The first major cruise ship to set sail in the Mediterranean in nearly five months has left the Italian port city of Genoa.
The MSC Grandiosa will stop at Rome, Naples and Palermo before cruising to the Maltese capital Valletta in its seven-day voyage.
On-board are about 2,500 passengers – about 70 per cent of the ship's operating capacity. All travellers were tested for Covid-19 before departing and crew members have undergone several coronavirus tests in the lead-up to the cruise. Bookings were also restricted to residents of Schengen-area countries only.
The Swiss-owned global cruise line is planning to resume operations on another of its European cruises next week. The MSC Magnifica will depart from Bari in southern Italy on Saturday, August 29, and sail to the other side of the Mediterranean, calling at Corfu, Katakolon and Athens.
Both ships have implemented new health and safety protocols designed by MSC in an effort to protect travellers from the coronavirus. Cruise blogger Rosalba Scarrone, who is sailing on the MSC Grandiosa, posted footage of herself on Instagram wearing a face mask waiting to board the ship.
Her last post on Instagram was accompanied by the hashtag #firstpostcovidcruises.
New safety procedures include hospital-grade cleaning, modified activities on board and compulsory face masks in places where social distancing is not possible throughout the ship.
There are also contactless options for entering cabins or paying for facilities and all travellers will wear wristbands to help authorities with proximity and contact tracing if required. Onshore activities at ports have been changed to avoid typically crowded areas and the use of public transport.
MSC Cruises looks ready to continue resuming operations, having recently announced its winter 2020 and summer 2021 cruising programmes. Set to commence in late October, the schedule has more than "90 different itineraries across the Caribbean, Mediterranean, the Gulf, South Africa, South America and Asia – all of the regions where MSC Cruises traditionally operates", according to the cruise operator’s website.
MSC Grandiosa set sail on Sunday evening, the day before state officials in Australia apologised to the public for mishandling a Covid-19 outbreak on the Ruby Princess cruise ship earlier this year.
Virus hotbeds
That vessel docked in Sydney in March and a public inquiry has decided that authorities made a mistake by allowing 2,500 passengers to disembark without testing for Covid-19. This decision was taken even after suspected cases of the virus were reported on-board. The ship was ultimately linked to nearly 1,000 confirmed cases of the virus.
It somewhat mirrors the fate of the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which was one of the first hotbeds for the coronavirus.
Passengers travelling on the Princess Cruise's ship in Japan in February saw just how quickly the coronavirus could be transmitted when one traveller from Hong Kong tested positive for the virus after disembarking. Cutting short its itinerary, the Diamond Princess returned to port in Japan and passengers were quarantined on board. By the end of the quarantine period, 712 passengers had tested positive for the virus, while 13 deaths were recorded.
In the UAE, a suspension on cruise ships was implemented by the Federal Transport Authority in March as part of the country's efforts to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Dubai reopened for tourism in July and, according to P&O Marinas – a DP World Company in Dubai – there is hope that the emirate will be able to resume the cruise season "by the fall." New safety protocols for the tourism industry in the region are expected to follow.
An appetite for sailing
Yet, while cruise liners have proven to be places where transmission of the Covid-19 virus can escalate quickly, travellers do not seem to have lost their appetite for the high seas.
MSC’s new sailings in Europe came after recent announcements by both Norwegian Cruises and the Royal Caribbean Group that bookings for future cruises were high.
Royal Caribbean’s chief financial officer said in July that while bookings in first quarter of 2021 were softer, the outlook was already much stronger for the second half of next year.
And public comments released by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention this week reflect this trend. More than 1,000 comments collected from public opinion have been released by the authority, and the majority of them are in favour of the resumption of cruising.
"I would feel safer on a cruise ship than on a plane. It's time to start letting the cruises start again," wrote one member of the public. Another said they would feel safe on a cruise, "especially if everyone who boards the vessel is tested for the virus ahead of time".
Other cruise fans were willing to adapt to changes on board for the sake of safety.
“Of course I would not mind wearing masks while on board and having the buffet stations manned by servers in order to limit unnecessary contact and handling of food,” wrote an anonymous contributor.
And some respondents felt that the cruise industry had been unfairly targeted. “Airports are open, planes are flying, theme parks, restaurants, bars are open and therefore cruises should be allowed to operate, too.”
However, not everyone was in favour of taking to the ocean again. One contributor wrote: “The fact that most cruises offer buffet dinning, close pool side seating and show seating, again increases the risk. Having been on many cruises I cannot see how social distancing will be enforced.”
Despite this optimism, the international cruise industry has taken huge financial losses due to the pandemic. Several cruise liners have pushed back sailings until 2021 or later.
Among them, is Virgin Voyages – Richard Branson's first foray into the world of cruising. The Scarlet Lady adults-only cruise liner was delivered to the company after three years in the making ahead of her scheduled ocean debut in 2020. That sailing has been cancelled with Virgin Voyages now saying it is "waiting for the right time to sail". However, additional dates have been added to the ship's sailing schedule for 2022.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
THE SPECS
Engine: Four-cylinder 2.5-litre
Transmission: Seven-speed auto
Power: 165hp
Torque: 241Nm
Price: Dh99,900 to Dh134,000
On sale: now
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If you go...
Etihad flies daily from Abu Dhabi to Zurich, with fares starting from Dh2,807 return. Frequent high speed trains between Zurich and Vienna make stops at St. Anton.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Canada
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Four motivational quotes from Alicia's Dubai talk
“The only thing we need is to know that we have faith. Faith and hope in our own dreams. The belief that, when we keep going we’re going to find our way. That’s all we got.”
“Sometimes we try so hard to keep things inside. We try so hard to pretend it’s not really bothering us. In some ways, that hurts us more. You don’t realise how dishonest you are with yourself sometimes, but I realised that if I spoke it, I could let it go.”
“One good thing is to know you’re not the only one going through it. You’re not the only one trying to find your way, trying to find yourself, trying to find amazing energy, trying to find a light. Show all of yourself. Show every nuance. All of your magic. All of your colours. Be true to that. You can be unafraid.”
“It’s time to stop holding back. It’s time to do it on your terms. It’s time to shine in the most unbelievable way. It’s time to let go of negativity and find your tribe, find those people that lift you up, because everybody else is just in your way.”
Jawab Iteiqal
Director: Mohamed Sammy
Starring: Mohamed Ramadan, Ayad Nasaar, Mohamed Adel and Sabry Fawaz
2 stars
More on Turkey's Syria offence
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Gulf Under 19s
Pools
A – Dubai College, Deira International School, Al Ain Amblers, Warriors
B – Dubai English Speaking College, Repton Royals, Jumeirah College, Gems World Academy
C – British School Al Khubairat, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Yasmina Academy
D – Dubai Exiles, Jumeirah English Speaking School, English College, Bahrain Colts
Recent winners
2018 – Dubai College
2017 – British School Al Khubairat
2016 – Dubai English Speaking School
2015 – Al Ain Amblers
2014 – Dubai College
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Du Plessis plans his retirement
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said on Friday the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia in two years' time will be his last.
Du Plessis, 34, who has led his country in two World T20 campaigns, in 2014 and 2016, is keen to play a third but will then step aside.
"The T20 World Cup in 2020 is something I'm really looking forward to. I think right now that will probably be the last tournament for me," he said in Brisbane ahead of a one-off T20 against Australia on Saturday.
What is graphene?
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.
It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.
But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties.
Profile of Whizkey
Date founded: 04 November 2017
Founders: Abdulaziz AlBlooshi and Harsh Hirani
Based: Dubai, UAE
Number of employees: 10
Sector: AI, software
Cashflow: Dh2.5 Million
Funding stage: Series A
The Lost Letters of William Woolf
Helen Cullen, Graydon House
Anna and the Apocalypse
Director: John McPhail
Starring: Ella Hunt, Malcolm Cumming, Mark Benton
Three stars
Awar Qalb
Director: Jamal Salem
Starring: Abdulla Zaid, Joma Ali, Neven Madi and Khadija Sleiman
Two stars
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Angela Bassett, Tina Fey
Directed by: Pete Doctor
Rating: 4 stars
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
