CLIA Brazil (Brazilian Association of Maritime Cruises) has taken the decision to extend the voluntary suspension of operations in the ports of Brazil, now scheduled until March 4, 2022. Until then the three MSC Cruises and two Costa Cruises ships will remain at anchor off the coast of Santos. According to the association, the decision to extend the suspension aims to continue necessary discussions with the competent authorities in order to align the necessary measures for the resumption of cruises.
In the note, CLIA Brazil said " Cruises are the only segment that requires, before boarding for passengers and crew, extremely high levels of vaccination and 100% testing of each individual. In Brazil, the protocols require that all guests have the complete vaccination cycle, present negative tests before boarding, continuous testing on board, use of masks, social distancing and lower occupation of ships, among other protocols.”
The association states that it is working with MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises to align with the authorities of the Federal Government, Anvisa, states and municipalities regarding the interpretations and applications of the operational health and safety protocols that had been approved nack in November 2021 at the start of the Brazilian cruise season.
This is the third time CLIA Brazil has extended the voluntary pause after the cruise season was put on hold due to the rise of Covid-19 cases in January this year. After the rise of Covid cases, MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises announced voluntary suspension of cruise operations in Brazil until January 21. Since the temporary suspension, Anvisa recommend cancellation of the cruise season, after evaluating the epidemiological scenario and given the increase in cases, both in the cruise sector and in the country.
Later, CLIA Brazil announced extension of the voluntary cruise pause and moved the date of return to cruise activities from February 4, to February 18.
If the cruises are approved by the Brazilian authorities in March the cruise lines will have only one month left of the Brazil season which will end in mid-April 2022.
