Italian cruise line Costa Cruises will take the seas for the first time in more than four months, buoying an industry capsized by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The flagship Costa Smeralda will set off from the northwestern port of Savona at 6pm (1600 GMT) after being landbound since December 20, when the Italian government banned cruises during the holiday season due to the coronavirus crisis.
The ship will set off with around 1,500 passengers on board — a quarter of its full capacity. All passengers and crew will be tested for coronavirus and mask-wearing is mandatory, AFP reported.
The Mediterranean voyage will last from three to seven days, depending on where it stops on the Italian coast — La Spezia, Civitavecchia, Naples, Messina or Cagliari.
