Two cruise ships have reported COVID-19 cases during their latest voyages in Brazil. Costa Cruises ship Costa Diadema set to dock at the Port of Santos on Monday has detected 13 cases of Covid-19 (10 passengers and 3 crew members), reports the Brazilian news portal G1.

This Monday, on 20th of December, Costa Diadema has made its first stop at the Port of Santos, where a debut ceremony was held on board the vessel. Brazils Minister of Tourism, Gilson Machado Neto participated at this event, highlighting that the country is able to welcome more ships like the Costa Diadema in order to increase the movement of tourists.  “We know that Brazil can become the America of maritime cruises.

A spectacular ceremony was held for the first Costa Firenze’s cruise in the Arabian Gulf, following the inauguration of the new Dubai Harbor Cruise Terminal. Another excitement for the guests on this special cruise is the exclusive tours to the Italian Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, thanks to the company’s role of gold sponsor to this event. 

Costa Luminosa requested medical evacuation yesterday of two crew members who needed urgent medical assistance on land, report several media outlets in Italy.

Peruvian crew member suffering from renal colic 

After the first departure from Meyer Werft in Turku, Finland on December 3, Costa Toscana headed for the Mediterranean and finally arrived in Barcelona, as planned on December 13. Costa Toscana, the second Liquid Natural Gas cruise ship for Costa Cruises is expected to be completely refueled with the environmentally friendly LNG. 

By releasing the third ship powered by liquefied natural gas, Costa Cruises further proves the obligation to sustainable innovation.

The former Costa Cruises classic ship Costa neoRomantica is the latest vessel heading for the scrapyard. Gadani Ship Breaking Yard reported that the cruise ship is set to arrive at the scrapyard in Pakistan with her beaching expected this week. A video was posted on the company’s Facebook page showing for the last time the elegant interior of the magnificent ship serving in the Costa Cruises fleet since 1993.

Barcelona City Council and Costa Cruises have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that promotes a sustainable economy of the city and puts key values such as sustainability and inclusive tourism at the forefront. Costa has made the first steps, acting immediately by establishing a new multilingual center -the Costa Customer Hub-placed in the symbolic Torre Mapfre, planning to improve the customer services, while it contributes to the local community with new employments and trainings. 

Costa Cruises announced it will change the ships sailing for the upcoming Brazilian Season. The company said that Costa Smeralda will be replaced with Costa Diadema. The LNG-powered cruise ship Costa Smeralda, which was due to begin seven-night cruises to Santos, Salvador and Ilhéus, will now sail Mediterranean itineraries.

Several cruise ships had to adjust itineraries after Panhellenic Maritime Federation (PNO) announced a 48-hour general strike beginning November 10. The strike by the port workers is expected to put all major Greek ports on hold suspending ferry service and cruise ship arrivals.