Cruise shipping gets back on track – Cruise Restart in Hamburg has been well prepared



Saturday, August 15, 2020 - 14:05 by hamburg

Cruises from Hamburg are possible again. After a pause of several months due to Covid-19, cruise passengers have been departing from the Hanseatic city to Scandinavia or the North and Baltic Sea ever since July with Hurtigruten, TUI Cruises and Hapag Lloyd Cruises as well as the MS Quest from Adler-Schiffe Expedition. River cruise lines are also offering interesting tours from Hamburg again.

Consequently, Hamburg was the first port to prepare and ensure a responsible restart for cruises at its cruise terminals. For weeks, the Port of Hamburg, together with cruise lines, port health authority, the local authorities, the water police and the Robert Koch Institute - and additionally involving the North German coastal states and the Harbour Masters of German seaports – developed a new operating protocol for a responsible restart of ocean cruises, which now applies to all German cruise ports.

"Our highest responsibility and top priority at our terminals has always been the health, safety and well-being of guests, employees and crew", says Simone Maraschi, Managing Director of Cruise Gate Hamburg. In accordance with this requirement and the guidelines to enable resuming cruise operations, comprehensive infection prevention protocols and hygiene measures are implemented in the terminals in order to protect passengers, crew and staff in the best possible way and to minimize the risk of infection.

"Together with the cruise lines and other providers and agents, we have adapted the operating procedures around embarkation and disembarkation at our terminals: time slots for the check-in of guests, fever measurement upon entering the terminals, compulsory wearing of masks, distance rules - several measures interacting to minimize the risk of infection – and ultimately ensuring a sustainable restart", explains Maraschi. The experiences gained so far with the gradual restart of cruises are encouraging: the measures implemented have proven successful. Maraschi: "Consistent compliance with security measures is exactly the right way to get back on track. And the feedback from guests about the first trips is extremely positive."
Cruise shipping gets back on track – Cruise Restart in Hamburg has been well prepared
(c) Fotocredit: Mediaserver Hamburg, Andreas Vallbracht





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