Every passenger carries a cruise card or wrist band to ‘check in’ at an assembly station, with the Muster Evacuation Monitoring Protocol System tracking when passengers are on board or when they disembark. This Protocol also includes information about people with special needs who might need additional support in an emergency.

In response to COVID-19 a comprehensive set of operating procedures have been developed that build upon already stringent health and safety measures that have long been in place on board our ships. The new procedures include universal COVID-19 testing for all our guests and crew prior to embarkation, protected shore visits at each destination, enhanced medical services on board and a very detailed contingency response plan.

The new Protocol was designed by in-house specialists in different fields and we were assisted by an expert third party consultancy, and through consultation with our Blue Ribbon Covid-19 Expert Group.

We have been the first cruise line to be back at sea as early as August 2020. Since then we have been able to demonstrate that our protocol is effectively carrying every week thousands of passengers on board our ships.



Our safety procedures are specifically designed to greatly exceed IMO and International Safety Management (ISM) Code regulations and we cultivate a culture where our whole crew has direct responsibility for safety.

With complex technical equipment onboard, deck and engine teams go through comprehensive technical training and certification, in accordance with all applicable national and international rules and regulations and in compliance with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).

We spent over 22,000 hours training our crew on MSC Grandiosa for restart, including specific training of the new Health & Safety Protocol. A new role has been created on board our ships: the Health Protocol and Compliance Officer, who reports directly to the Captain and the CEO. This role has overall responsibility for implementing the Health & Safety protocol and to ensure that the crew are totally familiar with the new practices and procedures, in line with the Health & Safety measures.

Whether they work on the Bridge, the engine room, in hospitality, or in a supporting role onshore, all our people receive the training they require to allow them to do an exceptional job.

Our guest-facing crew are provided with training on cultural awareness and sensitivity to various groups, including people with disabilities.

With 124 nationalities across the business, we have a truly international workforce that represents every creed, colour and background.