TUI has begun testing the waters for a return to cruising by setting sail from Hamburg for a three day trip on the North Sea – where 1,200 passengers will test out a socially distanced cruise experience.
The cruise ship normally carries 2,900 passengers.
Mein Schiff 2 – literally “My Ship 2” – set sail for a weekend cruise from the northern port of Hamburg for Norway and will spend the weekend at sea with no land stops before returning to Germany today (Monday July 27).
The ship is using strict precautions to keep passengers and crew as safe as possible., including restricting occupancy to 60% so passengers could keep their distance from one another.
On board, passengers and crew are required to stay 1.5 metres (5ft) away from one another or wear protective masks and they will not be able to serve themselves at the ship’s buffet.
All passengers also had to fill out a health questionnaire before boarding and had their temperatures taken.
