Costa drills for cruise restart from Trieste

Embarkation procedures were rehearsed on Friday at Stazione Marittima, where Costa Deliziosa has been docked since Thursday.

These are part of the new Costa Safety Protocol, developed by the company and a panel of scientific experts in response to COVID-19 and in line with the Italian and European regulations.

Staggered embarkation, three-step process

Costa said Stazione Marittima will be a protected bubble accessible only to passengers and insiders. Embarking passengers are scheduled to begin arriving at 10 a.m. Sunday in half-hour time slots up until 2.5 hours before sailing at 5 p.m.

Each will undergo a structured control in different stages. First, an infrared system will measure body temperature; in case it exceeds 37.5°C or the person has flu-like symptoms, a more thorough medical check will follow. Next, the health questionnaire, completed online, will be checked to see if there are any changes in the traveler's health status.

Antigen swab test

The third phase is an antigen swab test, carried out in a specific area of the terminal. The results will be available in about 20 minutes. If indications warrant, the traveler will undergo a molecular swab test.

During their time in the terminal, travelers must wear masks and social distance. To ensure proper hand hygiene, disinfectant gel dispensers will be available.

Costa Deliziosa's all-Italy itinerary, to Bari, Brindisi, Corigliano-Rossano, Siracusa and Catania, will be repeated through Oct. 4 (without Siracusa on Oct. 4). The first three cruises — Sept. 6, 13 and 20 — are reserved for residents of Italy.

Costa Deliziosa is scheduled to sail from Trieste every Saturday in the following weeks for the rest of the year on an Adriatic itinerary.

Embarkations in Bari and Catania from Sept. 13

Starting Sept. 13, Trieste will also be a transit port for Costa Deliziosa cruisers who embark in Bari or Catania. In this case, city visits will be possible exclusively on protected excursions organized by the company in small groups of people, with temperature control before leaving and returning on board, and the use of sanitized vehicles. Two-hour and four-hour Trieste excursions are available.

Costa Diadema to begin Sept. 19 from Genoa

Costa Diadema is scheduled to restart Sept. 19 from Genoa, calling at Civitavecchia (Rome), Naples, Palermo, Cagliari and La Spezia.