TUI Cruises: No Covid-19 Cases on Mein Schiff 6 Ship in Greece

Photo source: TUI Cruises / Martin Melzer

TUI Cruises on Tuesday said that its 12 crew members of the Mein Schiff 6 ship, currently docked in Greece, have tested negative for the coronavirus and that there are no cases of Covid-19 on board.

Τhe company on Monday was running routine tests on its crew members, when 12 were found to be positive. Since then the crew members were tested three times and the results were negative.

The cruise line said the incident was a “false alarm” and that the Mein Schiff 6 will continue its journey as planned.

“Three further tests, including two PCR tests and one antigen test, have confirmed the results: There are no cases of Covid-19 on board Mein Schiff 6,” TUI Cruises said in an announcement, adding that the negative Covid-19 test results were confirmed by the Greek authorities on Tuesday afternoon.

The Mein Schiff 6 was to depart for Corfu from Heraklion, Crete, on Sunday night, with 922 passengers and 666 crew members on board, when it was announced that 12 crew members tested positive for the virus. Greek health authorities then ordered the ship to sail immediately to Piraeus for additional tests to be carried out to all on the ship. The 12 crew members and all who came in contact with them has been isolated until all additional Covid-19 test results came back negative.

Magiorkinis: No fear of Covid-19 cases on Mein Schiff 6 

Photo source: TUI Cruises

Speaking to the press on Tuesday, Greek infectious diseases expert Gkikas Magiorkinis confirmed that there is no fear of any Covid-19 cases on the Mein Schiff 6 cruise ship.

Magiorkinis said that all additional Covid-19 tests carried out in Piraeus on the 12 crew members and their contacts on the cruise ship were negative, as were the checks on the ship’s surfaces.

He underlined that the first test results were “marginally positive” and that measures were taken to minimize any possibility of the virus spreading.

TUI Cruises said that the handling of the unclear test results of its crew members reported on Monday once again confirms the processes agreed with authorities for the resumption of the cruise business.

“It proves that cruises are possible in times of Corona,” the company said.

The Maltese-flagged Mein Schiff 6, which is the first cruise ship to sail Greek waters after the Covid-19 pandemic, will continue its journey on Wednesday.