MSC Cruises to Require All Guests to Be Fully Vaccinated

Cruise Industry News ^ | November, 24, 2021 | Staff

[Capt. Tom]

MSC Cruises today announced that all guests for its winter sailings fleetwide must now be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and also take a COVID-19 test before their scheduled embarkation date, according to a press release.

The measures have already been in place for all of the line’s winter voyages in other regions and now Mediterranean sailings have been added with the new requirements thus extending to guests booked on both MSC Grandiosa and MSC Fantasia.

Guests on any of the line’s winter sailings on its two ships operating in the Mediterranean travelling from Dec. 4 will now also need to be fully vaccinated.

Guests are considered vaccinated if they have received the full set of COVID-19 shots more than 14 days before the start of their holiday at sea.

All guests will also be required to undertake a COVID-19 test up to 72 hours of the ship’s departure time, the company said.

Gianni Onorato, CEO, MSC Cruises, said: “Our health and safety protocol has led the way in the industry not just because we were the first major cruise line to resume international operations but also because of its flexibility to adapt to the evolution of the pandemic ashore.

“This approach has reassured our guests, our crew and the destinations we visit with our ships and we saw last winter with our sailings in the Mediterranean that even during a new peak of the pandemic ashore we were able to adapt our health and safety measures appropriately and continue to offer the highest level of protection to our guests and crew.

“This is the case once more as some countries in Europe are seeing an increase in infection rates ashore and to ensure the wellbeing of those on board our ships and at the communities they call, our approach again demonstrates that health and safety is our number one priority.”

Any existing guest who will not be fully vaccinated in time for their departure date can opt to either postpone their cruise with MSC to a later date or request a refund.

Guests under 12 years of age, since not eligible for vaccination, will continue to be welcome onboard under the current measures.

[beef]

What would happen if she had tested positive? Go home no refund?

[Political Junkie Too]

Good luck with blaming the unvaccinated when the ship comes down with cases of COVID-19.

-PJ

[upchuck]

Since being “fully vaccinated” does not protect you from the China virus, what’s the use for this?

[copaliscrossing]

What would happen if she had tested positive? Go home no refund?

I'm guessing they would have quarantined us and sent us home after the quarantine ended. IIRC, a refund would be offered but I cannot remember if it was a full refund or not.

Roll the dice I guess.

[copaliscrossing]

What would happen if she had tested positive? Go home no refund?

I forgot to add that we had a rapid test the day before so we could fly and enter Italy. At that point we were reasonably sure we would test negative but one never knows. I would hope that if you tested positive, they would re-test you a little more thoroughly.

I made sure I had my Xlear with me to administer quite liberally before, during, and after the cruise.

[DugwayDuke]

copaliscrossing wrote: “Really, is it that hard to simply call them a therapeutic?”

Sorry, but there is an official definition of a vaccine. You don’t get to make up your own.

Vaccine: A preparation that is used to stimulate the body’s immune response against diseases. Vaccines are usually administered through needle injections, but some can be administered by mouth or sprayed into the nose.

[alexander_busek]

You have to be vaccinated AND get a Covid test?

AND wear a mask,

AND maintain social distancing,

AND...

Regards,

[copaliscrossing]

Sorry, but there is an official definition of a vaccine. You don’t get to make up your own.

Whew... I was worried that your weren't going to finally get here to the bigger point. Congratulations.

Did you not read what I posted? This came from a DICTIONARY, not me. Did I lose you on that part? So, I have read what you posted for "Vaccine" and that is a modified version to fit the mRNA delivery narrative.

Contrary to what you probably believe at this point, I am not a "anti-vaxxer". I have opted to take this therapy even though I have recovered from a covid infection.

If you read my tagline, THAT is what I'm arguing. The correct course of action was not to modify the definition of "vaccine" to fit your narrative and "your truth" to sell to people as a vaccine. The correct course of action is to tell the damn truth of what this is and what it is NOT and let the person make a personal choice.

WAY too many people "trust" that it is the classical definition of vaccine (attenuated virus) and people my age in this country never have had to deal with polio or smallpox because the real vaccines using attenuated virus) pretty much eradicated the virus.

And now the bigger point. I really am sick and tired of these libtards (hopefully you aren't one) changing definitions of terms and words to fit their agenda. This is just another example of that.

“Social upheaval, in other words, presents an opportunity for would-be autocrats to make a grab for power by weakening the foundations of legitimate rule. Those foundations are: piety, family, and language.” – Spencer Klavan, The American Mind

So, again, I'm not an "anti-vaxxer" but a person that perhaps has just a fantasy about our CDC/WHO/NIH being honest truth-tellers in this whole thing.

In the famous words of Forrest Gump..."That's all I have to say about that".

"The truth is always your friend". Have a good day sir...and try to post more frequently about other subjects. Lord knows you've been a member long enough ;-)

[Capt. Tom]

Since being “fully vaccinated” does not protect you from the China virus, what’s the use for this?

That's the problem I am seeing for the cruise lines.
These experimental shots just don't prevent people from getting the virus. -Tom

[entropy12]

My MSC cruise in mid-september required full vaccination AND PCR negative test done no more than 48 hours before boarding.

My next cruise on RCCL next week will accept rapid antigen test, which is better because we were nervous if the PCR test results would arrive in time before boarding.

The cruise on MSC itself was great because ship was only 1/3rd full, and the staff were eager to cater to passengers at every corner. Covid protocols were stringent, for example in buffet, passengers could not serve themselves. You pointed to the item, and the worker behind the counter placed it on a plate and handed you the plate. So my tray was full after 4 items.

[entropy12]

Vaccines can never “PROTECT” anyone from infection. There is no vaccine out there which builds a valve in nose to filter out virus material.

ONLY purpose of vaccine is to build extra anti-bodies to fight the virus when it arrives. The mis-conception that vaccines protect comes from the fact that most vaccinate people mostly get ASYMPTOMATIC infection, meaning there is infection but not serious enough to cause symptoms.

So, I like that on my next cruise, again, only vaxxed passengers can board. Because vaxxed passengers are less likely to exude larger virus loads than unvaxxed passengers.
That is because the level of infection without symptoms will be lower in vaxxed passengers. Higher the infection level, more the virus load being exhaled. Many unvaxxed people are infected without symptoms, so they will un-knowingly infect others.

[entropy12]

[Tymesup]

I’ve gotten a couple of emails recently announcing new protocols at events I’m interested in. I replied that I would not support their events because of their vaccine and mask policies. Maybe it moves the needle a little bit. I felt better.

I left a couple of stores recently because of their mask policy. I note that my town just rescinded its mask requirement. Money talks.

[Tommy Revolts]

Good for you. I am doing the same.

[liberalh8ter]

I know of some people who only got the vaccine because of their love of cruising. I seriously doubt there are enough of those die-hards to sustain that industry.