Two Aida cruise ships AIDAmar and AIDAblu, set sail from the port of Rostock on Friday for test voyages with only crew on board. These test voyages are part of the company’s plan to familiarize the crew with the new set of health and safety rules and regulations and put them into practice before ships sail regular cruises with guests. In order to be able to successfully carry out the short trips, the employees must be fully prepared for the new health measures.

The Mauritius national public broadcaster MBC, reports that 230 Mauritian crew members, called to resume service on cruise ships at the port of Genova in Italy, left Mauritius on a charter flight on Wednesday, July 29.

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), with guidance from the Philippines Department of Transportation (DOTr), has issued the new detailed procedures including health and safety protocols for the repatriation and the conduct of crew change, in authorized domestic and international ports in the Republic of the Philippines.

The Greek Tourism Minister, Haris Theoharis, announced today that after four months of lockdown due to the global pandemic, cruise ships will be allowed to operate in Greek ports starting from August 1, 2020.

Saga Cruises announced that the company has completed the sale of it’s cruise ship Saga Sapphire to the Turkish tour operator Anex Tour. The ship will reenter service in 2021 under the name Blue Sapphire operating for the new cruise line Anex Tour in the Eastern Mediterranean. The sale was revealed by Saga Cruises in 2019 after Anex Tour announced it would acquire the vessel.

Ten new joiners, members of the crew of AIDA Cruises who were scheduled to board AIDAmar and AIDAblu in Rostock tested positive for Covid-19, reports the German TV and radio station NDR. In a press conference, the news was announced by the State Office for Health and Social Affairs (LAGuS) on Friday. 

Norwegian Cruise Line announced that the company is working on a comprehensive and multi-faceted set of new and enhanced health and safety protocols to address the challenges of the global pandemic. According to the company, these new protocols will be designed to meet or exceed required global public health standards for guests boarding NCL ships as well as the safety of its crew.

P&O Cruises Australia announced the company will extend its pause in operations across Australia and New Zealand to October 29, 2020 in response to the latest impact of the global pandemic. The cruise line said it will extend its pause in operations for an extra 42 days to what had previously been announced.

TUI Cruises is canceling the announced restart of the cruise ship Mein Schiff 1, who was scheduled to resume cruises on July 31, according to the German media. The poplar cruise blog Schiffe und Kreuzfahrten reports that the reason for canceling the first “Blue Cruise” is because the company has a problem bringing back crew on board on time due to global travel restrictions.

The British company South Quay Travel & Leisure Ltd. has filed for bankruptcy, this announcement affects the cruise operator Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV), a brand of South Quay Travel. All planned CMV cruises have been canceled.