
Tourists disembark from MS Voyager which made a call at the port of Mombasa on its return journey from Zanzibar to Seychelles with a total of 687 passengers and 452 crew members. It is the first cruise ship in 2016. PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI | NMG
South Africa will be the first country to enjoy travel from MSC Cruises starting next month.
The company said it will reconfirm the cruise schedule planned for the 2021/22 season and put out new cruising dates in due course.
Last week, the South African government issued cruise regulations where among others, cruise ships crew must screen all passengers for Covid-19 symptoms when they embark.
The first cruise ship to have onboard passengers in Africa is set to resume in November after an 18-month disruption by the Covid-19 pandemic, signaling recovery of the travel sector.
The world’s largest family-owned cruise liner, MSC Cruises has announced the resumption of its operations on the continent after different port States eased Covid-19 containment measures.
South Africa will be the first country to enjoy travel from MSC Cruises starting next month.
Kenya plans to open its Sh1.3 billion cruise ship terminal which has been lying idle at the Port of Mombasa with six cruise vessels that were expected to call this year cancelled due to the pandemic.
In a statement, MSC Cruises said the experience on how to handle cruise passengers gained since the company resumed its operations in Europe in August will help ensure there is a smooth sail in Africa and more so South Africa as the first country on the continent to resume cruise travel.
"We will share with them the great amount of data we have accumulated and knowledge we have learned since we resumed safe sailing in August 2020 for cruises in the Mediterranean Sea where we have been cruising around the UK, Europe, North America and the Middle East, which has enabled tens of thousands of people to enjoy a relaxing, enjoyable and safe time with us at sea post-Covid-19 pandemic," read the statement.
The company said it will reconfirm the cruise schedule planned for the 2021/22 season and put out new cruising dates in due course as it seeks to mount a comeback on the continent.
"We now look forward to welcoming our South African guests on board in the near future for a wonderful holiday with a health and safety protocol that has led the way in the global cruise industry. We are delighted that the new measures will allow cruise ships to operate in line with national health protocols,” the company stated.
Last week, the South African government issued cruise regulations where among others, cruise ships crew must screen all passengers for Covid-19 symptoms when they embark, and also conduct antigen testing. Screening will continue throughout and every time you enter an entertainment venue, or a dining room.
The regulations require that a passenger who shows any Covid-19 symptom be whisked off to a special isolation cabin, while contact tracing is initiated.
There will be similar screening any time you go ashore during a voyage, and again when you return to the ship.
Any excursions or embarkation must be staggered too, to keep social distancing measures, and may only happen outside of curfew.
