RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In the next few days, the Brazilian government should issue a decree to authorize the return of cruise ships to the Brazilian coast for the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
The measure was approved by the Ministries of Health, Justice, Infrastructure, Tourism, and the Civil House. The next step is the detailing and defining the sanitary protocols by the National Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa), which should be announced soon.
According to information from the Ministry of Tourism, cruises will resume in the country between November 2021 and April 2022, allowing Brazilians to join the more than 2 million people who have been sailing around the world since cruises resumed successfully in about 50 countries.
According to the Ministry, the resumption of cruises should generate about 35,000 jobs and inject R$2.5 billion (US$470 million) into the national economy, a number 11% higher than the last cruise season, held in 2019/2020.
According to information from the Ministry, among the primary measures adopted and to be defined by Anvisa in Brazil are: pre-boarding Covid-19 tests in all guests, with rigorous screening; vaccinated crew members, with three tests before entering service and quarantine; in addition to the use of masks, distancing, reduced occupancy, fresh air without recirculation, constant disinfection and sanitization.
Another important measure is that the excursions will follow the protocols of the shipping companies and the municipalities visited so that people can enjoy the most of their leisure time with safety.
The Ministry also advised that seven ships are planned for the 2021/2022 season, which means 566,000 beds, the most extensive offer in the last four years. This is about 35,000 more beds than the previous season of 2019/2020.
In addition, about 130 itineraries and 570 stopovers are planned in domestic destinations, such as Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Salvador, Angra dos Reis, Balneário Camboriú, Búzios, Cabo Frio, Fortaleza, Ilha Grande, Ilhabela, Ilhéus, Itajaí, Maceió, Porto Belo, Recife, and Ubatuba.