MSC GRANDIOSA - 8/16/2020 - Anyone Live?

[SpainAlien]

On 8/12/2020 at 10:24 AM, little britain said:

I’m not seeing the “with excursions “ option on the uk site ( on iPhone) 

Neither am I on the Spanish site

 

[ighten]

Has Spain now been removed as well

[Formula280SS]

Well, despite another thread with concerns about the cruise being cancelled (some re: crew, some re: Greece, etc.), it looks like, absent any last second announcement, that MSC Grandiosa is going on her scheduled cruise 8/16/2020.

, 

STILL HOPING FOR A CRUISECRITIC MEMBER TO POST INFORMATION, EXPERIENCE PRE-EMBARKATION, ON BOARD, ETC.

 

👍🛳️

 

Re: the concern from passengers returning from Greece, the Grandiosa is not going there.  Here is her itinerary both per the MSC website in narrative and in graphic.  The only non-Italian port is Valletta, Malta where I believe that is where the Grandiosa is "flagged."

 

Per MSC news release:

 

https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/23349-msc-gets-approval-to-restart-cruising-in-august.html

 

The MSC Grandiosa will offer seven-night cruises in the Western Mediterranean calling at the Italian ports of Genoa, Civitavecchia/Rome, Naples, Palermo and Valetta.

 

Per MSC website today:

 

 

Edited August 15, 2020 by Formula280SS

[Até]

Video is in Italian, but you can get the idea. Port of Genoa.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXAkfuF8Y3Q&feature=youtu.be

[Formula280SS]

14 minutes ago, Até said:

Video is in Italian, but you can get the idea. Port of Genoa.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXAkfuF8Y3Q&feature=youtu.be

 

Thanks so much for that link.  It looks like MSC has obtained the SD Biosensor F2400 (I believe it is a Korean developer).  I don't know how many they have; original processing capacity 70 per hour per machine.  Regardless, and not a medical professional, it looks like a step in the right direction.  Are there still a lot of risks?  Sure.  Baby steps first.

 

Again, thanks.

[Preziosa]

What do you mean about concern returning from Greece... 

[Formula280SS]

24 minutes ago, Preziosa said:

What do you mean about concern returning from Greece... 

 

From the other thread as referenced.

 

 

Again, referencing the other thread.

 

 

[Formula280SS]

1 hour ago, Até said:

Video is in Italian, but you can get the idea. Port of Genoa.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXAkfuF8Y3Q&feature=youtu.be

 

Ate, for those who want to, follow your link.

 

BTW, I learned they will have 15 testing machines.

 

In the YouTube video and the bottom right side, FIRST click CC (for the closed caption option).  It will appear somewhere on your video.

 

IT WILL STILL BE IN ITALIAN.

 

So, SECOND, to the right of the CC option, click the little bumpy wheel for SETTINGS.  

 

 

When you open that there are some items already checked, but you can AUTO TRANSLATE FROM ITALIAN TO ENGLISH (or whatever) to see it real time.

 

For those not sure, here is a rough outline on a screen shot basis.

 

 

Edited August 15, 2020 by Formula280SS

[cruiser man 60]

Someone who is going on cruise and presently in Genoa reports on Facebook that ship is there & engines running, supplies being loaded etc so seems to be going on schedule tomorrow!

[BermudaBound2014]

57 minutes ago, cruiser man 60 said:

Someone who is going on cruise and presently in Genoa reports on Facebook that ship is there & engines running, supplies being loaded etc so seems to be going on schedule tomorrow!

 

I wish there was a LOVE button! 

 

Here is a webcam of the port of Genoa for anyone interested in following:

https://www.*****/cruise-port-webcams/europe/genoa-italy/

 

 

https://www.*****/cruise-port-webcams/europe/genoa-italy2/

 

 

Edited August 15, 2020 by BermudaBound2014

[edspec]

Thanks for the webcam, I'm very interested in following this one.  If they would exchange the swab test for a saliva test I'd be booking asap.

[Formula280SS]

15 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

I wish there was a LOVE button! 

 

Here is a webcam of the port of Genoa for anyone interested in following:

https://www.*****/cruise-port-webcams/europe/genoa-italy/

 

 

https://www.*****/cruise-port-webcams/europe/genoa-italy2/

 

 

 

Thanks BB.

 

Looking at the webcam and cruise ship tracker, it appears that Grandiosa in on the left (closest, with Magnifica on the other side of the pier).

 

I have no idea if that is Virgin's Scarlet Lady closest in the webcam image.

 

 

[Formula280SS]

16 hours ago, cruiser man 60 said:

Someone who is going on cruise and presently in Genoa reports on Facebook that ship is there & engines running, supplies being loaded etc so seems to be going on schedule tomorrow!

 

I'm not on Facebook, however, if someone is and could get permission to repost to here at CruiseCritic it would be really appreciated.

 

Looks like only 1,500 passengers are on this first post C-19 cruise.  It's going to be "roomy" on a ship that size.

Edited August 16, 2020 by Formula280SS

[monsterl]

Plus about 1000 passengers board the ship in Civitavecchia and approximately 500 passengers each in Naples & Palermo.

[CruisingFox27]

25 minutes ago, Formula280SS said:

Looks like only 1,500 passengers are on this first post C-19 cruise.  It's going to be "roomy" on a ship that size.

 

There were only 1200 passengers on our Feb/March Asia repositioning cruise on Splendida, the space was delightful. I wonder if they will have all of the venues and bars open. We did as it was last minute so many passengers couldn't travel and cancellations due to our changes, lots of bars had crew and entertainers but no customers.

 

Hoping all goes well for today's sailings.

[Até]

Genoa port document shows about 1000 boarding there.  Boarding area opened at 11:30 and departure set for 19:30.

 

Grand.pdf

[Formula280SS]

49 minutes ago, Até said:

Genoa port document shows about 1000 boarding there.  Boarding area opened at 11:30 and departure set for 19:30.

 

Grand.pdf 79.38 kB · 8 downloads

 

So, with the 6-hour time difference to Eastern Standard Time, we could look at the webcam prior to 1:30PM EST to see Grandiosa?

[Até]

Yes, Genoa is six hours ahead of you so planned departure would be 1:30pm EST

 

Same view as Bermuda's link with slightly better refresh rate:

http://www.webcam.comune.genova.it/matitone_g.htm

 

Port entrance webcam:

http://www.webcam.comune.genova.it/ingrporto_g.htm

 

Rotating live view of the port, double-click for full screen.  Hopefully someone will take control when Grandiosa departs:

https://www.ligurianautica.com/webcam-liguria/

[CruisingFox27]

Lots of social media pictures of the passengers embarking ☺️

[BermudaBound2014]

3 hours ago, Formula280SS said:

 

I have no idea if that is Virgin's Scarlet Lady closest in the webcam image.

 

 

That is a Virgin ship for sure :). 

 

This is a big day for the cruise industry!!! I'm thrilled. I do expect some bumps, but if MSC can pull this off there is hope.

 

On an entirely different subject, and keeping this NON political, I was watching different Italian web cams last night and didn't see a single person wearing masks. For those of you in Europe, are masks mandated? Again, no politics please. :)

[Formula280SS]

15 minutes ago, CruisingFox27 said:

Lots of social media pictures of the passengers embarking ☺️

 

It surely would be great if someone could cross-post from various social media images and comments (if allowed and/or with permission of course).

Edited August 16, 2020 by Formula280SS

[CruisingFox27]

Absolutely BB.

 

That is Scarlet Lady, yes.

 

Masks are mandatory in many places in Europe, we certainly have to wear them in the UK for shops, indoor venues and  public transport. Many areas of France it's mandatory outside too. I'm not certain about Italy but Spain, Germany, Denmark have a mask policy.

 

All of the passengers I saw embarking were wearing masks.

[CruisingFox27]

A little later than scheduled but Grandiosa is sailing ☺️ Wishing everyone a safe and happy voyage. A big moment as BB said, fingers crossed it's an uneventful voyage.

[Até]

Increase in smoke from Grandiosa's funnel and a nearby fire ship started a display.

[BermudaBound2014]

2 minutes ago, CruisingFox27 said:

A little later than scheduled but Grandiosa is sailing ☺️ Wishing everyone a safe and happy voyage. A big moment as BB said, fingers crossed it's an uneventful voyage.

 

She's off.............