Looks like MSC Cruises is the first major cruise line to resume operations! Their newest ship, the MSC Grandiosa is about to start sailing around Italy, offering 7-Night Cruises to Genoa, Civitavecchia (Rome), Naples, Palermo, and Valetta.

Currently, these cruises are only available to western European citizens. The ship will have many new safety measures in place such as wearing masks in public areas and social distancing. The destinations they are visiting were selected because they have easy access to reduce crowds when getting on or off the ship.

If all goes well, MSC plans to have Grandiosa’s sister ship, the MSC Magnifica, resume operations starting on August 29th.

There have been some other smaller cruise lines that have been trying to resume, such as AIDA Cruises and Hurtigruten, with mixed results. Fingers crossed that MSC can get things moving again and their passengers can enjoy a great cruise without a hitch!

Today is National Roller Coaster Day and to celebrate, Carnival Cruise Lines has added a brand new video showing off the roller coaster that will be on top of the Carnival Mardi Gras, the Bolt!

Aboard the Mardi Gras you’ll meet BOLT™: the fastest — and first! — rollercoaster at sea, but before that take a look at Cruise Director Matt Mitcham making a special visit to the test track of BOLT™ in Munich, Germany! Once on Mardi Gras you’ll get to strap in and zoom your motorcycle-style speed machine around an open-air course high, high above sea level.