ROSTOCK, Germany, July 9,
2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AIDA Cruises, Germany's leading cruise line and a part of
Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the
world's largest cruise company – today announced it will
resume sailing operations in August
2020. Following an industry-wide pause in operations in
mid-March, three of its ships will restart sailing next month.
AIDAperla will be the first to set sail on August 5 from Hamburg, followed by AIDAmar from
Rostock-Warnemünde on August 12 and
AIDAblu from Kiel on August 16.
Bookings start today, July 9.
Supported by the theme – "With certainty the most beautiful
vacation" – AIDA Cruises has worked with several global and
national health authorities to develop a comprehensive set of
health and hygiene protocols to help facilitate a safe, healthy and
phased-in return to cruise vacations. The brand will provide
extensive information about the enhanced protocols and procedures
it will implement against COVID-19, the disease caused by the
coronavirus. More details are available
at www.aida.de/sichererurlaub.
Starting with the booking process through individual travel
preparation, embarking and disembarking in port, and medical care
on board, AIDA Cruises has introduced a variety of preventive
measures to complement existing health and hygiene standards.
These measures range from the digital health questionnaire prior
to the cruise, to temperature measurements before check-in for
guests and crew, to physical distancing guidelines and routing
systems on arrival and departure and on board, to closely managing
capacities at venues such as restaurants, bars, theatres, sports
and wellness areas.
The enhanced protocols are supplemented by additional hygiene
and safety measures, such as increased cleaning and disinfection
measures, which take place in all cabins and public areas according
to a defined protocol, as well as additional disinfection
dispensers at check-in and on board.
Onboard medical care for all guests and crew is available around
the clock. The ships are equipped with PCR-test-kits and diagnostic
devices for the immediate evaluation of suspected COVID-19 cases,
and the medical team on board is trained in the relevant test
procedures and treatment methods. Together with the responsible
authorities, extensive processes have been developed to facilitate
medical care, safe disembarkation, and a safe return home as
quickly as possible for patients diagnosed with a confirmed
COVID-19 case.
The first cruises will take place with an adjusted passenger
capacity and without calling at another port. AIDA guests can look
forward to a versatile vacation program on board with the usual
five-star service for guests, with the implementation of
necessary hygiene standards and rules for avoiding contact and
keeping distance. Bookings start today, July
9, 2020, 12:00 a.m. (German
time) in all travel agencies, at www.aida.de, as well as in
the AIDA Customer Center at +49-381-20270707.
The comprehensive health concept and the measures taken to
manage suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases have been developed
with medical experts and are based in part on the current guidance
from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the German Robert Koch
Institute (RKI) as well as other governmental and health
authorities. Additionally, the renowned independent testing
company SGS Institut Fresenius will check the implementation of the
comprehensive hygiene standards and the processes of preventive
measures against COVID-19.
AIDA Cruises is already working intensively on the next steps.
Depending on the opening of further European ports for cruise
ships, the first foreign destinations could be integrated into the
itinerary.
In a third phase, the gradual return to the original itinerary
will be possible, naturally taking into account current
developments in the destinations and in compliance with the
respective international and national regulations of health and
hygiene authorities and AIDA's own high standards.
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SOURCE Carnival Corporation & plc