The cruise industry is once again facing challenges caused by the global pandemic, with the main focus on cruise ships sailing in the USA. The CDC's latest report states that positive cases were found on 89 cruise ships sailing out from the US ports. However cruise ships deployed in other regions around the world are also reporting positive cases onboard. The latest cruise ship to report dozens of people who tested positive for COVID-19 is Costa Firenze that just recently started cruises from Dubai.

According to our source thirty positive crew members disembarked from Costa Firenze in Dubai and were transferred to a hotel quarantine yesterday. Forty crew members who are identified as close contacts are in isolation on the ship. The crew bar is still open but drinking is not allowed in the venue. The crew gym is closed, and only the passenger gym is open. The crew member reports that the Crew Pizzeria will also close today. 

Costa Cruises is taking a serious approach to enforce health and safety protocols with zero tolerance. Anyone, regardless if it’s a passenger or crew who is not following the protocols, especially face masks policy, will disembark in the next port of call.

There are 1600 guests and 1310 crew aboard Costa Firenze. The ship is sailing 7-Nights voyages from Dubai with stops in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Doha and Muscat in Oman.