Costa Cruises announced that it will voluntarily put on hold the global operations of its ships, impacting voyages until April 3, 2020.
The decision was taken as the global spread of COVID-19, recently declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, requires extraordinary measures and for the resolute contribution of all stakeholders to stop the outbreak.
“As an industry leader, we feel it is our responsibility to be ready to make hard choices when times require it,” said Neil Palomba, president of Costa Cruises in a press statement. “At Costa, we always have the health and safety of our guests and crew members at heart. Now that these unprecedented circumstances require unprecedented actions to make sure that people across the world stay healthy, we are ready to play our role.
“Traveling the world on board a Costa Cruises cruise ship and exploring new destinations and cultures is an enriching experience. We have been making this dream come true for millions of people for over 70 years of history, and we will be ready to share these happy experiences with all our guests again soon,” added Palomba.
In the past months Costa Cruises had further strengthened precautionary measures across its fleet and has strictly followed the guidelines of the World Health Organization, however, the logistics of traveling around the world are today more challenging than ever, and with increased restrictions adopted by several countries, carrying out safe and smooth operations has become significantly complex. In an effort to contain the health emergency, Costa Cruises already had reviewed the itineraries of its ships calling at Italian ports up to April 3, while Costa operations in China were already suspended on Jan. 25.
Cruises currently underway will end their current cruise only to allow guests to disembark and return to their home. Costa Cruises is promptly informing travel agents and customers who were looking forward to boarding one of Costa ships, who will receive a voucher for a future cruise credit.
**Scheduled dates of return in operations: April 3 Costa Magica (from Barcelona); April 4 Costa Smeralda, Costa Pacifica; April 5 Costa Luminosa, Costa Diadema; April 8 Costa Fortuna; April 10 Costa Favolosa, Costa Mediterranea; May 3 Costa Fascinosa.
For more information, visit costacruises.com.
For up-to-date information on the Coronavirus epidemic, check out Recommend’s microsite at recommend.com/coronavirus.
