Greek authorities confirm: no cases of COVID-19 on board – cruise of Mein Schiff 6 continues as planned
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
- Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines
- Published: 29 September 2020 29 September 2020
After a successful start with cruises from German ports with satisfied guests and without incidents, the German shipping company TUI Cruises is the first cruise operator to offer cruises in Greece since 13 September. This was preceded by close coordination of the hygiene and safety concept with the Greek authorities involved. The handling of the unclear test results of crew members reported yesterday now once again confirms the processes agreed with the authorities for the resumption of the cruise business and proves that cruises are possible in times of Corona. Following a false alarm caused by a report of 12 positive test results on crew by a land-based laboratory, three further tests, including two PCR tests and one antigen test, have confirmed the results: There are no cases of COVID-19 on board Mein Schiff 6. This was confirmed by the Greek authorities this afternoon.
"The safety of the guests, the crew, but also the Greek population is the top priority for TUI Cruises. I would like to thank all the responsible authorities for their good and professional cooperation in connection with the unclear test results on board Mein Schiff 6 and I am pleased that the voyage can be continued for all guests tomorrow with shore excursions in Piraeus" said Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises.
About the hygiene- and health concept of TUI Cruises
For the resumption of cruise operations in times of Corona, TUI Cruises has developed a health and hygiene concept together with medical experts and adapted all processes before and during the cruise (including mandatory health questionnaire, mandatory PCR test before the cruise, daily temperature checks for guests and crew), at check-in (including mandatory digital check-in, staggered check-in times) and in the guest and crew areas to comply with hygiene and distance regulations. In order to comply with the distance regulations on land, the passenger capacity on board is limited to a maximum of 60 percent; only balcony cabins and suites will be occupied. Already existing and very high hygiene standards were supplemented by additional cleaning and disinfection measures. TUI Cruises is also prepared for emergencies.
Existing structures and already very strict measures to prevent the spread of viral diseases have been further tightened and adapted to the current situation. Each ship has always had its own on-board hospital with trained personnel. All precautionary measures are based on the medical standards of renowned institutions such as the German Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the World Health Organization (WHO) and comply with the guidelines of the Greek authorities for resuming cruise operations.
The Mein Schiff 6 is currently sailing in Greece with 922 guests and 666 crew members. The cruise started on Sunday, September 27th in Heraklion/Crete and will continue after shore excursions in Piraeus tomorrow with a planned stop at Corfu.
Miami-Dade Mayor urge CDC not to extend or renew "No Sail Order"
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
- Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines
- Published: 28 September 2020 28 September 2020
On September 3, 2020, the Miami-Dade County Commission passed a resolution urging the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to expedite and conclude any analysis necessary for the establishment of the public health guidance and preventative measures required prior to the resumption of travel on cruise ships.
On Monday, September 21, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which represents 95% of global ocean-going cruise capacity and its Cruise Line Members, announced the adoption of mandatory core elements of health protocols to support a phased-in, highly controlled return to passenger service. The elements mirror the protocols established in Europe for the successful resumption of cruising and go beyond all other industries in requiring 100% testing of passengers and crew prior to boarding. Core elements include:
(1) COVID-19 Testing - 100% testing of passengers and crew for COVID-19 prior to embarkation.
(2) Mask-Wearing - Mandatory wearing of masks by all passengers and crew onboard and during excursions whenever physical distancing cannot be maintained.
(3) Distancing - Physical distancing in terminals, onboard ships, on private islands and during shore excursions.
(4) Ventilation - Air management and ventilation strategies to increase fresh air onboard and, where feasible, using enhanced filters and other technologies to mitigate risk.
(5) Medical Capability - Risk-based response plans tailored for each ship to manage medical needs, dedicated cabin capacity allocated for isolation and other operational measures, and advance arrangements with private providers for shoreside quarantine, medical facilities, and transportation.
(6) Shore Excursions - Only permit shore excursions according to the cruise operators’ prescribed protocols, with strict adherence required of all passengers and denial of re-boarding for any passengers that do not comply.
With the development of these rigorous safety protocols, the cruise industry is demonstrating its leadership and commitment to public health in travel and tourism. Based on the effectiveness of the protocols implemented by CLIA members in Europe and other parts of the world, and the core elements developed by world-class experts in medicine and science, our cruise partners are confident that a resumption of cruise operations in the Americas can be done responsibly.
"The “No Sail Order” is set to expire on September 30, 2020. Now that the cruise industry has adopted the mandatory core elements, I urge the CDC to not extend or renew the “No Sail Order.," Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez said.
Twelve crew on Mein Schiff 6 have Covid-19 – report
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- Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen
- Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines
- Published: 28 September 2020 28 September 2020
Twelve crew members on Mein Schiff 6 of TUI Cruises that it cruising in Greek waters have contacted Covid-19 and are isolated in their cabins, a media report said.
“Coastguards confirmed that 12 crew members on the 98,800-gt Mein Schiff 6 (built 2017) have contracted the Covid-19 disease,” Tradewindsnews.com said on its website.
The ship has 922 passengers and 666 crew on board and it is currently near the Greek islamd of Milos and waiting from instructions from the authorities.
It is not known how the crew members contacted the virus or whether any of them has developed symptoms of the disease, the report said.
TUI Cruises, which is based in Hamburg, has operated cruises in Northern Europe. They have not included calls at any ports and there have been no reports of problems with the disease on these cruises.
TUI Cruises is jointly owned by the German tour operator TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Group.
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