“MS Europa” and MS Europa 2 “
Corona cases on board: the luxury liner from Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has to prematurely cancel the New Year’s Eve cruise
According to the “Berlitz” cruise guide, the five-star-plus ship, the “MS Europa” from Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, had moored in the port of Hamburg for many weeks during the lockdown in 2020.
© Till Bartels
The number of Covid-19 infected cruise passengers is increasing rapidly worldwide. Now the flagships “MS Europa” and MS Europa 2 “of the Hamburg shipping company Hapag-Lloyd Cruises are also affected. New Year’s Eve had been different for the guests.
Since several corona tests on board the two luxury cruise ships “MS Europa” and “MS Europa 2” turned out positive, the ships have to cancel or change their planned voyages. “During routine tests on board, we identified cases of Covid-19. The people affected are doing well, they have no or only mild symptoms,” said the Hamburg-based shipping company Hapag-Lloyd Cruises when asked.
The company did not provide information on how many people are affected. Those who tested positive and their contact persons were immediately isolated from one another on board. “It is planned that the people who tested positive will be disembarked in Dubai and put into quarantine here, where they will be looked after by a medical service provider.”
The passengers of the two premium ships had imagined the turn of the year differently. The “Europa 2”, which went into service in 2013, was to continue on from Dubai to Mauritius with around 280 guests and 380 crew members over Christmas and New Year’s Eve. According to the information, the trip ends prematurely on December 30th or 31st.
The 22-year-old “Europa” was originally supposed to take the course towards Mauritius and the Maldives over the holidays with 240 passengers and 280 crew members. Thanks to the new location, the luxury liner will be able to continue its voyage towards the Maldives once it berths in Dubai. Both ships should actually be on the seas for 18 days until January 5th.
According to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, all passengers and crew on board the two ships are vaccinated at least twice. Both the guests and the crew members are also tested regularly.
Dozens of cases when cruising the Caribbean
The cases of cruise passengers who tested positive are increasing. Just before Christmas, around 300 guests on board the “Mein Schiff 4” from Tui Cruises had to end their trip on Gran Canaria prematurely due to corona infections. You actually wanted to spend seven more days on the ship, said a company spokeswoman for the shipping company in Hamburg.
You can dine so nobly on board the “MS Europa”
9 pictures
In the Caribbean, the situation comes to a head during the high season there. The ships of US shipping companies are particularly affected after the number of corona infections reported there exceeded the threshold set for this.
According to the Washington Post, the US health authorities monitor dozens of cruise ships with corona-infected people on board. More than 60 ships are now under surveillance, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
To protect the locals, some cruise ships are no longer allowed to call at certain ports in the Caribbean. The “Carnival Freedom” was forbidden to moor on the island of Bonaire in the Lesser Antilles. “I feel like I’ve spent the past week on a superspreader event,” a passenger told the press.
Also read:
– Head of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises: This man knows the secret desires of luxury passengers
– Kai Wünsche: Hamburg fashion millionaire disappears from the cruise ship
– Forced stays for luxury liners: Billions of dollars are parked in the port of Hamburg