Costa Safety Protocol

COSTA Cruises has announced the introduction of the Costa Safety Protocol, as it waits for final authorisation to restart its cruise operations.

The new health and hygiene protocols are supported by a panel of independent scientific experts in public health, coordinated by the Value in Health Technology & Academy for Leadership & Innovation.

Costa said it had worked with several global and national health guidelines to develop the protocols, which include a set of measures and procedures which cover the safety of crew members, the booking process, embarkation and disembarkation, life on board, medical care and shore excursions.

The initiative also encompasses the application to Registro Italiano Navale’s Biosafety Trust Certification, which examines all aspects of life on board, such as hotel services, catering, fitness and relaxation areas, and confirms the correct management of health issues.

The certification is awarded following a series of audits conducted both on the ships and shoreside.

As part of the measures, Costa will implement measures to pre-screen each crew member in their country of origin, including two different swab tests for evaluation of suspected COVID-19 cases, a third test upon arrival in Italy, and a 14-day quarantine period.

Crew health conditions will then be continually monitored with daily temperature checks and monthly swab tests.

For guests, measures will include upgraded digital procedures, such as online checkin and self-certification, health screenings with temperature checks carried out at every access to the ship, conducted in all ports included in the itinerary.

Physical distancing will be enacted on shore tours, which have been redesigned with small groups of people and staggered departures, with sanitization of buses before and after each use.