Costa Diadema charter ends early to get French passengers homeCosta Diadema charter ends early to get French passengers home

Costa Diadema had departed from Genoa on the second cruise October 12.

Eight coronavirus cases on prior charter

During the first charter sailing a week earlier, eight French passengers tested positive for COVID-19 and were disembarked according to protocols agreed with the Italian authorities.

Costa Cruises said the second sailing wasn't curtailed due to those COVID cases but because of restrictions on the movement in and out of French cities imposed by the French government Wednesday night.

Worsening situation in France

‘We took the decision to curtail the second charter cruise ... due to the worsening of the situation in France and the new restrictions announced by their government and to ensure [passengers] could all return home safely from disembarkation port of Genoa,’ according to Rossella Carrara, VP external relations & sustainability for Costa Group.

The COVID cases on the earlier charter were identified as the ship returned from Greece, thanks to the company's protocols, Carrara said, and the infected people were disembarked.

She added: ‘Everything was handled according to protocols and in coordination with health authorities, showing how our protocols are working effectively.'