Cruise operators in Brazil suspend activities until March 4

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Brazilian Cruise Ship Association (Clia Brasil) announced yesterdat (15) that cruise ship operations will continue to be suspended until March 4. The entity halted the activities in the face of the advance of the new wave of Covid-19 contamination, driven by the Ômicron variant, and has extended the ban since January.

Previously, the date stipulated for the return of cruise ship activities was February 18. In a note, the association highlights that the “decision aims to continue the careful work and discussions with national, state and municipal authorities for the resumption of cruises.”

According to the organization, the requirements for this activity include vaccination passports, testing of all passengers and crew members before boarding the ship, testing of 10% of the people throughout the trip, and constant use of masks.

On January 12, the National Health Regulator (Anvisa) recommended the definitive suspension of the cruise ship season in Brazil, as a necessary action to protect the population’s health.

Days later, an interministerial directive established protocols for the activity.

According to the regulation, the operation of passenger-carrying vessels in national ports is conditioned to the edition of an operational plan in the scope of the municipality and the state.

In addition, the sanitary conditions for the embarkation and disembarkation of passengers and crew members on cruise ships must be defined by Anvisa.