CLIA’s Brazilian branch (Brazilian Association of Maritime Cruises) has confirmed that cruising restarted in the country on 5th March, 2022.
Sailings are scheduled until 18th April 2022, while the 2022/2023 season is due to begin in October this year.
There are 19 itineraries covering eight destinations covering the States of Santa Catarina, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, including the ports of Balneário Camboriú, Itajaí, Porto Belo, Santos, Ilhabela, Rio de Janeiro, Angra dos Reis/Ilha Grande and Búzios, which are all capable of implementing strict safety protocols.
Cruise is the only travel and tourism segment that requires a robust multi-layered approach to health and safety protocols that spans the entirety of the cruise experience, including proof of a negative test prior to boarding; regular testing of crew; an environment where nearly every single person is vaccinated; ongoing sanitation of all public spaces and guest/crew rooms; mask-wearing, social distancing, ventilation, and other measures that public health experts around the world have endorsed, CLIA claimed.
As a result, COVID-19 cases on board cruise ships are a fraction of those on land and hospitalisations are extraordinarily rare.
On the rare occasions where medical treatment is required for passengers or crew, cruise ships have medical, isolation and quarantine facilities on site, plus extensive response plans using private shoreside resources, to prevent any burden on ports or communities.
The last Brazilian season (2019/2020) brought R$2.24 to the Brazilian economy and generated around 34,000 jobs, involving an extensive chain, which included trade, food, transportation, lodging, tourist services, agency, receptive and fuel, among others.
CLIA and its members extend their appreciation to the Ministries of Tourism, Health, Justice, Infrastructure, Civil Cabinet and Anvisa, in addition to the States and Municipalities, whose support was fundamental for the restart this season, the association said.
Protocols in force in Brazil:
- mandatory full vaccination for guests and crew members (eligible under the National Immunisation Plan)
- pre-embarkation testing (PCR up to three days before or antigen up to one day before travel)
- frequent testing of at least 10% of passengers and crew
- reduced capacity on board to facilitate the social distancing of 1.5 m between groups and allow the distribution of cabins reserved to isolate potential cases
- mandatory use of masks
- completion of personal health form (DSV – Traveller’s Health Statement)
- fresh air without constant re-circulation, disinfection and sanitisation
- contingency plan with specially trained medical staff and structure with modern resources for guest and crew care
- traceability measures and daily communication with ANVISA, Municipalities and States.
