MIAMI, Oct. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Germany-based AIDA Cruises from Carnival
Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world's
largest cruise company, will resume cruise operations in
Italy this Saturday, Oct. 17, becoming the second Carnival
Corporation brand to resume sailing, following the return of
Italy-based Costa Cruises in early
September.
The resumption of sailing from AIDA Cruises and Costa Cruises is
part of a gradual, phased-in approach by Carnival Corporation to
restart operations regionally with limited itineraries, adjusted
passenger capacity and enhanced health protocols developed in
coordination with government and health authorities to follow
shoreside mitigation guidelines.
AIDA Cruises will initially resume its cruise operations in
Italy with AIDAblu, scheduled to
depart from Civitavecchia near Rome on seven-day itineraries visiting Palermo
and Catania in Sicily,
Naples and La Spezia. The first
cruise for the brand is set to begin Oct.
17, with voyages offered weekly until Nov. 28.
The restart plans for AIDA Cruises build on the momentum of
Costa Cruises' return to cruise operations in Italy in early September, which began with two
initial ships departing from Trieste and Genoa on seven-day itineraries with Italian
guests visiting destinations in Italy. Costa Cruises further expanded on
Oct. 10 with a third ship, flagship
Costa Smeralda, sailing on one-week itineraries dedicated to the
rediscovery of the best of Italy, including Savona, La Spezia,
Cagliari, Naples, Messina and Civitavecchia.
In working with global and national health authorities and
medical experts, AIDA Cruises and Costa Cruises have developed a
comprehensive set of enhanced health protocols to help facilitate a
safe return to cruise vacations. Both brands are providing guests
with detailed information about enhanced health protocols, which
will continue to be modeled after shoreside health and mitigation
guidelines as defined by each brand's respective country, and
approved by the flag state, Italy.
Protocols will be updated based on evolving scientific and medical
knowledge related to mitigation strategies.
"For all our brands, there is no higher responsibility and no
higher priority than compliance, protecting the environment, and
the health, safety and well-being of our guests, our
crew and the communities we visit," said Roger Frizzell, chief communications officer for
Carnival Corporation. "We are excited to have AIDA joining Costa
Cruises in resuming sailing operations with a gradual expansion of
service over time. As we offer travelers a phased return to cruise
vacations, we will continue sharing important learnings and best
practices among our world-leading cruise line brands and across the
industry to help ensure the resumption of cruise operations is done
with the best interests of public health at the forefront."
Based on health and mitigation guidelines in Germany and Italy, the AIDA health and safety program will
be implemented on all of the brand's cruises, with measures
encompassing the entirety of the cruise experience, from booking to
disembarkation. Developed with leading medical experts, the program
has been audited and confirmed by the renowned independent auditing
company SGS Institut Fresenius and the classification society
DNV-GL.
The measures include guests and crew being tested for COVID-19
with negative results required prior to boarding. Other protocols
include regular temperature and health checks for guests and crew,
physical distancing guidelines, facial coverings, capacity controls
and increased sanitization measures, as well as guided shore
excursions managed by AIDA to maintain health protocols. Further
details on the AIDA health and safety program can be found at
www.aida.de/sichererurlaub.
About Carnival Corporation & plc
Carnival Corporation & plc is one of the world's largest
leisure travel companies with a portfolio of nine of the world's
leading cruise lines. With operations in North America, Australia, Europe and Asia, its portfolio features Carnival Cruise
Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O
Cruises (Australia), Costa
Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK) and Cunard.
Additional information can be found on www.carnival.com,
www.princess.com, www.hollandamerica.com, www.seabourn.com,
www.pocruises.com.au, www.costacruise.com, www.aida.de,
www.pocruises.com and www.cunard.com.
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SOURCE Carnival Corporation & plc