MSC Cruises announced that the company received approval by Italian authorities to restart with limited voyages in the Mediterranean this August aboard MSC Grandiosa and MSC Magnifica.

The cruise ship Orient Queen, owned by the Lebanese cruise line Abu Merhi Cruises, sank in the port of Beirut after being hit by one of the biggest non-nuclear explosions in human history. The ship which was about 300 meters from the explosion site was badly damaged and all efforts to save it were in vain. Expressing their deepest condolences Abu Merhi Cruises said the deadly explosion killed one crew member and one is still missing.

The Lebanese capital was shaken by a huge explosion at the port of Beirut on Tuesday evening, killing more than 100 people, injuring thousands, and causing massive damage to the city and the nation.

The Norwegian cruise line Hurtigruten Cruises, announced today the company is temporarily suspending all expedition voyages on 3 ships including MS Roald Amundsen, MS Fridtjof Nansen and MS Spitsbergen.

Two Aida cruise ships AIDAmar and AIDAblu, set sail from the port of Rostock on Friday for test voyages with only crew on board. These test voyages are part of the company’s plan to familiarize the crew with the new set of health and safety rules and regulations and put them into practice before ships sail regular cruises with guests. In order to be able to successfully carry out the short trips, the employees must be fully prepared for the new health measures.

With the restart of cruises in Germany, and the final preparations by the cruise lines in Italy, hopes are high amongst the crew who are back in their home countries eagerly awaiting their sign on dates. In Italy, Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises are ready to initiate voyages on 4 ships as soon as they receive the green light from the Italian government. Final efforts have also been made for staffing cruise ships with a sufficient number of crew.

If there is an industry that is incredibly doing all the ways adapting to the COVID-19 crisis, it’s the Cruise Industry. As Kent William said, "Seafarers are conditioned to hardship". Adapting which requires being more careful with our interactions. Adapting means being more deliberate in our sanitation protocols. Being more cognizant of how our interactions affect other crew members.

The Mauritius national public broadcaster MBC, reports that 230 Mauritian crew members, called to resume service on cruise ships at the port of Genova in Italy, left Mauritius on a charter flight on Wednesday, July 29.

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), with guidance from the Philippines Department of Transportation (DOTr), has issued the new detailed procedures including health and safety protocols for the repatriation and the conduct of crew change, in authorized domestic and international ports in the Republic of the Philippines.